I've been using Virgin Media since I first got broadband in 2001 (was initially NTL) but I've decided it's time to change. Can anyone offer any recommendations as the best options?

You may wish to change the header on the thread Tony

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 4:56 pm

You may wish to change the header on the thread Tony

Done - just had a very stressful day with Virgin Media

Sky full fibre 100 is £25 month for 18 months had to have a new landline number but we never use it.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/broad ... broadband/
We use MSE tend to get very good deals us no hassle.

Brsk seem to be growing incredibly quickly. They've got fast speeds and seem to have good reviews

I currently pay £26 a month with TalkTalk Full Fibre 150. It's not the fastest out there, but I think you get to a point where any more speed is a bit redundant for most people. Streaming works well and websites load up quickly. The connection hardly ever goes down (compared to Sky when I had a lot of trouble).

Stonehouse wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 4:58 pm

Sky full fibre 100 is £25 month for 18 months had to have a new landline number but we never use it.

Not available here unfortunately - best I can get from Sky is a part fibre option at £28 per month.

Switched recently from Sky to YouFibre. 150mbps for £24 p/m and they will buy you out of your current contract.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:12 pm

Switched recently from Sky to YouFibre. 150mbps for £24 p/m and they will buy you out of your current contract.

Same issue I'm likely to have with any I think, no full fibre available.

Plusnet, BT but cheaper and better customer service.
https://www.plus.net/refer.php?strRefer ... 6ed5d2fc6c

I share your frustration Tony, however where we are nobody comes close to the speeds Virgin Media offer at anything like the price. We have gone through the old leaving process to get a better deal and the last 3 renewals at 18 month intervals have shown a reduction in our monthly cost.

A rock and a hard place unfortunately.

I’m on BT, very pleased with it and customer service is fine, DO NOT get Talk talk, if anything goes wrong then actually talking to someone is very difficult, and if you do , it will be someone from Mumbai.

Quite a few offers on at the moment with the providers tripping up over themselves to provide fibre to the home.

aclaretinstevenage wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:35 pm

I share your frustration Tony, however where we are nobody comes close to the speeds Virgin Media offer at anything like the price. We have gone through the old leaving process to get a better deal and the last 3 renewals at 18 month intervals have shown a reduction in our monthly cost.

A rock and a hard place unfortunately.

I know I'm not going to achieve anything like I get with Virgin Media but I'm having issues in terms of where I usually sit, the wifi can drop at any given moment but nowhere else in the house, and today I've found none of my email addresses working and they've been unable to resolve that. But where I live is not even in the plans for full fibre.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:45 pm

I know I'm not going to achieve anything like I get with Virgin Media but I'm having issues in terms of where I usually sit, the wifi can drop at any given moment but nowhere else in the house, and today I've found none of my email addresses working and they've been unable to resolve that. But where I live is not even in the plans for full fibre.

Another vote for plusnet, been with them since they first started, though I'm not sure what your service provider has to do with your email not working, unless they are virgin addresses (is there such a thing?)

Row x wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 6:01 pm

Another vote for plusnet, been with them since they first started, though I'm not sure what your service provider has to do with your email not working, unless they are virgin addresses (is there such a thing?)

They are virginmedia addresses

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:45 pm

I know I'm not going to achieve anything like I get with Virgin Media but I'm having issues in terms of where I usually sit, the wifi can drop at any given moment but nowhere else in the house, and today I've found none of my email addresses working and they've been unable to resolve that. But where I live is not even in the plans for full fibre.

We live in old house with thick walls so they provided us with a booster which means that they’res less chance of the signal dropping when your a couple of rooms away from the hub.

Our Sky broadband is shite………..don’t touch it.

I've just re-signed up with Virgin for £24 a month. Unlimited use 125mb I think. Plenty for what I use.

If it's just signal and VM aren't playing ball, it might be worth ringing a TV aerial guy who might deal with signal problems with Internet.

It might be a 2 minute job.

Goliath wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:05 pm

Brsk seem to be growing incredibly quickly. They've got fast speeds and seem to have good reviews

I second this. I switched from Virgin after 20 years to BRSK and never looked back. 1gbps upload and download. It's been rock solid.

Never left BT. never had to. Not cheap or anything but I've never had a real problem in 15 years or so

Virgin are okay until you have a problem then they are a pain. I use Plusnet and generally get good service

I would advise going through any cash back site because for no extra cost you can get a lot of money back, typically £50-£125. My referral link is below which gives you an extra £10 bonus but you can use any cash back site. I just use TopCashback as they are reliable in terms of actually getting the cash back

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/stark ... OS-TAFPage

99% of peoples issues with their broadband is down to using stock routers. They are all crap. These days more than ever you need to invest in a decent router to stand a chance.

I've had brsk for over a year but not available in all areas yet. I get around 500mbps for about £25. I could recommend you if you can get it and we both get a £50 amazon voucher.
I've had no issues with it.

I’ve had virgin, BT and sky over last 10 years or so. Virgin been best performing broadband for us. I had numerous fall outs with BT, Sky broadband was just so slow.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:45 pm

I know I'm not going to achieve anything like I get with Virgin Media but I'm having issues in terms of where I usually sit, the wifi can drop at any given moment but nowhere else in the house, and today I've found none of my email addresses working and they've been unable to resolve that. But where I live is not even in the plans for full fibre.

Buy a decent router rather than the cheap cr@p virgin will have provided (all ISPs do this) and stop using an ISP supplier email address and use something like Gmail.

I'd try a mesh wifi system Tony, we get perfect signal throughout the house after previously having black spots with virgin's router. Now the router acts as a modem and the mesh system 'nodes' bounce a perfect signal all over.

I can recommend the TP-Link deco systems.

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 28, 2024 11:01 am

Buy a decent router rather than the cheap cr@p virgin will have provided (all ISPs do this) and stop using an ISP supplier email address and use something like Gmail.

A router can only do so much - it's ultimately down to the Service Provider. And the faster networks use an Optical Network Terminal now. Not the router you'd plug in directly to the computer.

Regarding email, a custom domain is the most professional and secure option. yourname@yourdomain.com - Google can be very random and lock you out of gmails if you access it from different locations. They aren't the best option.

BT/EE simply the best around.

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 28, 2024 11:51 am

A router can only do so much - it's ultimately down to the Service Provider. And the faster networks use an Optical Network Terminal now. Not the router you'd plug in directly to the computer.

Regarding email, a custom domain is the most professional and secure option. yourname@yourdomain.com - Google can be very random and lock you out of gmails if you access it from different locations. They aren't the best option.

When it comes to WiFi dropping out it is the router, not the ISP. With an ONT you still need a router. I wouldn’t be taking IT advice off you in a hurry.

Deathtrip wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:03 pm

BT/EE simply the best around.

Yep that’s who I’m with can’t fault it so far.

Sheedyclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 2:47 pm

Yep that’s who I’m with can’t fault it so far.

Me too

Here in Wales we have been making do with Voadaphone on copper line broadband. Always dropping out and line faults.
More a problem with old lines and boxes in the street being overworked.

I have been waiting for over 3 years for openreach to get fibre to us. Finally got to us last week.
Gone for EE. Can't wait till early January to go live.

Good to hear others are very happy with EE's service

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 2:34 pm

When it comes to WiFi dropping out it is the router, not the ISP. With an ONT you still need a router. I wouldn’t be taking IT advice off you in a hurry.

I bet you were a nice person in a previous life. It's what I read and yeah - not an IT expert with regards to hardware. Now when it comes to social media, email marketing, software etc... I know a lot more than you.

I changed to Vodafone earlier this year and more than happy with it.

Commy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 5:27 pm

I changed to Vodafone earlier this year and more than happy with it.

Vodaphone was way better than sky.
The pro2 kit worked well through solid walls.

Zen broadband.

If you go with EE don't bother with their digital voice line. Very unreliable, never know whether its working on not so have had it disconnected

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 5:11 pm

I bet you were a nice person in a previous life. It's what I read and yeah - not an IT expert with regards to hardware. Now when it comes to social media, email marketing, software etc... I know a lot more than you.

Sorry you think I’m not a nice person but if you’re going to be condescending and wrong, I’m going to be pretty sharp in response.

How do you know that you know more about those topics than me? You know absolutely nothing about me beyond me being a Burnley fan.

On the email issue, I’m not sure what problems you’ve had in the past with gmail but I’ve never had an issue with logging in from multiple locations causing my account to be locked. Though it’s not my primary email so maybe I just don’t use it enough to be impacted.

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:28 pm

Sorry you think I’m not a nice person but if you’re going to be condescending and wrong, I’m going to be pretty sharp in response.

How do you know that you know more about those topics than me? You know absolutely nothing about me beyond me being a Burnley fan.

On the email issue, I’m not sure what problems you’ve had in the past with gmail but I’ve never had an issue with logging in from multiple locations causing my account to be locked. Though it’s not my primary email so maybe I just don’t use it enough to be impacted.

Be as sharp as you like. And I'm not wrong. Anyway, you're added to the ****-list, so enjoy your New Year and we can leave it at that

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:31 pm

Be as sharp as you like. And I'm not wrong. Anyway, you're added to the ****-list, so enjoy your New Year and we can leave it at that

Well you’d be the first person I’ve met who knows more about software than me who didn’t know the difference between a router and an ONT. Can only hope you’re a lot better at social media than you are at using a search engine.

Honoured to be on your list. Hopefully in 2025 you don’t dish out what you can’t take back

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:41 pm

Well you’d be the first person I’ve met who knows more about software than me who didn’t know the difference between a router and an ONT. Can only hope you’re a lot better at social media than you are at using a search engine.

Honoured to be on your list. Hopefully in 2025 you don’t dish out what you can’t take back

A router and an ONT is hardware - not software. And I've already told you I'm not an expert on hardware. Do keep up.
And dish it out? Says the guy hiding behind a keyboard/phone? Nahhh. I take that with a pinch of salt.

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:46 pm

A router and an ONT is hardware - not software. And I've already told you I'm not an expert on hardware. Do keep up.
And dish it out? Says the guy hiding behind a keyboard/phone? Nahhh. I take that with a pinch of salt.

We’re both on the internet… you corrected me (wrongly) and I corrected you in return. Yet you took offence. Hence you dished it out but couldn’t take it.

It is hardware, though routers do have software on them, but a quick google would have told you what both do. I’d have expected a social media expert could do a quick google to learn the basics. Do keep up

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:52 pm

We’re both on the internet… you corrected me (wrongly) and I corrected you in return. Yet you took offence. Hence you dished it out but couldn’t take it.

It is hardware, though routers do have software on them, but a quick google would have told you what both do. I’d have expected a social media expert could do a quick google to learn the basics. Do keep up

I corrected you.. erm... correctly. So you're wrong with both paragraphs. Well done, that took some doing!
If you're as good as you're making out, then I'd prefer to have you working with me than against me - so leave your number/email and I'll make contact. Who knows, we might end up being richer business partners!

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:55 pm

I corrected you.. erm... correctly. So you're wrong with both paragraphs. Well done, that took some doing!
If you're as good as you're making out, then I'd prefer to have you working with me than against me - so leave your number/email and I'll make contact. Who knows, we might end up being richer business partners!

I admire your confidence but you didn’t. CT has an issue with his home network, while the poor standard equipment Virgin have provided him may contribute it’s not the fault of the service they are providing as your home network isn’t their responsibility. I’d always advocate people use better quality networking equipment as ISPs cannot be relied on to provide a good solution and the construction of your house may also drive you towards a particular solution.

Unfortunately I don’t think you’re as good as you make out and I’m not into making bad work decisions so I’ll pass.

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:04 pm

I admire your confidence but you didn’t. CT has an issue with his home network, while the poor standard equipment Virgin have provided him may contribute it’s not the fault of the service they are providing as your home network isn’t their responsibility. I’d always advocate people use better quality networking equipment as ISPs cannot be relied on to provide a good solution and the construction of your house may also drive you towards a particular solution.

Unfortunately I don’t think you’re as good as you make out and I’m not into making bad work decisions so I’ll pass.

I did. Over 3 milllion social media followers and over 34 million opt-in email marketing contacts who I sell to again and again. But... it's software, which I can tell isn't your thing. If you want to better yourself, get back in touch.

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:06 pm

I did. Over 3 milllion social media followers and over 34 million opt-in email marketing contacts who I sell to again and again. But... it's software, which I can tell isn't your thing. If you want to better yourself, get back in touch.

You really didn’t, I guess as it’s hardware you still don’t see where it went wrong.

I quite like software it’s very useful especially when flashing routers to have a better home networking solution, can’t say I care for how many social media followers or email marketing contacts you sell to though.

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:11 pm

You really didn’t, I guess as it’s hardware you still don’t see where it went wrong.

I quite like software it’s very useful especially when flashing routers to have a better home networking solution, can’t say I care for how many social media followers or email marketing contacts you sell to though.

To be fair, he's the expert on changing his username every time he gets banned!

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:13 pm

To be fair, he's the expert on changing his username every time he gets banned!

Probably helps plump those email contact numbers too

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:11 pm

You really didn’t, I guess as it’s hardware you still don’t see where it went wrong.

I quite like software it’s very useful especially when flashing routers to have a better home networking solution, can’t say I care for how many social media followers or email marketing contacts you sell to though.

Here we go. Mr comes in and joins the chat as he always does. Edited the post, as it's too predictable. Enjoy the holidays!

Now time for the most important thing - the game!