BT Broadband

2512gjm · Mon 28 Jun, 2004 22.30

I'm thinking of ditching my AOL Dial Up service and moving to BT Broadband. However, I'm unsure on a few points and just wanted to know if anyone knew the answers!

The apparantly 'no limits' download limit has infact a 30GB advisory allowance, what would happen if i were to go over this?

The Broadband connection would be fed into a wireless router connected to a Windows XP system. Would I be able to then share this connection with my AirPort Extreme enabled iMAC (the main computer I use)? (I have absolutely no knowledge of networking at all I'm afraid!

)

Thanks for any help.

Chris · Mon 28 Jun, 2004 23.00

2512gjm wrote:I'm thinking of ditching my AOL Dial Up service and moving to BT Broadband. However, I'm unsure on a few points and just wanted to know if anyone knew the answers!

The apparantly 'no limits' download limit has infact a 30GB advisory allowance, what would happen if i were to go over this?

The Broadband connection would be fed into a wireless router connected to a Windows XP system. Would I be able to then share this connection with my AirPort Extreme enabled iMAC (the main computer I use)? (I have absolutely no knowledge of networking at all I'm afraid! )

Thanks for any help.

If you are on the BT broadband (no frills) service which comes with nothing but a connection, then there is a 'cap' of 1Gb per day. Although it is there, it is not strictly enforced, but beware - I believe it is a term of your contract and they may hold you to it at any time, so don't say you haven't been warned!

If you are on BT Internet/Openworld/Yapoo broadband then they are introducing some kind of cap later this year. Whether it is like the one on the no-frills service or a hard cap on the 'basic' service, it remains to be seen.

And may I remind you that there are cheaper, uncapped alternatives out there! It is a common misconception that you have to go with BT for your ISP (internet service provider) for ADSL. You only need a working BT line - then you are free to pick whichever ISP you wish who will then provide your internet service.

Chris · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 01.46

nodnirG kraM wrote:How much is the BT service you're describing?

I'm on Freedom2Surf 512k WiresOnly or something. But anyway it's £22.50/mo for uncapped ADSL. Fantastic service, only experienced one blackout in the past 12 months of using them. Anyway!

BT Internet/Openworld/Yapoo 512k - £29.99 p/m

BT "no frills" Broadband 512k - £27 p/m if using DD but otherwise £28

BT Basic broadband - £19.99 p/m if paying by DD or £20.99 if not. Capped at 1GB per month.

I'm on Pipex Solo 512k ADSL - £23 p/m with no caps with all the bells and whilstles such as newsgroups, webspace and email.

James Martin · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 18.02

Is Wanadoo capped? I've got that.

Bail · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 18.07

Chris wrote: And may I remind you that there are cheaper, uncapped alternatives out there! It is a common misconception that you have to go with BT for your ISP (internet service provider) for ADSL. You only need a working BT line - then you are free to pick whichever ISP you wish who will then provide your internet service.

Any names, urls of good, cheap ones?

judin · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 19.56

Highly recommend Zen Internet - http://www.zenadsl.com

Chris · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 20.19

Flava wrote:Is Wanadoo capped? I've got that.

If you joined before the 28th of April then you still get to keep your unlimited service. However, if you joined after, then the caps will apply.

Also if you change your service level, you will lose your uncapped service and will be unable to revert back to it.

Neil Jones · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 20.32

Flava wrote:Is Wanadoo capped? I've got that.

Not at present, AIUI.

Having said that, it says on their page:

Wanadoo wrote:You may use your Broadband connection freely up to these usage allowances. These usage allowances will not be applied until later in 2004. If you reach your monthly allowance after this date your service will be restricted until the end of the monthly period. You will also have the option to upgrade to a service with a larger usage allowance.

The transfer limits are, or will be when applied:

2Gb a month (for the £17.99pm package)
15Gb a month (for the £27.99pm package)
30Gb a month (for the £34.99pm package)

Anyway, you're lucky. I can't get Broadband in this area.

James Martin · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 20.47

I knew Wanadoo were going to fuck things up when they took over Freeserve's branding.

I'm definitely staying with my current service - I don't fancy a transfer allowance!

Jamez · Tue 29 Jun, 2004 21.35

I use NTL Home broadband, and I find it's excellent.

I pay £24.99 per month for a 600k connection and a 1GB daily download limit (The most I've downloaded in a day is 750MB).

With NTL, it's simply turn turn the modem on, wait for the green lights to flicker and settle down, and away I go! I've never experienced black-outs and the download speeds on Kazaa are approx 70-90kbps, which is a hell of a leap from 2.8kbps on my knackered old 56k modem which I'm using at the moment as I'm not in my Uni house.

The village where I live is around 4 miles from my local telephone exchange, and I'm "on the borderline" of being able to get ADSL. Villages further away from town have had one of those trigger level campaigns to get broadband, which will all be hooked up to it next Spring. My little village is full of nonce's and old people who don't use the Internet and thus a trigger level campaign would be futile.

I'm only here until Mid-september, so I can live with 56k until then. I do miss fast pornography and music downloads though