Which ISP?

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Dan G
02/07/2002 at 12:00
Back at home, and back on the dodgy Dial-Up connection.

What ISPs do other people use? Which is best?

I'm currently trying to find the fastest, most reliable local-rate dial up or 1p a minute jobbie. Anyone have any experience of these?. My mum won't me go on an unlimited plan, boo hoo!
Ben Hedley
02/07/2002 at 18:13
i use AOL flat rate and its shite plus far to expensive... just been looking a demon which looks prommising but its not unlimited.
Ninja Marmot
02/07/2002 at 18:23
We still have a Demon subscription cos our website's on there and it connects first time every time no matter what. Excellent service. But not free or cheap.

Our daily ISP is NTL, they let us have the dedicated line for only £2 per month due to crappy service in the past and for £5 per month we have unlimited internet access. So whole shebang £7. But dialling up isn't slick like Demon, sometimes it takes 22 attempts to get on line...sometimes it won't work at all so I log on Demon and pay for the (local) call.
Dan G
02/07/2002 at 19:57
Heck! Twenty-two attempts?!

I now have Dial-Ups with BTOpenworld, UKOnline and PlusNet/Force9, all local-rate numbers with no other fees.

I was on UKOnline but recently had trouble connecting in the evenings (took me four attempts at half-hour intervals last night) and have seen connection speeds as low as an indicated 16800bps.

Tried PlusNet/Force9 but it wouldn't connect at more than 42666bps - UKonline usually managed 44000bps.

BT usually manages 44000 but sometimes drops to 40000. Between BT and UKOnline I reckon I can get on with a fast connection 99% of the time.

If anyone else out there is on a Dial-Up, roll your mouse over the Dial-Up icon in the task bar (the two little computer screens) next to the clock and your connection speed will pop up. Could you post what you find and who you're with? Would be very helpful thanks.
Orange Alex Ford
02/07/2002 at 20:18
AOL works for me...Ok it has it's problems but it offers unmetered access and no 2 hour drop out.

Helplines are free, and I have received several months free when I have phoned them up to complain about something or another...
munroist 284 2
02/07/2002 at 20:49
Just took 10 attempts to get on - AOL. However, agree Alex, it has its cons but ok on the whole.
Orange Alex Ford
02/07/2002 at 21:59
Munroist...which number are you using to access AOL? I get on first time most times...maybe you should update your access numbers?

(oh and the other downside of AOL is the globalisation/branding thing with which I do have issues!)
Paul Williamson
02/07/2002 at 22:47
I`m on Freeserve, I had loads of problems with unreliable/slow connections about 6 months back and did consider switching, now glad I didn`t as I get connected first time every time and it usually runs at 52000 bps
:-)
Orange Alex Ford
02/07/2002 at 22:53
Muroist...Try the following AOL access number...0808 990 9000 I get through first time every time on this number.
Orange Alex Ford
02/07/2002 at 22:54
Has anyone tried that Tiscali thingy...? It looks "quite" good.
Lloyd Bower
03/07/2002 at 08:41
When at home I use freeserve and would echo Paul's message, problems in the past but works very well now.
Jon Doran
03/07/2002 at 09:42
I use Demon on ISDN, partly because I've been using it for years and for a while my e-mail address was my only address and I don't want to change it now. Not cheap - though I don't pay - but generally reliable, though every three or four months they seem to have a couple of days of crisis when everything falls apart. People whine about them - people whine about all ISPs anyway - but they're generally reliable and the customer helpline is actually manned by people who know what they're talking about and are, shock, horror, helpful. It isn't cheap though.

Best bet if you can get it is ADSL from about 20 squid per month plus the capital costs, which is where I'm going next.

Did use Freeserve during their brief 'we are offering unlimited access but only if you can get through' period.'

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Mark Phillips
03/07/2002 at 09:52
BTInternet for me (when at home).

Never had any major problems in the past couple of years.

M
Ben Hedley
03/07/2002 at 10:21
Alex....ive just been having biiiiig problems with that number. its always busy
Hedgehope Aztec
03/07/2002 at 10:32
Probably Alex using it! Luckly mostly I don't use an ISP, I have a RAS connection into one of my computers at work, so I just dial into that (local call) and then go out over JANET. Well that was until WorldCon!
Rob Sutherland
03/07/2002 at 11:11
Demon - nope, not with a barge pole! I have been using them commercially for a while now, bad service, high costs and generally unhelpful.

I use Freeserve and Freeola at home, both decent access rates (better than Demon) and both free!

ISDN - not at £20 a month! Plusnet in Sheffield will do you ADSL for that (if you have an unbundled local loop that is ADSL ready anyway!). BT are now running a scheme to find if people want the service, so if you can find the right bit of the web page, and get all your mates/neighbours to sign up as potentially interested, things may happen.

I hate computers btw.
Colin Gimblett
03/07/2002 at 13:13
Although on demon at work, which does have its funny moments, I use Freeserve & Blueyonder at home. Freeserve is better that it was and i can generally get online at rirst attemp at about 48000. My prefered ISP is Blueyonder, but I think that it is only available to Telewest users. So depends where you live. Tiscali is just lineone rebranded!
munroist 284 2
03/07/2002 at 18:43
I'm using 0808 90090003. This morning at half six before work, no problems & the web site I was on was very quick, too. I think I just caught rush hour last night. Got on now (6:30pm) first time, too.
Dan G
03/07/2002 at 18:56
Freeserve sounds good then. Thing is, they don't actually offer any of the free schemes on which they built its name anymore! Perhaps they should be renamed Feeserve?
Dan G
03/07/2002 at 19:01
Basically my parents will pay the phone bill but won't stump up for any sort of standing monthly fee, so I'm stuck on 'pay-as-you-go' dial-ups. Thanks for the info though guys!
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