Question Broadband advice needed?

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

2 part question......

Question 1.

We are looking to possibly change our Broadband/telephone service provider and was wondering if anyone can recommend any deals or providers



Question 2.

I just carried out a quick check on our postcode and phone number on the Virgin web site and this was the message I got back After testing your phone line it looks like the broadband speed we'll be able to deliver to your home will be between 8.0Mbps and 9.0Mbps*.

I was told by the locals that the village we live in can only receive a max of 2.0 Mbps due to the exchange so I am a bit confused.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Unless you live smack bang next to the exchange 8 Mbps isn't going to happen. IMHO unless you play games/stream live video or download a shed load of porn, 2Mbps is more than adequate.

I think Virgin are (shall we say) "bending the truth" somewhat.

 

[Perth Bambi]

I think Virgin are (shall we say) "bending the truth" somewhat.

More less or the same amount as the water companies?

 

[MK Shrimper]

More less or the same amount as the water companies?

About the same. Branson is a beardy..... (slang name for lady parts).

 

[pringlejon]

be careful to check whether it is megabits or megabytes per second. off the top of my head i think there are 8 bits in a byte.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Unless you live smack bang next to the exchange 8 Mbps isn't going to happen. IMHO unless you play games/stream live video or download a shed load of porn, 2Mbps is more than adequate.

I think Virgin are (shall we say) "bending the truth" somewhat.

I did find that a bit hard to believe. The thing that annoys me is the 2Mbps that we currently pay for is hardly ever 2Mbps....more like half a meg or less.

Hacks me off paying for a speed that we simply do not receive, plus we have had an account with Toucan for 3 years now and I am sure there is a better deal out there somewhere....we pay £13 per month for 2Mbps unlimited and free landline calls during evenings and weekends.

 

[MK Shrimper]

be careful to check whether it is megabits or megabytes per second. off the top of my head i think there are 8 bits in a byte.

Yes 8 bits in a byte. 4 bits in a nibble. 16 bits in a word.

 

[MK Shrimper]

I did find that a bit hard to believe. The thing that annoys me is the 2Mbps that we currently pay for is hardly ever 2Mbps....more like half a meg or less.

Hacks me off paying for a speed that we simply do not receive, plus we have had an account with Toucan for 3 years now and I am sure there is a better deal out there somewhere....we pay £13 per month for 2Mbps unlimited and free landline calls during evenings and weekends.

Sky do a deal, I'm with TalkTalk which with phone works out about £25 a month.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

I just carried out a speed test with these results....

Download Speed = 1192 Kbps
Upload Speed = 241 Kbps

Is that download speed just over 1 meg???

 

[MK Shrimper]

Just about mate.

 

[BrettieAngell]

I just carried out a speed test with these results....

Download Speed = 1192 Kbps
Upload Speed = 241 Kbps

Is that download speed just over 1 meg???

Yep. What it supposed to be?

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Yep. What it supposed to be?

Supposed to be 2 meg mate

GRRRRRRRRRR

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I've just moved from Virgin to O2. Got a better deal as I'm an O2 customer.

Only reason I moved is because the Virgin service went crap as they were upgrading their odds and sods. However after about a month of listening to one ******** story after another we moved to O2, and have been extremely pleased with the service so far.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

I am with 3 as a mobile phone provider and don't think that they are in he Broadband market.

This is a blooming mine field looking for a new Broadband provider

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Just carried out another test on what is available to me and got this from Broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk

Your local phone exchange is Strichen
Judging by your distance from this exchange, the maximum speed you are likely to achieve with standard ADSL is 6Mbps.

If you want to compare all the packages available to you then click here

Also, to further improve your broadband and PC speed check the products and links below.

 

[Yer Blues]

if they are saying up to 9mbs it may well be possible with their new fibre optic network

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Supposed to be 2 meg mate

GRRRRRRRRRR

I believe these have been argued before and discussed on the likes of Watchdog. There is a big difference between the speeds quoted.

The speed quoted for your line is the MAX speed. Dont mean to say thats what you will get tho. And usually it aint. That figure is a guide only.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

if they are saying up to 9mbs it may well be possible with their new fibre optic network

They said that option was not available to our area

 

[osymandus]

MK , was wondering if Talk Talk were any good , i want to switch over frmo Virgin (the service isnt bad its just price !!)

 

[MK Shrimper]

MK , was wondering if Talk Talk were any good , i want to switch over frmo Virgin (the service isnt bad its just price !!)

Been up and down TBH. Had a period where the download speed was about 1/2 Meg, but lately it's been problem free. Just tested and its 1.93Mbps.