24 hour internet

[Monnie]

Anyone out there on BT Openworld or something similar?

Have just given up work and DH is disparing of the monthly internet phone bill, so am thinking of switching to one of these 24 hour access jobbies.

My ISP is currently Freeserve so if anyone is on Freeserve Anytime, some comments from the consumer point of view would be great.

Anybody who is using any other package, I would love your comments too so that I can make an informed decision.

Tx

I want first refusal - he does housework and childminding and I've just found out that he has a shaven head. And anyway - I was the first flirt - keep your hands off him or I'll get you behind the bikesheds at playtime!!!

Only joking, one DH and 2 DSs is more than enough for me to cope with.

I only want him for his IT skills - my dh provides all the other services (even down to the shaven head!). And anyway, I'm a real wuss, "I'm a lover, not a fighter" (as Michael Jackson once said!).

Emsiewill, which speed of broadband are you going for with ntl? We were on 64K (which is now unavailable to new customers) and recently upgraded to 128K. Unfortunately all the data is transferred through one cable which is shared with others in your street, so your actual user speed depends on demand at any one time. I know of 3 other users on our street and have to say that I have seen the download speeds drop quite significantly. Having said that, for £14.99 a month with unlimited useage, no dial up delay and never being cut off, I still think it is excellent value for money. If you ever get it working I hope you are pleased with it.

Emsiewill and PamT

Ladies, please refrain from fighting over me. There is more than enough to go round and I'm sure that DW would loan me out for the right price.

Emsiewill

I don't live in South Wales so popping round to sort you out would be a bit of a trek.

SimonHoward, I couldn't possibly cope with another male, the three that I already have are more than enough! Have you seen the good slapping thread? You've got a competitor for all the female attention which you usually get, we haven't worked out who BestDH is yet. Another DH has posted on a spotty probem too!

Never mind SimonHoward, it's probably better that I don't see you and shatter my illusions!
On the subject of the cable modem, I have got no further with it - we've had visitors, and I've been away. BUT joy of joys, I think I've got a virus. I've had loads of e-mails saying things like "the message you sent has a virus, it has not been accepted" (or similar). I can't see the message they're referring to, but I suppose that's what happens with these "@'!*"£ viruses. So I'm off to download me some suitable software. Ho hum, life is never dull!
To answer your question, PamT, we have (or will do one day!) the same service as you. Glad to hear it's good (once it works!)

Emsiewill

I'd never shatter anyones illusions. They may end up with a few cracks in them though.

Emsiewill, did you ever get the ntl broadband working? I know 2 people who have just joined and had terrible problems getting on line and it turned out that they needed information from the welcome pack that ntl had failed to send them! I hope they haven't been making you pay £15 a month if you haven't been able to use it.

No, PamT, I STILL haven't sorted it out. I managed to get rid of my virus, reinstalled Windows ME, at my brother's suggestion, tried uninstalling printer, modem to avoid conflicts (I think you suggested that further down), and it still didn't work. Called ntl, and guess what? I couldn't get through AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGHHHH! They now have a message on the help line saying "There is a high demand for this service, thank you for your patience". I really don't have time for all this, I just want it to be up and running. I suspect I may be missing some information from ntl, but if I can't get through, how can I find it out? I'm a bit wary of demanding money back, free months etc, as I'm sure they're going to tell me that the problem is with my PC, and so it's tough.

SimonHoward, glad to hear you're not a disappointment

I'd still be tempted to try it on and tell them that one of the reasons you haven't been able to sort it out is because you can never get through to the help line - as your phone bill will show. You could try ringing the main ntl fault line which is free and telling them that you want them to ring you because you can't get through.

Well.....it's working!!!!! We've had to do it a rather extravagant way and buy a new PC. No, not really, we didn't buy a new one just for the cable modem; the old one died, and so we had to get a new one anyway. I got it today, and after I'd got it up and running, I decided to bite the bullet and give the cable modem setup a go. And it worked!!! So I've been surfing the web, and on the phone at the same time - how exciting. Loads of new gadgets to play with on this PC. I'm like a child with a new toy. I AM a child with a new toy.

Well the champagne should come out to toast the fact that you are finally live with ntl broadband. I know of other people who had difficulties, but none as bad as you! Make sure you make up for lost time! Congratulations.

PS make sure that you have a firewall programme and anti-virus software activated now that you are permanently connected.

Emsiewill, now for the bad news, your Mumsnet addiction will now be 100 times worse!

Jodee - I don't think that's possible!
PamT - my brother has already advised me on that, and after checking out mumsnet, I downloaded both, and they're now protecting me from the forces of evil!

We had trouble getting ntl broadband to work. Coldn't get passed the password bit. DH the techie spent ages trying to ring for help. Then me the techno-phob got it working -just followed the instructions to the letter. DH said oh they must have changed something. have yet to work out how get dd and dh own e-mail account yet!!

Glad someones cable modem is working fine now.

Mines up and down at odd times. Going to have words with the guys running the equipment later and find out what they are playing at.

We have difficulty sending emails at times, I think that is down to server problems with ntl though. We have also noticed that connection speeds have slowed down since more people have gone 'broadband'. Apparently the more people sharing a cable the longer it takes, early morning seems fine - I think I must be the only one in the neighbourhood online at 6.30am but evenings are getting slower. Even though we are permanently connected it does sometimes take a while to open up Internet Explorer, presumably whilst we are allocated a slot ('detecting proxy settings' ). It is so much quicker and easier than dial up though.

Has anybody used Blueyonder? Thoroughly sick of BT - we have had a problem with our ADSL link for two weeks which needs a part to fix it, the first time they "lost" the order, the second time they sent it by courier but advised us that it would take a week to get here. So we've been without a fast Internet link for two weeks now :-(. Work is only a feeble substitute! Any views on Telewest reliability, customer service, phone service etc appreciated.

I'm a blueyonder user - the system is very good but the customer service is rubbish. However, if you can get past that, it is fine. One tip, it is much cheaper to go with them for everything - ie phone, tv, internet, as you get substantial discounts. We also have unlimited phone use, which is a real godsend.

Message withdrawn

florenceuk - we're with Telewest and have cable modem and blueyonder email accounts. We've had no problems at all.

sb34

Blueyonders dialup service should be available to anyone with a phone. Their Broadband High Speed Internet (Cable Modem to you and me) is only available in their franchise areas where they have a Cable TV network.

It has been rated the best in the UK this year which impressed people as it was barely in the top 10 last year.