Would be interesting to hear which ISP's Shrewsbury folk are using and what kind of experience they've had with broadband here.

I currently use pipex and they've been pretty good for over a year. Not many network faults and a UK support centre.

There is a price war starting at the moment due to Talktalk launching what is effectively free broadband. I'll be watching that closely!

Hi Ant
Started off with UK Online,one problem after another,they seem to have a total lack of interest in their customers,we are now on Wanadoo,no probs at all,did you know that their sister company is Orange?.

We're on homecall, I wouldn't recommend it! It's an awful company, pipex recently took them over and are starting to sort it but still a long way 2 go, we're moving to talktalk next month!

I am with Pipex too - been with them for years, here and at my previous address.

Re: UKOnline. The problem might be that they don't have their own equipment at the exchange. I tried switching to them for faster speeds but they're using BT equipment and so can only get up to 2mbit - not 8mbit.

I'm also with Pipex but I'm seriously contemplating moving, whilst I have no issues regarding webspace or e-mails as I use my own hosting. I am getting tired of the sluggish speeds I've recently been receiving.

Legal P2P is now being capped and their price is no longer competitive.

As of yet I've not decided where to move too...

I'm on Tiscali 1MB broadband (uncapped) and other than the fact that I cannot host my website on my webspace because they do not support scripting (I have business hosting over at bluehost.com) I have had no problems with Tiscali in the 3 - 4 years that I've been using them.

Chris; if you use Azureus for P2P then I suggest changing the port number (add a 5 to the end or something) and set a rule in your firewall to allow Azureus to connect on that new port. Most ISP's throttle the default port so changing it does speed things up nicely.

Interesting term "legal P2P" because there is no such thing as an illegal P2P system despite what the movie and record industry would like to think.

There are only illegally diistributed files amongst the legitimate content on a legitmate network. For example Linux (Free Alternative to Windows XP) uses Bit Torrent as a major method of distrabution and independant bands often release their work via P2P networks to gain exposure for their live shows etc.

Yes, avronb, I recently heard that the French telecoms company which owns both Orange and Wanadoo are spending a fortune to rebrand Wanadoo as Orange. It only seems like 5 mins since it changed from Freeserve.

i'm with seriously internet with 2.2mbps though i recently been upgraded to 6.8mbps. Its very good and not had any problems as of yet and speed is never an issue. I recomend them!

http://www.seriouslyinternet.com/index.php?id=235

I am with Virgin, and I like their customer service and attitude.

Until now I only have a download speed of 512Kbps and upload a measly 128Kbps for £14.99 p.m. with no min. contract.

A few weeks ago they invited me to upgrade to "ADSL Max" whatever that is - for £17.99 p.m. with no min. contract still. Apparently with this new plan I am supposed to be able to get around 6Mbps download speed on my line here in the town centre.

Anyway, I applied, but nothing happened after two weeks so I called them again yesterday. I have been assured that it is "on the way". Don't know what they meant and not sure quite how far it has got, but I eagerly await its arrival!

Will be keen to hear how t turns out Organic. Quite a few of my customers are on Virgin BB and they all seem pleased with it too. Incidentally, if you are unfortunate enough to still be in an area where Broadband isn't available, Virgin dial up is one of the few that still works quite well.

I don't know what the holdup is but stillwaiting for our talk talk to start! Should have been switched already but old isp hasnt even gone off!

Talk Talk are still setting up the room in the shrewsbury exchange...

Ant (and other readers!) -

I have, after a little delay, got the 8Mbps service from Virgin. It's in its "training period" for 10 days apparently, and during this time the speed will fluctuate. At the moment, the router is reporting the full 8Mbps but tests show anything from 2.5Mbps upwards. That's download speed - upload incidentally is still a very slow 128Kbps and it doesn't look like the change in speed has affected that, whch is a shame as some users would need the upload speed.

What's great is that you don't have a minimum 12 month contract with Virgin, and at £17.99p.m. for up to 8Mbps I think that's pretty good.

That does seem like a very fair price organic; I'm paying the same for 2MB with Pipex.

I'm holding out changing until some more all inclusive packages with phone calls and line rental etc. become available.

I agree about the upload speed, I wish that all the providers would do more to improve the service.

Ant

Talk Talk's broadband service is scheduled to be ready for service on 31/08/2006 at the Shrewsbury exchange.

Sadly for those of us connected to the Harlescott exchange Talk Talk will not be installing their equipment for free broadband just yet as they would not have enough subscribers to warrant the install.

This may also count for other service providers who install their own equipment in exchanges to offer cheaper services as there are only around 3,700 lines connected to Harlescott.

It sucks Chris. It was a struggle to convince BT to broadband enable some of the smaller exchanges in the first place (even now there are still a good few rural ones stuck in the pre-broadband dark ages).

The problem this time round is likely to be even worse. For those who haven't heard much about it so far, the likes of Bulldog and TalkTalk and soon many more have started to offer a service based on an LLU system. This is Local Loop Unbundling. Basically, the monopolies commission has forced BT to lease out rooms in their exchanges to third party companies. These companies then install their own telephone and broaband equipment into the room. If you sign up for the new companies service, your phone line is "unbundled" from the main BT system and plugged into the new equipment. You are now no longer a BT customer in anyway (apart from the phone lines to your home and I'm not sure what problems will arise when something goes wrong in that regard).

These companies all expect to operate at a loss for a couple of years but should gain a massive customer base who use them for all their communictions needs. Trouble is as Chris said, with smaller exchanges, the third party companies would probably never recoup the cost of leasing the room and setting up the equipment. That really leaves BT as the only hope of improved broadband services on those exchanges.

A good website for keeping clued in on whats happening with broadband in the UK is www.adslguide.org. They also have excellent forums which are frequented by the staff of major ISP's. I've avoided hours on the phone by asking for help here in the past.

I phoned Pipex today to request my MAC code I'm going to take advantage of Orange's broadband offer.

They are doing free broadband for mobile users who spend over £30 per month on their contract. Its only got a monthly limit of 2gb but they do allow you to go over as long as you don't place large demands on the connection which I won't.

There's also the option of paying £10.00 per month for an uncapped limit. Even if I do have to pay extra thats still saving me £13.99 per month.

Broadband update:

After waiting a month today I finally moved over to free broadband with Orange, I say free although I do pay on average around £50.00 per month for my mobile usage.

I have not used their Livebox! due to the fact I already have a good wireless router which is only a few months old.

It says I have a 4mb connection although we are not on a LLU in Harlescott so I'm guessing in reality I only have a 2mb connection, which is still fast compared to Pipex.

Initially Orange gave me the wrong password so had to call customer services and wait for around 40 minutes before getting an answer. I went through to an Indian call centre but the customer service advisor was more than helpful and spoke good English which was a plus point.

My last moan you can't use other e-mail providers with Orange which means that although I have my own hosting for websites and e-mail (1and1.co.uk) I have to send mail out via smtp.orangehome.co.uk this apparently is to stop spammers.

Maybe if I had of known this before I would not have chosen Orange (I'm not sure) its not very professional to have e-mail originating from an smtp server like Orange.

So far I give them 8/10

A week on and I've not had any problems with Orange, I have resolved the outgoing mail issue, 1and1.co.uk provide an alternative port for outgoing mail rather than the usual port 25.

It's good to hear that you were able to sort out the mail problems. That would have been a clincher for me... It looks a bit unproffesional to use your ISP for outgoing mail if you have a domain name address.

Also, I'm not a power downloader by any means, but I do use torrents from time to time. The most I've ever done in one month was 17GB (upstream and downstream with pipex). Is that possible with orange? Also, do they traffic shape or port throttle?

I'm not sure about traffic shaping I don't believe they port throttle, Pipex did and I really noticed it with torrents.

The outgoing mail problem was an issue for both work and personal. But now I have sorted it I'm really pleased.

I dread to think how much of the data limit I have used so far, its 2GB but you have to go over 6GB before they say anything. If I do go over then I can opt for the Broadband Max which is £10.00 per month I don't mind that.

I've taken the plunge and signed up to talktalk's free broadband. Supposed to be live by the end of September. Well share my experiences as and when...

You won't have (up to) 8mbit by September. It'll be about a year later. ;)

Well, my talk service with TalkTalk international is up and running... I'm enjoying all inclusive calls including international at a really cheap price.

At the moment I'm still on Pipex broadband. They are saying that I should be on TalkTalk broadband by the end of September. Oddly they haven't asked me for a mac code. I did tell them that I was currently with another provider.

I still have a feeling that they will make a hash of the broadband initially. I'll let you all know how they do.

Ant: They probably will. And if you are using your own modem / router, then make sure your MTU is set to 1400 or you may not be able to view some sites. ( I speak from experience)

Thanks Sam, I'll bear that in mind when they switch me on.

What is the current status of TalkTalk in Shrewsbury? My father (on Larkhill Road, in Copthorne) placed an order back on April 14, 2006; his phone service has been cut over a long time ago, but still seems to have no contact from them on Internet access..

He's not what I would call all that happy about the situation...

Peter

Peter,

I run a small business repairing and troubleshooting computers in and around Shrewsbury. Lot's of my customers have moved over to talktalk. The one thing I've picked up from speaking to them is not to bother phoning them... you won't get very far.

The best way to get any problems resolved is to pop into the carphone warehouse on Meole. Go armed with any correspondence they have been sent to date. The folks in the retail branch seem to have a hotline through to customer services and they get things moving quickly.

Hope this helps.

Anthony