Rate Your ISP.

[TheNegotiator 13]

Hi,

 

I'd like to start a thread on ISPs as without a connection, there is no trading full stop. There are many different ISPs out there in different countries, some better and some worse. Probably most retail traders will at least start off by taking a standard consumer broadband package. I am sure many lease fixed lines though. Either way this is an open thread for anyone to comment on their ISP or another one they have heard of in the hope that it may benefit our fellow traders.

 

TheNegotiator.

[TheNegotiator 13]

In the UK we really have only two options right now for those wanting consumer cable broadband. That may change depending on how much money the government drops on BT's network infrastructure as they may be forced to open it up to competitors. So right now though, it's BT Infinity and Virginmedia. The former is still not widely available but it is increasing coverage all the time and should be fairly available within a year or so. They offer a couple of speed options right now 40/10 and 40/2 download/upload and are reasonably priced at little more than £20pcm. If you are lucky enough to have the option, one thing that I don't like is they put a BTopenzone router in which means anyone who also pays for the service can access it through your router if they are not near their own. In practise this should only really effect people who live in town/city centres and in theory, I believe it shouldn't effect anything anyway as I think the openzone and your connection are ringfenced. Not 100% on this though. The other option is Virginmedia. They have the fastest service right now even if their recently upgraded 1:10 upload:download ratio still seems somewhat stingy. Their advertised download speeds are 10/30/50 Mbit although some are still on 20Mbit and there are some areas where 100Mbit is available. 200Mbit downloads are also being trialled. The overall speeds are pretty close to the advertised rate. The price range is fairly reasonable too with £13.50-35 (10-100Mbit) with most speeds having a 6 months 1/2 price deal. Virginmedia are however, infamous for their shambolic customer service.

 

ADSL phone line broadband and the like don't cut it imo.

 

I use http://www.speedtest.net to test connectivity every day, but I am sure there monitoring tools too.

 

Final note. This was not a review. These are my experiences and observations.

 

TheNegotiator.

[Mysticforex 13]

I have 2 ISPs, 1 is ADSL thru my telphone service provider #2 Is thru the local cable TV provider. I don't get my TV though the Cable provider, just internet.

The reason I have 2 ISPs is because I live in a rural area. In the Winter, lots of Winter storms knocking down tree limbs and such. Ditto Summer Thunder Storms. I have never had both go down at the same time ( tap wood ).

I also have an 8KW generator in the event of power outages.

[Mysticforex 13]

Just tested both....

 

 

Telephone ADSL provider:

Download. 3.04 mbs

Upload. 0.36mbs

Ping. 33ms

 

 

Cable company provider ( Time Warner - Roadrunner) I think it's fiber optic

Download. 5.67

Upload. 0.49

Ping. 15ms