Faster internet connections - if you don't have cable, what is a good package to go for?

[Popparoo]

My internet connection is annoyingly slow (Freeserve Anytime) and I would like to upgrade to a faster package. Unfortunately I am not in a street which has cable. Can anyone recommend any good or bad service providers to improve my connection speed/ swap to broadband? There seem to be lots of different connection speeds around - I don't need the fastest one there is, just something faster than freeserve!

Are you in an area which can get ADSL? We use Nildram as our provider which isn't cheap (32 quid a month I think) but is extremely stable been very pleased with them. I've also heard that Demon's ADSL service is pretty good, but I don't know how much they are off hand.

Do you get satellite? I have a feeling you can get broadband through the dish but not sure how it works. I use BT internet and its not too bad (most of the time) but have often thought about trying Tiscali.

I live on a country lane and they won't put cable in as it is not cost efective.
We have broadband from BTOpenworld, really easy to install and simple to set up. We have four computers networked together (wirelessly) and they are all on at the same time, the surfing family!! Not had any problems with it, touch wood!

We've just upgraded to Broadband (aDSL) with Tiscali and are really pleased with it. We were already using the Tiscali anytime contract, so got a really good deal.

I could have got Demon quite cheaply through my work - but dh was extremely happy with the customer service he'd got with Tiscali.

You can go to the BT web site and check if your local exchange is "enabled" for aDSL just by putting your telephone number in. You don't then have to go with BT - if it is enabled, then any of the telecom providers will be able to offer you broadband.

If your exchange is NOT enabled, register your interest anyway - once a certain threshold of people have registered, then BT HAVE (I think) to enable the exchange.

broadband satellite is extremely expensive and no better than ADSL - it is only really for businesses who can't get ADSL. Likewise don't even think about ISDN.

If you can't get ADSL then any paid for dial up account is likely to be better than freeserve ( but only just!).

Lucy I was under the impression that ISDN had now become much cheaper? (although I think ADSL is better, so if you can get it go for that option).

The main problem with satellite broadband is that it's only the downlink (i.e. downloading stuff to PC, viewing webpages etc) for uplink you still need to use the phone which can be a pain (and as has already been mentioned is very expensive way of doing it).

I thought that ISDN was now obselete? ADSL has replaced it.

Some companies still use ISDN (my dh's co for one!) - I think most people who have it now only have it because they can't get ADSL in their area.

We have ISDN as we can't get ADSL... but our neighbours can... don't ask!!!! We had to go to Oftel to complain as BT was unable to give 1 answer!!!

I think line rental for ISDN is cheaper but you still have to pay for calls and/or use a slow freeserve type server. We have it as we can't get ADSL and are seriously considering moving house.

We've got Demon and the only problems we've had have been at our end e.g. DH crashing computer with one exception when it went out for half a day.

They have an offer on at the moment, no set up fee until March 31. 24.99 per month.

Demon ADSL

Thanks for all the advice! We had been considering trying Tiscali but I don't know anyone else who uses them so haven't decided yet. Will definitely follow up on the ideas given here, and its nice to know which service providers are rated by their customers!

Is disatisfaction with Freeserve a common thing?

At least in my experience, Popparoo - my mum uses Freeserve (just the normal dial up version though, don't think she uses Anytime - doesn't clock up enough time) and she's always having difficulty getting mail through or having a slow connection speed.

Part of it is me being used to ADSL but when I go there I'm always getting really impatient waiting for pages to load up - my mum keeps telling me that's why she hardly uses the internet - she thinks it's too slow!

We are on Tiscali broadband but at work we use the dial up service and have had no problems.