We have just got Broad Band in Broad Haven - and I seem to remember some problem with BT and their broadband gizmo.

Thanks in advance,

G

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PA stuff on FB

Avoid Bulldog at all costs. They are the biggest bunch of thieving scam artists that I have ever had the misfortune to come across.

Other than that pretty much whoever you go with will be fine. BT are good but hold back on speed advances. Their DSL box is now fully supported under OS X whereas before they said that it wasn't but that you could manipulate it to work.

C

Whatever Broadband provider you choose, NEVER ever, ever, ever, ever, no matter what they say - never ever ever ever ever use a USB modem. ALWAYS use an Ethernet ADSL modem...always!
They can be purchased from ebuyer.co.uk for £20.00 or so.
A Branded (DLink & Belkin) wirless ADSL modem & router can be purchased for about £65.
No driver issues, no update worries, no processor usage, just quick reliable broadband connections.

Geoff

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www.myspace.com/jazzygb1
www.myspace.com/revox1

Quote cerithom:

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Avoid Bulldog at all costs. They are the biggest bunch of thieving scam artists that I have ever had the misfortune to come across.
C

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Blimey... I am intrigued.....!?!?
What happened Cerithom?
I'm very interested as I'm currently with Bulldog, and have been for the past 3 months and not had a single problem with them.... yet.

Plus I get 8 MEG, yes 8Meg broadband for £19.50 a month!?? It FLLLLIESS!!!!

But i'd be really interested to hear of any dodgyness goings on, .. just in case
Cheers.
m.

Seconded - was having probs with my Mac, went to a MacUser clinic at a show for help. Just about the 1st Q was 'do you use a USB ADSL modem? - If so get rid of it'.
Most of the cheap USB modems ISPs give you tend to be USB powered only and can draw a lot of current, this can cause problems.
A friend of mine with BT has just upgraded to Tiger - his USB modem no longer works. Another colleague has been having probs with his USB modem too.

Providers?
Currently with Pipex who're supposed to be upgrading me to 1Mb 'soon'.
Looking at MetroNet PayGo 2000 : 2mb with a 10GB D/L limit per month @ £18.75.
Dunno if anyone here uses them, but they seem to be quite well thought of AFAIK.

Like many other Mac users on this forum I'm on Nildram. £23 a month and you get a 2meg service. Excellent, hardly ever any problems (about 2 in 4 years but resolved quickly)

Bulldog? Well, some say they get an excellent service others that it's crap. Check their ADSLguide.org board:

http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=bulldog

Actually, after reading through a couple of pages I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to go for Bulldog

Yeah... I just checked that out Schuey....
Doesn't give the best impression!!?! .... I guess some ya win and some ya lose!!

I do sympathise with those that have problems etc , but i'm only telling my story, and so far, Bulldog have been awesome for me. Had only one problem setting up, and they're customer service was A1!!!! Wierd!?!

I think most ISP's can be good and bad, like my expriences with NTL a while back were diabolical. I do know Bulldog is a fairly new set up, so I went with it with an open mind so to speak. I felt that there may be the odd teething problem because it was all new, but none really for me (lucky me I guess!!!!)

..... But you can't fault 8mb download speed etc for that price!!

Anyway, luck favours the brave hehe.
M.

using a bog standard BT Voyager wireless broadband modem here.

not a moment's problem in two years or so.

laptop. broadband. wireless. a ménage a trois made in heaven.

Quote steveman:

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Providers?
Currently with Pipex who're supposed to be upgrading me to 1Mb 'soon'.

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Interesting you say that.. I too am with Pipex, and was supposedly going to be upgraded to 2mb 'soon'. So soon, that it was going to be done last month. I'd not mind as 1mb is not bad, but £33 a month is pricey now compared to what other ISP's offer. Its taking the wee wee a bit. Not least because if I was a NEW Pipex customer after a 1mb connection, i'd be paying half as much as I am now. EH!??

And yes, steer clear of USB modems. They are shite, yet ethernet/wireless adsl modems are dirt cheap, so there is no excuse to use a USB one these days. Heck, even Tesco's sell wireless/ethernet adsl modems for £50 now.

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Paul

Quote:

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Blimey... I am intrigued.....!?!?
What happened Cerithom?

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Signed up with them .... fine

No contact at all for 4 weeks not even a confirmation email .... not happy

Finally installed .... yes it does indeed fly

Three days later line breaks down ...

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 etc....... 20 days later and I'm still waiting for them to call me back about the problem.

Cancel my account ..... not the easiest thing to do

14 days later account is finally cancelled demand a full refund ... hopeful

14 days later received a refund ... very happy that I'd won.

Last week received an invoice for 2 months internet service .. not happy

Called them to complain and was on hold for 2 hours and 18 minutes. And that was when I gave up.

It comes out on July 5th so I'll be claiming it back from my bank based on their advice.

I'll let you know,

C

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Dual 2Ghz G5 2.5GB RAM, Logic Pro 7.2, Logic Control, MOTU 828mkII Drumkit from Hell C&V and Superior, EW QLSO Gold, Zebra and Cameleon, Melodyne Uno, Atmosphere, Max/MSP

Thanks for the help, especially about the USB Modem!!

Looks like Tiscali is good - 2 Mb, 15 gig for £ 20/month, with free bits &bobs.

G

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PA stuff on FB

Hmmm. Tiscali say " Mac computers are not supported for Tiscali Broadband "

Does this mean they are just Mac clueless and the modem will work, anyway? I'm assuming the free software is PC bollox anyway.

G

Quote Guy Johnson:

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Hmmm. Tiscali say " Mac computers are not supported for Tiscali Broadband "

Does this mean they are just Mac clueless and the modem will work, anyway? I'm assuming the free software is PC bollox anyway.

G

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It will work on a Mac. But their point is, they don't provide technical support for Macs.
As for software, no idea what they bundle with their package.. Usually a connection from any ISP doesn't need software, unless its drivers for said crappy USB modems (Oh, or AOL, but lets not go there eh!)

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Paul

Hello, Mr. Johnson.

I started to use DSL two or three years ago, DSL modem and computer were connected with Ethernet cable. Also I had to install proprietary software which took about a minute to load every time I wanted to access the Internet. I also remember reading in the manual that one of the Mac operating systems wasn't supported and PC required at least Pentium 2.

Later I bought wireless router and was surprised to discover that I no longer need any proprietary software and anything ANYTHING with Ethernet socket can use Internet through this router.

My first computer was Dell Latitude CPi A.
Then I bought two cheap notebooks: Dell Inspiron 1100 and iBook G4.
Both were connected to Internet by simply plugging in Ethernet cable and opening browser, I didn't change any settings and I didn't even see any dialog box, it just worked.

I also tried old Gateway with original Pentium 133 kHz and 32 MB RAM and Win95 made in 1996, it worked perfectly. And I tried Dell Axim (wirelessly). I belive anything will work including Palm, Linux, Beos and Windows 3.1.

If only ISPs could put their modem and router in one box they wouldn't need to print any manuals or have tech support.

Nowadays wireless routers are as cheap as wired ones, but wired router can provide extra piece of mind and even simpler to set up.

Like others, I'd strongly recommend an ethernet router rather than a USB modem. All you do is set your preferences to DHCP and plug the thing in - all set-up is automatic. Lack of Mac compatibility with ADSL solutions is usually to do with hardware/drivers. When I first got a USB modem, it sent my machine into a kernal panic! I'm sure things have come along since then, but still much better to go the ethernet route.

And I also recommend Nildram. They are very small compared to many of the other providers, which is a big plus. I can call a technician at 7.30pm and get straight through, although I've only needed to a few of times in three years and usually just to confirm a new set-up.

One thing I found out about Tiscali - they currently won't give out the MAC number you will need if you decide to go with someone else. Means once you're with thme you're stuck (for now).

Quote:

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Quote steveman:
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Providers?
Currently with Pipex who're supposed to be upgrading me to 1Mb 'soon'.



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Interesting you say that.. I too am with Pipex, and was supposedly going to be upgraded to 2mb 'soon'.

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Mine was a free upgrade to 1Mb, don't think I'll wait though, the MetroNet 2Mb deal looks much better.

Quote Ben:

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And I also recommend Nildram. They are very small compared to many of the other providers, which is a big plus. I can call a technician at 7.30pm and get straight through, although I've only needed to a few of times in three years and usually just to confirm a new set-up.

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Actually, Nildram are now owned by Pipex. Not so small anymore

Great info, peeps, thanks!

G

Anyone using homecall yet?

2mb broadband with unlimited time and downloads, line rental with free evening and weekend calls for £24.99. Regular call costs are better than BT as well. Looks like a great deal to me so from past experience I must have missed something.

Andy