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Broadband ahhhhhh

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By *lla_east OP   Woman
over a year ago

Manchester

Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Money Saving Expert website has broadband tips and deals.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Using a comparison website like Compare the Market should make it fairly easy. Just stick your postcode in and organise it by price or speed

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester


"Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

"

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe


"Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

"

If there is no fibre, then regardless of the supplier, your service is based on BT infrastructure. Technically they are going to be pretty much the same. Consequently I would base your choices on customer satisfaction rather than anything else.

Cal

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By *ugofirstMan
over a year ago

livingston

Send me your address I work with virgin and can check if we supply I can get you mates rates as well.

I realise you should no fibre so maybe you’ve already tried.

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe


"

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?"

Whilst 4G is a decent service for an emergency, I wouldn't want to rely on it as my only Internet connection. It is not particularly quick and it is effected by the environment, you will see a huge variation in service in bad weather.

Cal

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester


"

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?

Whilst 4G is a decent service for an emergency, I wouldn't want to rely on it as my only Internet connection. It is not particularly quick and it is effected by the environment, you will see a huge variation in service in bad weather.

Cal"

We use them with work all the time and stream HD CCTV without any issues.

We also always take one away with us if we are away for a weekend break etc and provided there is coverage we can normally stream with zero buffering.

It pays to buy a decent router but even the budget ones are far better than they used to be nowadays.

Once 5G comes online properly we will all be waving goodbye to our existing routers as in theory, we wont need them.

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester

Another thought is if you are rural, check to see if there is a farmers network nearby (these are encrypted so you wont detect them with your mobile etc).

They can provide around 70MBper second but its a subscription service via Airband so it can be quite costly.

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By *inks_apeyCouple
over a year ago

Staffordshire

In the UK very little of the network to homes is fibre (marketing b011ox) FTTP (fibre to the premises) has a very low take up, everyone else is on vdsl or cable.

Almost everywhere can get vdsl (35mbps) lots of places can get the 70mbps version (upto speeds, depends on link quality and distance to the edge box)

Look on the Samknows exchange search (Google it as can't post link) put the post code in and it should tell you what's available at your location, and if any of the providers have local loop unbundling. Once you know what's available then you can work out best/cheapest

Hey might be lucky and be in the virgin 1Gbps area like us

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"In the UK very little of the network to homes is fibre (marketing b011ox) FTTP (fibre to the premises) has a very low take up, everyone else is on vdsl or cable.

Almost everywhere can get vdsl (35mbps) lots of places can get the 70mbps version (upto speeds, depends on link quality and distance to the edge box)

Look on the Samknows exchange search (Google it as can't post link) put the post code in and it should tell you what's available at your location, and if any of the providers have local loop unbundling. Once you know what's available then you can work out best/cheapest

Hey might be lucky and be in the virgin 1Gbps area like us "

You seem to know a great deal about this and after a search on Sam's it seems I know nothing lol

Can you help me out

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By *lla_east OP   Woman
over a year ago

Manchester

Thanks everyone

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Uswitch is a good site to have a look Aswell x

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By *lla_east OP   Woman
over a year ago

Manchester


"In the UK very little of the network to homes is fibre (marketing b011ox) FTTP (fibre to the premises) has a very low take up, everyone else is on vdsl or cable.

Almost everywhere can get vdsl (35mbps) lots of places can get the 70mbps version (upto speeds, depends on link quality and distance to the edge box)

Look on the Samknows exchange search (Google it as can't post link) put the post code in and it should tell you what's available at your location, and if any of the providers have local loop unbundling. Once you know what's available then you can work out best/cheapest

Hey might be lucky and be in the virgin 1Gbps area like us "

Big help thank you! Although I already knew I couldn’t get virgin

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you can’t get virgin then your bt regardless off who you go for as everyone is subletting lines off bt

Or in less you go for a 4g mobile package

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By *inks_apeyCouple
over a year ago

Staffordshire

[Removed by poster at 24/01/21 00:12:25]

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By *inks_apeyCouple
over a year ago

Staffordshire


"[Removed by poster at 24/01/21 00:12:25]"

Not quite true, may be BT for the 'last mile' (from exchange to green cab then to house, sometimes just the cab to house) but if the exchange has LLU for company your with, then the backhaul is over their network, sometimes better sometimes worse. Carphone/Voda and sky are the big 3 LLU providers

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By *emini ManMan
over a year ago

There and to the left a bit

Things to consider OP are whether you're just looking for broadband or want to bundle a TV package in with it too - what you want to use your broadband for (just general browsing or are you a heavy streamer/downloader etc - those and more should be factors you take into account.

Ultimately price will be much of a muchness just dressed up different ways - so main decision points would be speed and customer service, and the latter can be subjective and personal experience based - personally I've never had a problem with Sky and because I bundle their TV in too, get a fairly decent price as a result (certainly better than sourcing separately), but I know a lot of people moan about them.

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By *iger4uWoman
over a year ago

In my happy place


"[Removed by poster at 24/01/21 00:12:25]

Not quite true, may be BT for the 'last mile' (from exchange to green cab then to house, sometimes just the cab to house) but if the exchange has LLU for company your with, then the backhaul is over their network, sometimes better sometimes worse. Carphone/Voda and sky are the big 3 LLU providers"

Use a cashback site, i got £125 back signing up with sky.

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By *G CoupleCouple
over a year ago

kent

Fibre may be available but at capacity. You'll have a short wait to get more capacity at the exchange

We joined plus net when there wasn't any capacity. They upgrade for free when it's available. It was literally 2 days after going live on adsl that capacity was upped and we upgraded

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

In Hull, we have Fibre Broadband, supplied by our local Phone providers, KCOM or to give their full title, Kingston Communications. BT don't exist here.

They've seemingly won awards for really fast Broadband speeds but whilst not perfect, they are ahead of the game. They're expanding well beyond the Hull boundary into surrounding towns and villages.

There are smaller supply companies, but invariably their rates aren't good, and they rely on satellite systems as they don't have access into KCOM's infrastructure.

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By *lla_east OP   Woman
over a year ago

Manchester


"Things to consider OP are whether you're just looking for broadband or want to bundle a TV package in with it too - what you want to use your broadband for (just general browsing or are you a heavy streamer/downloader etc - those and more should be factors you take into account.

Ultimately price will be much of a muchness just dressed up different ways - so main decision points would be speed and customer service, and the latter can be subjective and personal experience based - personally I've never had a problem with Sky and because I bundle their TV in too, get a fairly decent price as a result (certainly better than sourcing separately), but I know a lot of people moan about them. "

Thanks again all

Sky did come up quite frequently but then I made the mistake of looking them up on trustpilot and it did put me off. I’m not necessarily looking for tv aswell, I have a smart tv with all the apps, and it’ll be just me so it’ll really only be Netflix, prime etc. I think I’m worrying too much about speeds when realistically I don’t need a whole lot.

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By *verage JosephMan
over a year ago

Grays & London


"Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?"

THIS^^^^ I still can’t get fibre so bought a 4G router & love my speeds & connection. Gaming units & tv plus phone etc all running at the same time and I’ve had no issues.

Plus as already said I don’t have to pay for a landline

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By *lla_east OP   Woman
over a year ago

Manchester


"Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?

THIS^^^^ I still can’t get fibre so bought a 4G router & love my speeds & connection. Gaming units & tv plus phone etc all running at the same time and I’ve had no issues.

Plus as already said I don’t have to pay for a landline "

Any reccomendations? (Is that allowed?)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Things to consider OP are whether you're just looking for broadband or want to bundle a TV package in with it too - what you want to use your broadband for (just general browsing or are you a heavy streamer/downloader etc - those and more should be factors you take into account.

Ultimately price will be much of a muchness just dressed up different ways - so main decision points would be speed and customer service, and the latter can be subjective and personal experience based - personally I've never had a problem with Sky and because I bundle their TV in too, get a fairly decent price as a result (certainly better than sourcing separately), but I know a lot of people moan about them.

Thanks again all

Sky did come up quite frequently but then I made the mistake of looking them up on trustpilot and it did put me off. I’m not necessarily looking for tv aswell, I have a smart tv with all the apps, and it’ll be just me so it’ll really only be Netflix, prime etc. I think I’m worrying too much about speeds when realistically I don’t need a whole lot.

"

Can you check what speeds you have now? If it's ok now you know you don't need to pay for loads more. Also check local reviews, not national. Seems to vary where I live. The infrastructure is more shit than other towns.

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By *emini ManMan
over a year ago

There and to the left a bit


"Things to consider OP are whether you're just looking for broadband or want to bundle a TV package in with it too - what you want to use your broadband for (just general browsing or are you a heavy streamer/downloader etc - those and more should be factors you take into account.

Ultimately price will be much of a muchness just dressed up different ways - so main decision points would be speed and customer service, and the latter can be subjective and personal experience based - personally I've never had a problem with Sky and because I bundle their TV in too, get a fairly decent price as a result (certainly better than sourcing separately), but I know a lot of people moan about them.

Thanks again all

Sky did come up quite frequently but then I made the mistake of looking them up on trustpilot and it did put me off. I’m not necessarily looking for tv aswell, I have a smart tv with all the apps, and it’ll be just me so it’ll really only be Netflix, prime etc. I think I’m worrying too much about speeds when realistically I don’t need a whole lot.

"

If you're not looking to bundle TV in then you've broadened the range of providers available

I'd look at the various comparison/review websites and take it from there - Money Saving Expert or USwitch would be the two I'd use.

Things to consider are speed, price and service quality - the last one is a little bit subjective but using review sites should give you an idea.

Speed does have a level of importance particularly if you're using streaming sites like Netflix and Prime Video but even with some of the lower speeds offered these days you should be fine.

Remember also that the speed offered isn't necessarily the speed you will get - this may depend on the set up within your house, the type of service provided (some you will "share" bandwidth with other users in your area, so may get a slower speed at busier times of the day) and other factors.

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By *inks_apeyCouple
over a year ago

Staffordshire


"Long shot but I’m at a loss here!

I move next week and am looking at broadband, seemingly my address can’t get fibre and I’m getting a million different options but I don’t have the foggiest what any of the different specs mean.

By chance is anyone on here well versed in this sector and can help? Failing that does anyone have any recommendations for providers?

Any help appreciated!

Buy yourself a 4G router and either a PAYG data sim or a contract sim from say EE but check network coverage first.

Ask yourself if you really need a landline?

THIS^^^^ I still can’t get fibre so bought a 4G router & love my speeds & connection. Gaming units & tv plus phone etc all running at the same time and I’ve had no issues.

Plus as already said I don’t have to pay for a landline

Any reccomendations? (Is that allowed?) "

LTE is all Dow to signal quality (not necessarily strength) have a look on a coverage map and see who has best around you. Then a decent router if more than a couple of devices.

Also remember on LTE you will be at LEAST double hop NAT, so don't expect good ping times (that and the fact your traveling over RF to the tower, so further it is away higher your latency) so don't expect to be pwning newbs in online games

Also data caps and the likes usually apply (even on 'unlimited' plans) so check T&C's for whatever you get carefully.

That being said I use a 4/5G modem when travelling (especially abroad where its usually cheaper to grab a local sim rather than roam on your own data, especially outside of Europe, also local sims will get priority over roaming sims so speed usually better)

That said if you don't need super fast speeds etc, then get whatever is cheapest.

Remember 4k/HDR video needs over 20mbps on netflix/amazon so if you want to watch in that quality keep that as a minimum speed in mind.

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