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Topic: Choosing an Internet Service Provider (Read 521 times)
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Frances
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 2855
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Hi,
I have been doing some research with a view to connecting to Broadband. The only thing that I am unsure of is the monthly download limit. On one site it states that 1GB per month would only give 2 hours of surfing per day, is this correct? I would like advice from some reasonably active posters who are already on Broadband what their limit is and do they find that they reach their monthly download quota and what happens if they do? I have seen quoted that you would be "restricted" when this happens, whatever that really means. Do any ISP's let you carry on but charge you more?
Any help or advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks, Frances
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Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk -------------------------------------------------- Hope/Buckinghamshire Palmer Cambridge Hope/Camberwell Palmer Essex Bolton/Camberwell Emery Potton Bedfordshire DeBoo/ Poplar/Anywhere Oliver /Chatteris, Cambs. Redkison/ Anywhere Carter Bedfordshire Bernard/Stepney Lawrence/Colchester Essex Carter/ Leytonstone Bones/ Essex Tullett/ Surrey/Essex |
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Lloydy
RootsChat Marquessate
Offline
Posts: 3314
Great Grandfather John Lewis
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I am on Broadband with Wanadoo £17.99 per month
Online activity Broadband Option 1
Surfing 8 hours a day
Sending photos by email 30 per week
Receiving photos by email 30 per week
Downloading music tracks 20 per week
Sending emails without attachments 400 per week
Receiving emails without attachments 400 per week
Watching videos 30 minutes per week
Online gaming 1.5 hours per week 7 hours per week 35 hours per week
TOTAL 2GB / month
As you can see there are restrictions listed but because I don't meet the maximum amounts for any of them then it's fine for me and my family.
I have been very impressed with Wanadoo (they took over Freeserve), setting up the broadband was very quick and easy. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!
Jan 
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The fantastic restoration and colour of my Avatar picture was done by Rootschatter PolldollAshton, Beaton/Betton, Bennett, Breese/Breeze, Crisp, Chandler, Challenor/Challinor, Crisp, Davies, Hudson, James, Jarman, Jenkins, Jones, Lewis, Mills, Owen, Owens, Richards, Simon & Trow - My Welsh ancestors from Montgomeryshire.
Census information is Crown Copyright http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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trystan
Administrator
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1773
One of the RootsChat Caretakers
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We set up our vicar on Broadband about three weeks ago. His little eyes lit up lile lights on a Christmas tree when he saw how fast it was,  God bless him!
He's been set up on 2Gb bandwidth, and he does an incredible amount of research on it, and is on target for getting close to that limit. He then has a choice to upgrade package if he wants.
When choosing a broadband provider, some important questions to answer are:
- Is it a local rate phone number for support?
- Do the people that give support know what they are doing?
- Is there a chance that you can speak to the same person twice at the call centre?
- Do they give you advert-free webspace?
- Does this webspace allow you to install "dynamic" website?
- Does the provider give you money off your monthly bill (every month) if you introduce a freind?
Start off on the lower package, you can always move up with no penalty, and you can check your used bandwidth day by day. If you look at a lot of text based sites, then 2Gb or even 1Gb is a fair bit of traffic.
Trystan
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Jane Taubman
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 98
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One thing to make sure when comparing ISP's is to make sure they have a range of packages so you can trade up easily when you need too.
I have beening using Freeola for years for web hosting, email and dial up connection, I now have an unlimited package, but they also do limited ones as well. http://freeola.com/broadband//
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Taubman, Mitchell, Purcell - Lancashire,
Couglan, Byrnre - Ireland
Mullins, Bowditch, Crabb, Record - Dorset
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trish251
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 8365
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My only advice would be DON'T choose a plan that charges for downloads over your monthly limit - you could pay big time (I don't know if these exist in UK - they do in Oz). The ones that simply slow your speed if you exceed the limits, I think are the best option.
My husband & I use the internet alot (although we don't download music or the like) and we use 2-3gb per month. Our plan slows down after 12gb / month - doubt we will ever get there. We can't "trade down" for 12 months - most plans seem to let you "trade up" anytime.
Trish
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Ticker
Moderator
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Posts: 4514
Genealogists live in the past lane.
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Hi Frances
Like Jan I'm on Wanadoo Broadband and on the basic package at £17.99. Worth knowing though that they are not applying the limits at the moment - so if you go with them its certainly not worth paying more than the minimum at first.
Ticker
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Badger
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 39
Remembering yesterday's relatives today
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Hi there,
There are a lot of packages around at the moment - One of the best is with plusnet....
http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?zWVl6A8AruuylVaHtkq2oY%2FiPypwfFXwjmYMBtf%2BvaU%3D
I would recommend that you go with an all inclusive one though then you get no nasty surprises etc.
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« Last Edit: Friday 19 November 04 23:47 GMT (UK) by trystan »
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Dawes, Pool/e, Coller, Macklin, Hayes, Plumley, Burch -
Halstead, Haverhill, Essex, Wiltshire, Sth Devon
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Frances
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 2855
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Thank-you all so much for all your help and advice. It is much appreciated, I do not want to sign up and be tied to an ISP for a year or more that is not right for me. Using your advice I will investigate further before making the final decision.
Many thanks again. Frances
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Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk -------------------------------------------------- Hope/Buckinghamshire Palmer Cambridge Hope/Camberwell Palmer Essex Bolton/Camberwell Emery Potton Bedfordshire DeBoo/ Poplar/Anywhere Oliver /Chatteris, Cambs. Redkison/ Anywhere Carter Bedfordshire Bernard/Stepney Lawrence/Colchester Essex Carter/ Leytonstone Bones/ Essex Tullett/ Surrey/Essex |
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celia
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 4547
W.C.O.A
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Can anyone tell me is it normal to have had four I.P in four and a half years or i am i just unlucky with them  I had at one time thought once you settled on a I.P you had it forever.How green was i 
number one was Freeserve cant remember why i came off that. 2 Whsmithnet i liked that,unfortunately they sold us down the river to Breath they couldn't cope. Customers were lucky to get on the net twice a week. They crashed within a couple of weeks.I myself lost over hundred pounds not knowing that 12 months after the cut off they were still taking my money. Even though i cancelled twice before they vanished. Others had to close accounts to stop them. Today i had an mail from Virgin to tell me that they are changing there phone number in February. I was one of the few that are outside that number. I have 2 choices.Change to Pay as you go or find another provider. The first is no good for me. So i now have to find another one .I am not a happy bunny  because it means i have to have find all the websites i have my number on and change it  I have been looking at some providers but there are to many. I found Waitrose.com One.tel and tiscali. Any comments on these sites anyone Or can anyone direct me to an I.P that isn't going to sack me ;)I have got till the 14th? of next month but as payment are taken before that i need to find a reliable I.P by the end of the month. Any advice appreciated.
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Hackstaple
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 2527
Family researcher
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I had a horrid service provider - no names no pack drill - but I have been with clara.net for some years and they are as near perfect as makes no difference. I pay them as part of my web site hosting package but you can have your email hosted by them for nothing at all or at most a nominal price
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Southern or Southan [Hereford , Monmouthshire & Glos], Jenkins, Meredith and Morgan [Monmouthshire and Glos.], Murrill, Damary, Damry, Ray, Lawrence [all Middx. & London], Nethway from Kenn or Yatton. Also Riley and Lyons in South Africa. Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Biker
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Posts: 4620
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Hello, I do sympathise.
Here is a good site. Use the Service Providers, Rate, Compare etc.
I'm not sure if it is appropriate to mention names, but I would recommend my provider and know there are dodgy ones too.
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/
Best of luck
Jonathan
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Biker
RootsChat Honorary
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All respect to willow but my advice would be to steer well clear of AOL as I have numerous friends who have had problems with them - lack of connection, poor connection speeds etc.
I used to be with BT and it was 'ok' but stroppy after-sales service and poor connection speeds intermittently on adsl.
I know others may have different experiences, but ... just my tuppence worth.
Jonathan
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