BT Total Broadband?
(11 posts, started )
#1 - TiJay
BT Total Broadband?
So I've finally persuaded the parents to change from God-awful Tiscali after the connection just stopped working one day and tech support refused/were too shite to help. We're switching to BT Unlimited 8meg so I was wondering what they're like in terms of reliability, customer service etc?

Obviously I expect they do traffic shaping/port throttling of some kind but I'm hoping it's less aggressive/annoying than Tiscali's "no P2P or gaming after 4pm" crap. Am I right to assume that?
Quote from TiJay :We're switching to BT Unlimited 8meg so I was wondering what they're like?

Has that decision been made already?

None of the Entanet resellers (ADSL24, UKFSN etc) have any traffic shaping/port throttling at all and very generous allowances. Couple that with monthly contracts and you really cant loose.
#3 - Bean0
Quote from The Moose :Has that decision been made already?

None of the Entanet resellers (ADSL24, UKFSN etc) have any traffic shaping/port throttling at all and very generous allowances. Couple that with monthly contracts and you really cant loose.

Not strictly true.

The whole Enta network is covered by their Anti Loss Tool (ALT). During busy periods, you may find that your download speeds decrease as they are capped to prevent packet loss and ensure that services such as VOIP and gaming aren't interrupted by those leeching the newest episode of Desperate Housewives.

In the worst case you may go down to the equivalent of a 2mb line for a few hours overnight.
Quote from Bean0 :Not strictly true.

The whole Enta network is covered by their Anti Loss Tool (ALT). During busy periods, you may find that your download speeds decrease as they are capped to prevent packet loss and ensure that services such as VOIP and gaming aren't interrupted by those leeching the newest episode of Desperate Housewives.

In the worst case you may go down to the equivalent of a 2mb line for a few hours overnight.

Yup, but I've always found that far more of a sensible solution than completely blocking/throttling certain traffic. A temporary speed decrease to nothing lower than 2mb is far better than not being able to do certain things at all imo.

Once I'm on my own connection again it will definitely be Entanet i go to. I have heard nothing but good reports from everyone i know that joined them.
I've been with BT Total Broadband's 8MB connection for 3 years or so (well, it's only been 8MB for a year or so - it was 2 before that) and I've never had a problem with them at all. I've not noticed any download limits if they're in place.
#6 - Jakg
They DO FTP throttle (although they wont admit to it).

Thats it.

BT rock, but Be are cheaper and better.
#7 - TiJay
Sorry for the bump, only got BT broadband today. Seems worth it so far simply because of the lack of port blocking- and It Just Works. Obviously I can't commment on reliability yet.

In answer to the earlier questions, BT was the only real choice because small/relatively unknown providers were out of the question. Which is a shame because it would be nice to experience a more specialist/gaming provider.
I'm using the same package, pretty mixed feelings about it.

One thing I can't fault, is its reliable. In the last 5 months there's probably only been about 20 mins where I've not been able to load a webpage quickly. And for normal web downloads its very speedy, occasionally I even get the full 8mb. Pings are almost always very respectable as well (I am on an exchange that doesn't really get busy though..).

Its let down by two things, a) tech support, which has to be amongst the worst in industry. And b) port throttling, between 5pm-1am every day I can't download anything at more than 30kb/s, unless its a normal http download.
BT SUCK, all that can be said. Have recently signed up with them for our small business, all sort of problems. Engineer was meant to turn up on a given date, no one showed up after waiting at the premises 6h!! So i phoned telling them no one turned up, woman on the phone told me my line has been successfully installed when eerrrr no one physically came to install a new cable and wall socket!!!!!!!!! After I explained to her what was wrong twice she then asked "soo err what is the problem" i was like FFS i just told you. So she said she will look into it and that some one will ring back to conform and re arrange a date for the engineer to come and install the new line. No one rang for two days, so i ring again asking where was the promised phone call?

Again I get some smart arse on the phone who couldn't understand what i was telling her, that I H A V E N O W A L L S O C K E T very slowly, she said ok she will try and help, after listening to Bethoven for a few minutes she returned with a new date when the engineer will turn up! I thought that was the end of it but no! Engineer turns up, it his notes he has written that he has come to fix a current BT line (when i don't have one yet) and that the owners are unable to find the wall socket (in one room) and that it wasn't his job to install a new line.

After telling him our story he was kind enough to install it but said he couldn't finish it and that another engineer will need to finish ff the job. After coming home and again complaining they managed to get an engineer out asap and in the end managed to fit a new line after 2 weeks of hassle!!! and they ask you to pay £120 up front and you get this shit from them, they have some cheek. If i were you TiJay I would stay waaaay clear of Bastard Telecom.

Just awful, they treat you like if you're a moron, thinking you cannot pinpoint a fecking wall socket!! organize engineer visits where no one actually turns up and and they take your money up front!!!

bunch of useless retards!
Quote :Its let down by two things, a) tech support, which has to be amongst the worst in industry. And b) port throttling, between 5pm-1am every day I can't download anything at more than 30kb/s, unless its a normal http download.

It's all relative mate. On Tiscali, tech support was some guy in Bombay reading a checklist. And I couldn't use BitComet or FrostWire AT ALL after 5pm because they blocked it (not that they'd own up to it, the bastards), so 30Kbs is better than nothing.
Ke connect all the way people best isp in Britian stupid fast speeds and NO downtime since i been with them

BT Total Broadband?
(11 posts, started )
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