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"ADSL Prices"

Just a quicky here...

Why do most ADSL providers like BTOpenworld, Freeola and Freserve charge £29.99 a month for ADSL connections when there are others like Pipex that only charge £23.44 a month.

What's the difference and if there isn't one, why don't Freeola make it cheaper?

BT are now doing ADSL for £27 a month via direct debit, £28 via other methods, which isn't bad.

I also have pipex, but unlike Whooo, I can't say I'm impressed at all. Its been 2 weeks now since my ADSL went down, and have they still havn't sorted it.

First the connection signal was dieing a lot, and they just told me it 'one of those things that happens', which I persoanlly don't believe. Then 2 weeks ago they stopped letting me acccess the internet. For no reason I could see, they were no longer accepting my username and password. Called them, which took about 40mins just to get though, and after 30mins of talking nothing came about of it, so I tried a few things myself, didn't work. I called them again and they said they would call me back the next day as they would contact BT and have then test the line. They never called back and when I called BT, they had not received a request for a line check, but they were able to do that there and then for me, and said the line was ok. Since then I've not been able to get though to their support line, as I havn't got the time, and the E-mails I get back from them are kinda basic (try re-installing the modem, check everything is plugged in, etc...)

So, overall, I'm not impresed with pipex at all, and am back on the Freeola dial-up for now (which I intend to claim the cost for back from pipex) and if I can, get my ADSL provider switched at the cheapest possible rate, to either BT or Freeola, and nothing agains Freeola, but as BT own the telephone lines, it makes me believe they would be the better provider.

Whooo, mind if I ask, what settings you have for your ADSL Modem??? The VCI, VPI and mode things???

I pay (well, dad does..) £19.95 plus VAT for Pipex and am deleriously happy, was installed and enabled BEFORE the date they promised, it's always fast, and it's only gone down once, and that was only for about 30mins..

What rob says is true, wires only is, literally, wires only, they convert your line to ADSL and provide you with username, password, e-mail etc etc, all the standard ISP type stuff, but they dont provide you with a modem, or convert your sockets to ADSL stylee ones. Instead you buy a modem and plug splitters into your phone lines. IIRC, the BT Openworld package for £30 is also Wires Only, so really isnt worth the extra £7 for a notouriously slow, poor performing over priced company. Go Pipex, or Eclipse for a few quid more.

There are also differences in the types of service. IIRC, there are two: "Wires only" and something else, presumably "Full". I think Pipex's is the former, which means they'll put the line into your house, but from there on you're on your own. You have to buy the ADSL modem or router with your own cash, or rent one at further cost. On the other hand, BT supply the router/modem included in the price. As Whooo, he knows about this.

You get what you pay for; I got Bt's and have been more than satisfied with it, and haven't really had any problems. People I know paid £7 less for Pipex and they've had tonnes of problems. Personally I think the BT broadband is worth the extra money. That said, it helps if you have enough technical know-how to sort out your own problems, as BT's customer support is notoriously non-existent.

One thing's for certain once you upgrade, you can never ever go back to dial-up because it's soooooo slow.

Just a quicky here...

Why do most ADSL providers like BTOpenworld, Freeola and Freserve charge £29.99 a month for ADSL connections when there are others like Pipex that only charge £23.44 a month.

What's the difference and if there isn't one, why don't Freeola make it cheaper?