Switching broadband supplier - possibly to Sky

[Eve]

I'm trying to find a more cost effective way of paying for my landline and internet.

I have Sky TV and am considering a package with them if they can save me money but wanted to ask for views from current (or past) users. I only found earlier they can now sort your landline for you as well.

I've had no problems with them for TV but how have people found them for broadband? If I switched (currently with AOL), would there be a delay between finishing with one supplier and starting with another (when I've moved hosue before there has always been a delay).

If anyone knows any tips for getting the best value, all welcome :)

Thank you for any advice.

[RAV1D]

I had AOL then moved to BT then tryed sky when we got the TV package with the internet included but are now back to BT. The reason for going back to BT as Sky don't actualy own their internet,They rent it off BT but they often don't rent enuff bandwidth in certain areas of the country,so the more users the less speed. We was paying for 20mb broadband but found out our phone lines in our area could only offer upto 8mb max anyway so we would never get 20mb even though we paying for it. Then we realised the speed we was getting from sky was in fact below the speed of the old dial up speeds not even close to broadband and this was due to too many people in the area with sky internet but sky not renting extra bandwidth in this area to provide enuff to share between the extra people keep signing up to it each day. We rang many times to complaine and Sky agreed that they was not providing what we was paying for and they could see on there systems we was only getting dial up speed. We decided to go to BT who own the lines and give us the full bandwidth.

[RATTER15]

We are with Sky, no problems at all.

[Eve]

Thanks both. That's really interesting about the renting. I think that's what someone from BT was trying to explain to me when they were trying to sell me a new product (fibreoptic I think) over the phone a while back but I wasn't really sure - typical salesperson, skim over the details (well, so I can understand) and just try and get you to sign up!

I'm trying to find out my current broadband speed and what I can get in my area. The Sky site suggested a max 6mb which seems very low considering they go on about 20 and now 40mb speeds. I'm right near Manchester City Centre too so hardly in the sticks.

Would there be likely to be a gap inbetween (whoever I switched to). It's important for me to have internet at home at the moment so being offline for a period could be problematic.

[Eve]

Just did an online test think which reckons:

Download Speed: 3726 kbps (466kB/s)
Upload Speed: 345 kbps (43.1kB/s)

I'm guessing that's a bit rubbish.

[RAV1D]

When I changed from sky to BT, BT gave us the day we was meant to have there internet so we just unplugged the old sky box and plugged in the new BT box and Internet was still working.Just that it wasn't as limited but had speeded up during that day. We also didn't need to mess about with a MAC code from our old provider (sky in this case) as BT own the line they didn't askfor one. Some providers need your previous providers MAC code to connect you to their service,but often the old provider will not want to give you it and by law they have to provide you with your MAC code. I'v even heard storys of providers giving out fake MAC codes to make it difficult to move on to new providers. We have had this problem with sky and took a few phone calls to get the correct code. But in this case we didn't need one as BT own the line and do not require a code for it's their line.

[Eve]

Interesting! I've just found a site which gave download speeds for different providers on my telephone exchange. Most are pretty poor with AOL one of the lowest at 3.1 whereas BT is way ahead of them all by quite a way at 19.7!

[ayrforce1]

jenna1978 what site did you use for the provider download speeds. I`m currently with Virgin and thinking of a change, as speeds are not good and it`s now too expensive. They upped my charges with the premise of giving me more speed but my speed is no better or worse. My line would not be capable of over 8mbs so I`m looking for the best I can get without paying over the odds.

[Eve]

Hi, it was this one...

http://top10.com/broa...products=advanced%3D1

[ayrforce1]

Many Thanks.

[tigerlelly]

I'm on Virgin Broadband and have been very happy with it. However, I agree with Ayrforce 1 I'm paying more for faster connection and haven't noticed any difference.

[vivandorron]

You'll probable find that, whatever supplier for which you opt, the speeds offered will be 'Up-to' a certain download figure without anything being guaranteed.

There are a number of sites from which you can check speeds and the 'top ten' link given by Jenna I really like because you are able to see what speeds are being pumped-out by most suppliers in any given area.

Before attempting to change your supplier make sure that you are not tied to a contract which firstly needs to expire. Otherwise you will get a double billing.

Ron.

[sir.prize]

A good speed test here

http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

[GillyGee]

Sky do all our broadband, tv and television and I have had no complaints in 3 years. That said I really do fail to understand why people use aol.....................it ha so many controlling features which are not necessary.

[sir.prize]

For example: I'm with Virgin Media and the test shows 9827kpbs download and 592 kpbs upload

[ayrforce1]

I`ve just run the speedtest and my results are 1639 kbps download and 523kbps upload. I`m on Virgin National , which is down the phone line. I pay over £18 a month , which was increased from £14.99 a month . For £14.99 I was on the 2mb broadband which was increased to up to 8mb, and the price increased accordingly. I am not tied to a contract other than 30 days notice to quit. I`ve been with them for some time.
My phone line is with BT and there line test comes up with between 3.00mb and 8mb. and an average speed of 5.5mb
I`d prefer an unlimited deal , which I have with Virgin, I`m not sure what I would use a month, I watch a few football games during the season, and a little You tube, but mainly browsing .

[vivandorron]

Jenna.......Just a thought....It might be worth you considering a BT package deal.

http://www.productsan...opic.do?topicId=25633

I have no complaint about my BT Broadband. I am paying £25 per month(which includes line rental) and each and every telephone call of up to an hour's duration is free. Should it be the case that a call is going to exceed 1hr...hang up and redial.

My monthly Broadband usage is an allowance of 10GB, which I never fully use. The average download speed is about 5.6 and has sometimes been checked to be over 6.0 (6.3 being the highest). Better for my area of the UK to that of Sky 3.5, Virgin 2.9 and Talk talk a poor 0.8.

I get my broadband at £15. per month( £1. cheaper than a new sign-up because I have been with BT for over 18 months.) Furthermore, my telephone line rental is only £10. per month because I have paid in advance for 12months.(£120.)

Ron.