Scottish Elises

Will be getting into a new bulid flat toward the end of the month.

There is a telephone line physically installed but I will not be putting in a 'standard' landline phone as the people staying in the flat are 'young' and do not know how to oprerate such antiquated devices. They can 'only' operate mobile devices. Dont ask....

So what do I do for internet access?

The flat will have Smart TV's, wireless sounds (Sonos) etc, Mac, Laptop, games console and multiple mobile phones / other devices.

Do I go to Sky / BT / other major supplier or are there better/other alternates out there. FYI, the flat will be wired for access to Sky but I will not be subscribing to same unless there is a 'killer' deal available that combines Internet access and basic Sky package etc and does not get exhorbitantly expensive after x months.

I am not completely ignorant when it comes to technical IT issues (I know how to change DNS on a router etc, but not much more than that) but I do not intend to spend hours gazing into a screen trying to figure out what frequency my router is working on and why one channel works better than another etc.

Any info / insight gratefully accepted.

If someone out there want to sell me a service then feel free to pitch in.

Should get the keys to the property on 21 August so timing is a little on the tight side but it is not my problem if there is no Internet access on that date....

Martin

Enter the postcode into the availability checker and it will tell you the broadband providers on the local exchange.
List them up here and I'm sure you'll get some feedback & comments.

Sadly you'll probably need to pay the same line rental regardless of whether you actually want the phone or not.

https://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker

martins wrote: I am not completely ignorant when it comes to technical IT issues (I know how to change DNS on a router etc, but not much more than that) but I do not intend to spend hours gazing into a screen trying to figure out what frequency my router is working on and why one channel works better than another etc.

Zen internet

https://www.zen.co.uk/home-office/


Cost more then the big boys but worth every single penny


After the experience of trying to tell an indian call centre that no matter how many times i reboot the router it won't fix the fact a tractor has cut our phone line in two pieces i moved to Zen and they have been excellent as being a rural line our internet is flakey to say the least and each and every problem has been fixed professionally and promptly

Well as promptly as you can when they are forced to deal with open reach (BT) on line issues.

But Zen are the ones stuck talking to a indian call centre not us

One poor bugger had to deal with BT for 2 hours as he told us as part of the fault investigation

Appended is a list of available providers.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/106 ... viders.png

any suggestions welcome.

Martin

Agreed that Zen are very good!
They use the BT wholesale network so you should be able to get their normal or fibre service.
Also using BT wholesale you should be able to use PlusNet, John Lewis or the Post Office.
Your connection will be provided by BT but managed by the 3rd party. So the internet connection will be shared with all the other BT customers on that exchange.

Bulldog, Talktalk & Sky are all unbundled meaning they have their own broadband equipment in the BT exchange.
However they still need BT to maintain the phone line to the property, you can't escape them completely!

I would avoid BT & Talktalk just because of their poor customer service record.
I used to use Zen but switched to Sky 2 years ago for the TV. Customer service has been excellent.
PlusNet & John Lewis get good reviews, don't know enough about Bulldog or the Post Office.

Put your post code into Confused or Broadband Choices, lots of good deals around, some are even broadband only.
http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/packa ... itedOption

From your link i could have an entire year with BT for the same cost as a month with Zen

Sticking with Zen

That is how much i hate BT

thinfourth wrote:i hate BT

I also hate Scottish Power, both Scottish Power and BT for their unfailing utter ,complete incompetence and lack of customer care and common sense.
I also hate Aviva but that solely because of the series of Paul Whitehouse adverts.

I too hate BT but have them as my present provider but not for much longer.

After some deliberation I have signed up with Sky for the line plus broadband and just hope all is OK.

Many thanks to all for input provided etc etc.

Martin

thinfourth wrote:From your link i could have an entire year with BT for the same cost as a month with Zen

Sticking with Zen

That is how much i hate BT

Am also with ZEN for fibre and phone having been with O2 for years. Phone line was fixed with one call.

Had issues with Talktalk at my parents house, gave up trying to get the broadband working properly.