broadband?

[marion]

Hi,
Can anyone advise me on a non-related mg query??
I am thinking of switching from Bt to Sky for my broadband. Is this a good or bad idea?? Is it difficult??

Thanks Marion

[stu]

Hi Marion

I have no personal experience of sky but I did change from BT to NTL or Virginmedia about 6 months ago and have had nothing but trouble since.

I was with BT for 6 years and generally found them really good rarely having any loss of connection or major reduction of speed/bandwidth.

If you are only changing for cost rather than any other issues it might be worth speaking to BT to see if they can reduce the cost somehow. It's surprising what these companies will do rather than loose a customer.

Ideally you could do with a few people with Sky to give you some feedback..

Not a definitive yes or no but this is my experience of 'cable' so far

Stu

[James Curgenven]

Sky are supposed to be quite good, I'm changing to them myself next month.

[Adrian Clifford]

I have no experience of Sky broadband, although I have their TV package. I felt it did not offer as much for the money as TalkTalk International 3 for me.

Try looking at the TalkTalk 2 package if you don't need International calls.

I get 8mbps here in Essex with no problems. One or two little hiccups, but they have been easily sorted.

[Chris Tideswell]

To contrast my experience with NTL/Virgin over the last 5 years has been fantastic and that is the problem with ADSL and cable is that the quality of service can vary from location to location across the country. It is best to try and find someone with a recommendation who uses the same exchange as you (in the case of ADSL).

[dell]

Changed over to sky back in Feb not noticed any real difference apart from the cost as like everything BT sell their broadband is IMHO very overpriced in todays market.

I will however say I had no problems with the service BT provided just how much they charged me for it.

[Rich Stone]

I switched from BT to Sky a couple of months ago and haven't looked back! Since the switch, I've had no drop-outs of service, the hardware is much tidier (same kit as I use at work) and reliable for my home network and, even though it uses BT lines, faster!

So yeah, it gets my thumbs up!

Rich.

[Paula]

We shall be changing to Sky soon ;D

[patrick]

Well firstly a vote of confidence in Telewest/NTL/Virgin Media. We had had their cable based broadband for some 7(?) years and it has been brilliant. Very few outages and when it says 4 meg it means it. It usually runs around 3.5 to 3.8 and this is a lot better than all those offers of “up to” 4 megs offered by others. Better still they have just offered me a free upgrade to 20 meg – can’t get that over a copper twisted pair(yet…)!

You do not say why you want to change from BT to Sky. Recognise that Sky, TalkTalk, et al, are all offering a service over the BT copper coming into your house rather than their own infrastructure. If there is a problem with a Sky or TalkTalk service you run the risk of BT and the broadband supplier squabbling as to whose problem it really it whilst you are just off the internet. Also recognise that BT are on a technological roll right now and the leader in the broadband DSL market. Their market share is also increasing from 30% last year to 38% this year. BT is in the process of changing it whole service to an IP basis. Because BT is the largest supplier they also have huge pressure from the regulator to behave in the best interest of the consumer. The others are allowed far more leeway in the name of encouraging completion. As an example, what do you think would have happened if BT had screwed up on the same scale as TalkTalk did?

Who are you going to trust most, a company that has a huge telecoms background that “owns” most of the UK wires or a Satellite TV company with no background in mass telecoms?

I would want a VERY large financial incentive to use Sky or TalkTalk over a professional telecoms company! Don’t be tempted to confuse quality and price.

[dell]

Well in answer to Patrick's comments which I must admit are very valid my personal savings for the equivalent service were in the region of £250 per annum which in my case equates to a years insurance for the trophy with enough left over for a curry to me that was enough of a financial incentive..

[patrick]

I would see a £250 saving as a VERY large financial incentive to!

[Adrian Clifford]

Very interesting thesis Patrick, makes sense too.

My savings with TalkTalk International 3 are thus : I pay £20 a month for 8meg broadband (very reliable), all phone calls to 01 and 02 numbers are free as are International calls to 36 countries, on top of this I don't pay any line rental to BT.

How that equates in saving, I'm not sure, but it tempted me, however as you say, if there is a problem TT and BT may squabble over who owns what, I'll have to cross that bridge one day, I'll let you know.

[Chris Tideswell]

This site maybe of use www.samknows.com/broadband/

It lists what is available at all of BT's exchanges. www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange.php?ecode=NEJW

[stux99]

Living in the sticks we have little choice. I have been with BT for 4 years now after changing from Wanadoo/Freeserve after tremendous argument over download limits
I have 8meg connection and unlimited downloads and havent had a single drop out in 4 years. But I am envious of baby bruv "up north" with his 20meg Virginmedia connection ;D 4.5Gb of data down in 53 mins
So for me BT will have to do for now

[*M600 VON*]

have been with ntl/virgin for over 7 years, and can honestly say had no probs with them at all!