Internet Provider

[paul.h]

Our Broadband internet is with Orange (now called EE). Usually it is ok but if you do not leave the router plugged in all the time they keep reducing the download speed from about 2 mb/s to about 0.2 mb/s. We do not have fibre broadband in our area yet so it is adsl. I have discussed this with their technical people in India and if the router is not on 24/7 they assume you do not use the internet so reduce your service, even though it may be on half a day most days - maybe they do the checks when they get up so there is a time difference. To get the speed back the router has to be on for a week or so.

 

I prefer to switch off and unplug electrical equipment when it is not needed so I am looking at other providers. Who do other people use and what is your experience ?

[Johndouglas]

I used to be with Orange and the service was very good - until I needed assistance.   I found it impossible to get any real help with customer service just fobbing me off.   Several times they tested the phone line and each time they declared the line to be in order.  The trouble was that for hours at a time I was without any internet connection.   The router that Orange provided in addition to giving an internet connection, also gave me a second phone line with it's own number which worked rather like Skype.   Whenever the internet connection failed, I discovered that I could sometimes restore it  by phoning from one number to the other.   It took several attempts each time but usually the internet returned.   It began to happen so frequently that I decided to change provider.   I decided to try BT with their package that gives free phone calls.     Immediately I began the process of changing, Openreach discovered a break on my wire close to where it left the telegraph post.   After the new cable was installed I've had no further trouble - other than BT ringing me and suggesting I change to fibre optic!!!

[paul.h]

I have kept our phone with BT since we have never had any bother with it and other providers do not do it any cheaper when including most land line calls at any time.

 

With BT, if you do not keep the router plugged in to the mains all the time do they slow your internet down or is this just an orange thing ? If you need to speak to BT in which country are their technical people located ?

 

Is it easy to change provider and how much bother is it from getting a new e-mail address ?

[Johndouglas]

BT recommend that the router be left on all the time - maybe because it does the same as the Orange one?? Who knows!   Anyway I leave mine on unless I'm going to be away for long periods.   All the customer service staff is in India, but they do have a huge technical website which becomes accessible on joining.   It includes a chat facility whereby you can 'talk' with an advisor by typing.   It suits me well because I can never understand them!   Email has been handled by Yahoo but recently BT has taken it back and they handle it themselves, with email accounts been accessed through the BT website, which on my laptop I use as the homepage..   Getting a BT email address was no problem, although I do still have my old Orange address, and emails to it - mostly old spam - automatically come through with the new ones.   

[psicobra]

Hi guys the reason bt suggests leaving your router on is because it can take a few minutes for the adsl to sync and also because they periodically update the firmware on your router if you were to turn it off halfway through you would kill your router. As for your bandwidth issues it is more than likely you have a fault on your line when you call orange they send a reset signal down the line which in the short term improves your bandwidth.

 

Does your bandwidth stay constant if you do not turn your router off? How far away bare you from your local exchange Paul?

 

Psicobra

[paul.h]

Thanks for the reply. I have recently looked at other internet providers and all give a max speed of 1mb/s apart from Virgin who have put their own cables down our street. But they want £25/month vs now £9 and if we switched the phone and line to them the cost difference does not reduce much. Before this I left the router on for a month or so and the speed did not increase until I switched it off and back on. So if I want any real improvements it is down to cost.

[psicobra]

If BT have quoted you that low a speed its probably because of your distance from the exchange, this is a problem my customers come across a lot because of where we live there are other alternatives which may or may not he available in your area such as wimax/3g/4g depending non how heavier a user you are.

 

Psicobra