I have just bought a new computer and am looking for a Broadband ISP. I have not used Broadband before on my home PC and so I dont really know where to start.

I dont know how much download cap I would need or what speed I can get really.

I have used Freeserve/Wanadoo/Orange as the dial-up provider but don't really want to have broadband from them. I have heard Waitrose are quite good but they seem quite expensive. Does anyone have any experience with Waitrose Broadband?

I would probably be looking at wireless but it doesnt really matter too much.

I dont know whether there will be a problem as the current telephone filter we have where the phone line is in the bottom socket and I plug the modem line in the top also has the Sky TV wire plugged into it, so I dont know whether we would still be able to use this filter for broadband.

I would use broadband for chatting to my friends, listening to music and downloading a little, playing games, email and general browsing.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

I also dont understand what this means:

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a line rate up to 2Mbps. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 6Mbps up to 8Mbps. The actual ADSL line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use, after which time the highest stable rate possible will be set. If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase. Thank you for your interest.

Hi Humbug contact O2 they are very reilable and reasonable priced good luck

It seems 02 broadband isnt available in my area.

If you have Sky TV already then the cheapest solution would be Sky Broadband - if in an available area this can be free with speeds of upto 2 meg - this may be sufficient for what you intend to use.

O2 have a very good record in terms of customer service and reliability - this would be my recommendation if you are looking for service over cost.

From your intended usage I would think that you need speeds upto 8 meg for good quality online gaming, less if you dont intend to use this service much

Any futher questions please let me know

thanks

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Rob Barnes
Head of Broadband & Mobile
moneysupermarket.com

Is it correct to leave a router/modem on all the time, even when not in use, or should it be turned off?

I am really not sure whether to go for 8GB or 5GB allowance?

I am sometimes on the Internet for hours browsing and playing games and watching videos, and sometimes only for about half an hour to check my emails.

Videos and games are 'heavy' uses of the Internet so get the highest download speed and ceiling you can get.

As to whom you should get your service from, that's a bit of a minefield. If Internet access is important to you, then you should go for a provider who owns that cables and the infrastructure (BT or Virgin). Anyone else is simply a parasite and you will end up paying less but having support nightmares.

MS will probably recommend Sky or TalkTalk, both of whom have less than perfect reputations as this is NOT their core business and is, again, reflected in their less than perfect support track record. If I was pushed, Sky would be my preference of the two given that TalkTalk is owned by Craphone Whorehouse who has systematically trashed customer care in favour of shareholder dividends.

Any xDSL service will be what is classified as "Always On" so leaving your modem/router active is what 90% will do anyway. Just make sure you have GOOD anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-adware and anti-malware software on your PC. McAfee, FSecure or Kaperski would be my choice. Whatever else you do, DON'T go for Norton without headache pills and jars of coffee. Once installed, Norton seems to think it owns your PC.

Have fun

SHARK!

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For every positive action, there's an equal and opposite government plan.

Landshark:

Videos and games are 'heavy' uses of the Internet so get the highest download speed and ceiling you can get.

As to whom you should get your service from, that's a bit of a minefield. If Internet access is important to you, then you should go for a provider who owns that cables and the infrastructure (BT or Virgin). Anyone else is simply a parasite and you will end up paying less but having support nightmares.

MS will probably recommend Sky or TalkTalk, both of whom have less than perfect reputations as this is NOT their core business and is, again, reflected in their less than perfect support track record. If I was pushed, Sky would be my preference of the two given that TalkTalk is owned by Craphone Whorehouse who has systematically trashed customer care in favour of shareholder dividends.

Any xDSL service will be what is classified as "Always On" so leaving your modem/router active is what 90% will do anyway. Just make sure you have GOOD anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-adware and anti-malware software on your PC. McAfee, FSecure or Kaperski would be my choice. Whatever else you do, DON'T go for Norton without headache pills and jars of coffee. Once installed, Norton seems to think it owns your PC.

Have fun

SHARK!

Yeah you can go for BT who will track your surfing habbits via some spyware called Phorm and disconnect you if you download something via BitTorrent

or

TalkTalk where you can opt out of Phorm and they have recently told BPI they are not the police of the internet and wont bow down (unlike the government) to the music industry. But they do generally have a bad track record.

Good luck.

testydonkey:

Yeah you can go for BT who will track your surfing habbits via some spyware called Phorm and disconnect you if you download something via BitTorrent

or

TalkTalk where you can opt out of Phorm and they have recently told BPI they are not the police of the internet and wont bow down (unlike the government) to the music industry. But they do generally have a bad track record.

Good luck.

Only a small number of people were caught by BT's possibly illegal activity and if you are seriously concerned about Phorm, check your PC but I doubt whether you will be affected.

Personally, I'd rather have an ISP act responsibly to get scum off the Internet who indulge in illegal or immoral activities than someone like TalkTalk who couldn't give a monkey's. If BT caught ONE paedophile as a result of this, do you think there would be an outcry from anyone other than the Yuman Rights nutters?

SHARK!

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For every positive action, there's an equal and opposite government plan.

Landshark:

testydonkey:

Yeah you can go for BT who will track your surfing habbits via some spyware called Phorm and disconnect you if you download something via BitTorrent

or

TalkTalk where you can opt out of Phorm and they have recently told BPI they are not the police of the internet and wont bow down (unlike the government) to the music industry. But they do generally have a bad track record.

Good luck.

Only a small number of people were caught by BT's possibly illegal activity and if you are seriously concerned about Phorm, check your PC but I doubt whether you will be affected.

Personally, I'd rather have an ISP act responsibly to get scum off the Internet who indulge in illegal or immoral activities than someone like TalkTalk who couldn't give a monkey's. If BT caught ONE paedophile as a result of this, do you think there would be an outcry from anyone other than the Yuman Rights nutters?

SHARK!

BT didn't do this to track down paedophiles, they did this to get more money from ad generated revenue, I doubt they even care. You do know BitTorrent can be used to download things which aren't illegal/Immoral?

From what I have read it seems that TalkTalk do care but will only threaten someone when approached by a music company. Instead of having it part of their business model.

Right,.. I've been around the houses before, used Freeserve - pure crap

AOL - Haha yeh right

I'm currently with a company called Nildram, A.k.a Nildram.net
They are very good in all fairness:

* I get 8meg [ Due to phone line ],
* Unlimited Downloads [ No Cap ],
* Free webspace [ If I had time to make a web site ],
* E-mail Address

Plus they supplied a Free Netgear Modem/Router.

That costs me £20 a month . . . Not too shabby

You will find companys out there who dare I agree with Shark have a mass of troubles in the background, Fact is the likes of BT have the monopoly on the internet and home phone due to all the phone lines being owned by themselfs [ well nearly all ].

But reading through your requirements I would just like to inform you of several key issues:

* You need a filter on every active phone socket in the house, Sky would need to have a filter too [unless already installed]
* Internet security wise Norton 360 is the most comprehensive on the market offering you a Firewall, Internet Security and Anti-Virus,.. 360 is also improved so it doesn't believe it "owns" your computer.

O2 would be my recommendation at the moment based on customer service, cost etc

8meg/free wireless router/unlimited downloads/free customer and tech support. £12.50 per month so not the cheapest but you usually get what you pay for. If you have an o2 contract or PAYG phone you save £5 per month - as long as you register with them

regards

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Rob Barnes
Head of Broadband & Mobile
moneysupermarket.com

I would recommend Eclipse Internet - I have had nearly 7 years of trouble free broadband with these guys.