Choosing new ISP - oh the stress

[Richard_CC]

So its finally arrived - FTTC box in line of sight from my study
window. Just too late to avoid another month or two with Demon, but
here at last. I have an unencumbered BT phone line, so all I need to do
is call up an ISP and get started. Simple.

I know what I want. Unlimited, fast as I can get so 76mbps, data because
when my kids are home in holidays we get through the data and speed
because my son is a musician and always collaborating with other
people. On line drum lesson anyone? Plus if I can video conference a
customer or two instead of 8 hour drives, its a winner. I also want an
outgoing SMTP server that I can authenticate to and use multiple
personalities from wherever I may be. One day I will put my phones
through the ISP as well, but for now want to keep them separate because
we have 2 lines on an old but good BT deal.

I don't use support very often - only when things at 'their end' break -
but do expect a response and do expect accurate billing.

A&A too expensive. My mental short list was Plusnet and Zen. Then I
put BT in the mix because my wife said everyone she ever goes to visit
just has BT so why make it difficult. In terms of cost, Zen is about
£120 a year more than BT, who are a few quid more than plusnet.

Then I started looking in more detail. BT does give you more, including
wifi access out and about at hotspots, nice but I don't really need it.
TV isn't that important either. Plusnet seem to be the 'value option'.
Zen looks more like Demon in the 90's. Niche and nice.

Then I started looking at reviews. I know some people slag of just
about anything, and that most people only post to grumble. BT gets a
lot of grumbles - support passed from pillar to post, that sort of
thing. Plusnet seems to be getting worse - a good reputation but these
days it can take 30 minutes to get through. But both have their
supporters too. Zen customers seem to be getting grumpy as well, sounds
like they might be losing staff - familiar tale. Are they worth the
extra I ask? £10 a month is nothing, but between now and when I lose my
marbles it will add up.

Oh what to do? I stuck with Demon for 18 years and would hate having to
chop and change every year or two. I want to make the right choice.
Plus I had to replace our old broken Sony DVD recorder and my wife hates
the new Panasonic one, which I have grown to distrust too, so its all
my fault, I must get this right.

Oh the stress, help anyone .....

[Barclay Weir]

1. Go BT
2. Buy a few BT shares
3. Convince yourself (and SWMBO) that you are investing in yourself

That's what I did when I left Demon after umpteen years - never looked
back. Still take demon.service news feed to watch the horror show ...

Barclay Weir

[Joe]

On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:10:19 +0000
Richard_CC <ric...@nospam.rjcresources.co.uk> wrote:

> So its finally arrived - FTTC box in line of sight from my study
> window. Just too late to avoid another month or two with Demon, but
> here at last. I have an unencumbered BT phone line, so all I need to
> do is call up an ISP and get started. Simple.
>

BT is probably OK for domestic use. I've had many problems with them
with business clients, and they're utterly useless if you move premises.

They outsource their email, currently to Microsoft, though it could be
worse: they used to use Yahoo. Seriously. For business customers as
well as domestic.

As a general recommendation, go with your own email domain, regardless
of who you choose for ISP. You can get the use of a smarthost, and you
can shop around for the deal that suits you. ISPs generally aren't
interested in email, it's a complication, they don't want to employ
support staff who understand it, and almost all their customers use free
webmail, which is Someone Else's Problem.

--
Joe

[John Aldred]

On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:10:19 +0000, Richard_CC wrote:

> So its finally arrived - FTTC box in line of sight from my study
> window. Just too late to avoid another month or two with Demon, but
> here at last. I have an unencumbered BT phone line, so all I need to do
> is call up an ISP and get started. Simple.
>

I had the same problem at the beginning of last month. FTTC finally
arrived in our village, but only with a limited number of connections. So
it was a matter of coming to a decision quickly. I couldn't wait for
Demon to come up with a FTTC service. I too considered A&A and thought
about BT but for the reasons you mentioned decided against them. In the
end I decided that Plusnet ticked all the boxes for me. So far so good.
The change over went through smoothly. Yes their help line can involve a
30 min wait at busy times, but it is usually answered with a Yorkshire
accent! However it is 24/7 so if you are a night owl like me then it is
OK :-)

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:10:19 +0000, Richard_CC

<ric...@nospam.rjcresources.co.uk> wrote:

>Oh the stress, help anyone .....

Since leaving Demon and going to BT a few years ago I have had no
trouble with Internet, WIFI or telephone connections. Like you I can
see the fibre cabinet from my window. I got some earache from BT about
using FTTC but why should I pay more when my current connection is
fast enough.

Steve

--
Neural Network Software for Windows http://www.npsnn.com

[Martin Brown]

On 18/03/2015 10:06, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:10:19 +0000, Richard_CC
> <ric...@nospam.rjcresources.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Oh the stress, help anyone .....
>
> Since leaving Demon and going to BT a few years ago I have had no
> trouble with Internet, WIFI or telephone connections. Like you I can
> see the fibre cabinet from my window. I got some earache from BT about
> using FTTC but why should I pay more when my current connection is
> fast enough.

I don't think any old school Demonites will have too much trouble with
any of the modern ISPs apart from perhaps understanding certain help
desks with thick Indian accents and half way round the world time lags.

You may have to trudge through their scripted moron proof process if
there is a genuine fault beyond what reporting a noisy line will find -
but such faults are quite rare even on dodgy rural lines.

A lot of the bad press that ISPs get is from muppets that have no idea
what is going on and then blame their ISP for their own cluelessness.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[Chris S]

On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:10:19 +0000, Richard_CC
<ric...@nospam.rjcresources.co.uk> wrote:

>Plusnet seems to be getting worse - a good reputation but these
>days it can take 30 minutes to get through.

Just FYI: a Plusnet support person responds to queries on
uk.telecom.broadband and how often do you expect to need support.

FWIW, when my Demon 2 year contract ends later this year I will
probably go Plusnet but will look at Zen. If money was no object I
would choose A&A.

All that being said, there is an *outside* chance that Vodafone may
trot along with an offer in the meantime.

Chris

[Wilkes, Andy]

On 17/03/2015 20:47, Joe wrote:
>
> BT is probably OK for domestic use. I've had many problems with them
> with business clients, and they're utterly useless if you move premises.
>

I'm happy with BT (who I moved to from Demon when C&W wouldn't offer
anything more than 4-8Mb on our semi-rural exchange and BT offered 12-17Mb).

Got a really good deal for 2 years but now this has finished and I'm now
paying too much afaic - to the extent that I've decided to stop my inertia:)

What really hacks me off is that BT are offering very good deals, but
only to new customers. Seems they'd rather attract new customers than
retain them (although I haven't yet tried to speak to a human as to
whetherthere is any flexibility).

Unfortunately, although the Exchange is fibre enabled and at least one
cabinet is, the cab serving us isn't and there are no current plans for it:(

Only Sky and TalkTalk are llu'd on this exchange - they might provide
free routers, but neither of them comes with a suitably long bargepole.
So it seems that it is going to be plusnet for me for the next 12
months - but I'm hesitating because recent reviews seem to be seriously
and quite consistently bad. I don't care about the support - just want
a reliable reasonably fast connection - which BT has consistently provided.

--
regards andyw

[John Aldred]

Last time I checked they were saying end of March, but don't hold your
breath!

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <mebmje$rc2$1...@speranza.aioe.org>, Martin Brown
<|||newspam|||@nezumi.demon.co.uk> writes:
[]

>I don't think any old school Demonites will have too much trouble with
>any of the modern ISPs apart from perhaps understanding certain help
>desks with thick Indian accents and half way round the world time lags.

(This OSD found PlusNet OK. Though from what I've read on usenet they're
deteriorating somewhat.)

>
>You may have to trudge through their scripted moron proof process if
>there is a genuine fault beyond what reporting a noisy line will find -
>but such faults are quite rare even on dodgy rural lines.

There are plenty of Dilberts about going through the scripts (-:

>
>A lot of the bad press that ISPs get is from muppets that have no idea
>what is going on and then blame their ISP for their own cluelessness.
>

True, though these days broadband ought to be idiot-proof.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

She looked like the kind of girl who was poured into her clothes and forgot to
say when - Wodehouse

[Martin Brown]

On 20/03/2015 22:55, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> In message <mebmje$rc2$1...@speranza.aioe.org>, Martin Brown
> <|||newspam|||@nezumi.demon.co.uk> writes:
> []
>> I don't think any old school Demonites will have too much trouble with
>> any of the modern ISPs apart from perhaps understanding certain help
>> desks with thick Indian accents and half way round the world time lags.
>
> (This OSD found PlusNet OK. Though from what I've read on usenet they're
> deteriorating somewhat.)

Probably becoming too popular thanks to advertising.

>> You may have to trudge through their scripted moron proof process if
>> there is a genuine fault beyond what reporting a noisy line will find
>> - but such faults are quite rare even on dodgy rural lines.
>
> There are plenty of Dilberts about going through the scripts (-:

ITYM Mordacs the Preventer of IT

http://search.dilbert.com/comic/Mordac%20The%20Preventer

First hit is pretty good...

>> A lot of the bad press that ISPs get is from muppets that have no idea
>> what is going on and then blame their ISP for their own cluelessness.
>>
> True, though these days broadband ought to be idiot-proof.

It isn't though. The phone wiring struggles a bit with RF signals on it
and if you have ever looked in a cabinet or worse an underground street
cable hovel you will wonder how it can work reliably at all.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[Peter Hill]

And then there is the splice in a hole that was backfilled and tarmacked
over from when the new plastic gas main was put in and the JCB digging
the trench cut though the whole lot.

[dmy...@gmail.com]

A question on changing ISP. As mentioned elsewhere here, I have finally opted to leave Demon for BT.

My switchover happens next week so what happens to Demon emails after that?

1. How long can I expect to access them or does that facility just end with the switchover. I have seen suggestions of 30 days, but does anyone have experience?

2. If there is a delay of 'n' days, does demon send me a termination of email access notice? (I expect not, but worth asking.)

(I am in the process of changing all my email addresses to the new one, but may not have thought of everyone!) Btw I am not looking to pay to extend my demon email address, as others have done.


TIA

Nick

[Andy]

In message <ab70f29d-5bb1-4def...@googlegroups.com>,
dmy...@gmail.com wrote
[]

>
>(I am in the process of changing all my email addresses to the new one,
>but may not have thought of everyone!)

Look out for any bookings, purchases etc you may have made. Also note
that many organisations (eg Waitrose and Ebay) do not allow you to
change your primary email - you have to close that account and begin
again.
--
Andy Taylor [Editor, Austrian Philatelic Society].
Visit <URL:http://www.austrianphilately.com>

[David Rance]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 10:37:42 Andy wrote:

>In message <ab70f29d-5bb1-4def...@googlegroups.com>,
>dmy...@gmail.com wrote
>>
>>(I am in the process of changing all my email addresses to the new
>>one, but may not have thought of everyone!)
>
>Look out for any bookings, purchases etc you may have made. Also note
>that many organisations (eg Waitrose and Ebay) do not allow you to
>change your primary email - you have to close that account and begin
>again.

Ebay *does* allow you to change your primary address because I've just
done it!

PayPal is a different matter. I couldn't change that, nor could I change
the primary address. (It offered to let me but then told me I couldn't!)
However I could log on with a secondary address.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

[Phil]

In message <0fOHzzAm...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk>, Andy
<an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk> writes

>In message <ab70f29d-5bb1-4def...@googlegroups.com>,
>dmy...@gmail.com wrote
>[]
>>
>>(I am in the process of changing all my email addresses to the new
>>one, but may not have thought of everyone!)
>
>Look out for any bookings, purchases etc you may have made. Also note
>that many organisations (eg Waitrose and Ebay) do not allow you to
>change your primary email - you have to close that account and begin
>again.

I'm just going through the same process. I've registered my own domain and set
up a catch-all email address, currently forwarding to the old Demon email
address. I hadn't yet got as far as changing any contacts over, so the above
had me a bit concerned (loss of previous Ebay feedback score, that sort of
thing), but I'm relieved to be able to report that the two mentioned did allow
me to change the primary address. Ebay sent a notification to the old address
and a separate one to the new address, whilst Waitrose copied one e-mail to
both addresses.

Paypal won't allow it though. I'm guessing that the troublesome ones will be
those who (like Paypal) use the email address as the username for logging on,
so I expect the same issue with (amongst others) Direct Line, Ebuyer, iTunes
and Ofcom.


--
Phil

[Phil]

In message <je4yAyA1...@david.rance.org.uk>, David Rance
<david...@SPAMOFF.invalid> writes

Ah, saw your post just after I sent mine; as you saw, it appears to offer the
option to make the new email the primary, but then says 'This email address
already exists on your account'. But the option isn't offered on first creating
the email, so even deleting and recreating it isn't effective.

--
Phil

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

Recently have changed both my PayPal home address and email address.
It's quite easy. Login and click the icon with a head on it and then
click "profiles and settings".

[Andy]

In message <je4yAyA1...@david.rance.org.uk>, David Rance

<david...@SPAMOFF.invalid> wrote
[]

>
>PayPal is a different matter. I couldn't change that, nor could I
>change the primary address. (It offered to let me but then told me I
>couldn't!) However I could log on with a secondary address.
>

Ah yes, I recall now. I think I worked out that I'd have to create a new
secondary address, then swop primary and secondary, then delete old
primary = new secondary.

However, the relevant part of Paypal Towers refused to work with a
browser as antique as mine (IE8), and since I run TP under Windows XP I
can't move to higher IEs. Yes, I could perhaps install something like
Chrome, but last time I read their Ts&Cs I decided that I didn't want to
share with them the intimate personal details that they seemed to
demand.

So I could go to the library (while we still have one) and try to change
Paypal from there. But really, if they really want my custom they could
make it easier. "Is my need for them greater than theirs for me"?

[Andy]

In message <3172ial3ibrtjo0oj...@4ax.com>, Stephen
Wolstenholme <st...@easynn.com> wrote
[]

>
>Recently have changed both my PayPal home address and email address.
>It's quite easy. Login and click the icon with a head on it and then
>click "profiles and settings".
>

What version of which browser did you use?

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 13:47:53 +0100, Andy <an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk>
wrote:

>In message <3172ial3ibrtjo0oj...@4ax.com>, Stephen
>Wolstenholme <st...@easynn.com> wrote
>[]
>>
>>Recently have changed both my PayPal home address and email address.
>>It's quite easy. Login and click the icon with a head on it and then
>>click "profiles and settings".
>>
>What version of which browser did you use?

I use Chrome version 41.0.2272.118 m

[Chris S]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 12:21:51 +0100, Andy <an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk>
wrote:

>However, the relevant part of Paypal Towers refused to work with a
>browser as antique as mine (IE8), and since I run TP under Windows XP I
>can't move to higher IEs. Yes, I could perhaps install something like
>Chrome, but last time I read their Ts&Cs I decided that I didn't want to
>share with them the intimate personal details that they seemed to
>demand.

Opera, Firefox to name but two?

http://www.opera.com/

https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/new/ (XP SP2)

Chris S

[David Rance]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 12:21:51 Andy wrote:

>In message <je4yAyA1...@david.rance.org.uk>, David Rance
><david...@SPAMOFF.invalid> wrote
>>
>>PayPal is a different matter. I couldn't change that, nor could I
>>change the primary address. (It offered to let me but then told me I
>>couldn't!) However I could log on with a secondary address.
>>
>Ah yes, I recall now. I think I worked out that I'd have to create a
>new secondary address, then swop primary and secondary, then delete old
>primary = new secondary.

That's what I tried to do - but it wouldn't let me!

[David Rance]

Ah! I've found out how to do it!

In order to change your primary address on PayPal you have to access it
via Ebay. It will then allow you to change your primary email address
and delete the old one. It won't allow you to do this if you go directly
to PayPal.

I don't know why this should be - but there it is!

Just had a confirmation from PayPal for the change which they sent to
the old address. Makes sense, I suppose, but I wouldn't have got it if
that address had been closed down! They didn't send it to the new
address also as Ebay did.

[Phil]

In message <kOETX5DP...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk>, Andy
<an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk> writes

Using SRW Iron Version 34.0.1850.0 (270000) here -- the latest version that
will run under XP -- but it still doesn't work.

A quick google turned up a few others with this problem in the Paypal support
forum, where Paypal's stock response seems to be 'Try it again'...

--
Phil

[David Rance]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 15:10:09 David Rance wrote:

>Just had a confirmation from PayPal for the change which they sent to
>the old address. Makes sense, I suppose, but I wouldn't have got it if
>that address had been closed down! They didn't send it to the new
>address also as Ebay did.

They did send it to the new address but, even though it was sent at the
same time, it took twenty minutes longer to get here. Strange, because
that address is normally much faster.

[Phil]

In message <GblrRxCB...@david.rance.org.uk>, David Rance
<david...@SPAMOFF.invalid> writes

OK, tried that and it still wouldn't work, but then I found out what I'd been
doing wrong, I think. I'd been logging in, and at the Summary page selecting
Settings and scrolling down to the Email section and selecting Edit.

Poking about in areas I hadn't previously looked, I selected Edit at the top,
next to my name. The page told me I can't change my name, but on cancelling out
of that screen I had a page with both email accounts, and radio buttons to
select. Click on 'Make Primary' and it's worked, without needing to go through
Paypal, and using IE8.

Is that the route you used?

Phil

[Phil]

In message <NQ1dj3Fo...@anonymous.invalid>, Phil <"Phil
(news)"@anonymous.invalid> writes

.. without having to go through *Ebay* ... makes more sense.

--
Phil

[David Rance]

Yes, I guessed that was what you meant! ;-)

I think that you found the same screen that I found (radio buttons were
what I found on the page where I could change things) but I accessed
that page from the Ebay settings screen where it takes you PayPal.

It does seem that, if you log on to PayPal without going through Ebay,
the screen I found isn't configured properly because it invites you to
make changes and then tells you that you can't!

[News]

In message <ab70f29d-5bb1-4def...@googlegroups.com>,
dmy...@gmail.com writes

>A question on changing ISP. As mentioned elsewhere here, I have finally
>opted to leave Demon for BT.
>
>My switchover happens next week so what happens to Demon emails after that?

My Demon account died on the changeover day, six months ago, to Zen.

The whole process was something of a letdown, really. No argument from
Demon, just an e-mail with the MAC, and away I went.

One thing I did overlook was the DDM in favour of Demon. I naively
assumed they would stop issuing debits after the account was closed,
until I realised they had taken a further three monthly debits. I
cancelled the DDM, and sent an e-mail to Demon, requesting a refund. The
only response was a letter telling me the DDM had been cancelled, and a
bill for the unpaid amount, followed by another letter threatening legal
action if I did not pay immediately.

Much emailing resulted in a reply saying I could not do anything by
e-mail, and had to phone them. I did, and eventually received a refund
by cheque, a month later. No refunds by direct credit. The refund was
less than expected, due to Demon's strange calculation of notice, which
was, I think, 30 days from the issue of the MAC, which was about 20 days
after the service had actually ceased. By that time, I had lost the
will to live ...
--
Graeme

[David Rance]

I am thinking along the same lines, i.e. Demon -> BT Infinity.

Does anyone know if BT/BT Infinity block any ports?

[Les]

I left Demon last month and this morning received an email from
Vodafone thanking me for my continuing custom and sending me an
invoice for a further years broadband to be collected in two weeks
time.

Good luck to them trying to get it as I cancelled the DD with my
bank early in anticipation of the problems you had.

--
Les_WT

[Nix]

On 5 Apr 2015, an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk stated:

> However, the relevant part of Paypal Towers refused to work with a
> browser as antique as mine (IE8), and since I run TP under Windows XP
> I can't move to higher IEs. Yes, I could perhaps install something
> like Chrome, but last time I read their Ts&Cs I decided that I didn't
> want to share with them the intimate personal details that they seemed
> to demand.

They don't demand anything. You *can* sign the thing in to Google, but
that doesn't mean you have to -- and if you change your search engine
from the preferences and turn off malware detection and Google Instant,
nothing you type in the address bar will go to Google either.

--
NULL && (void)

[Charles Ellson]

Apparently not from what I can find but that seems to be generally 2
years or older info followed by an absence of any more recent
complaints/allegations that any is occurring.

[David Rance]

Thanks. I suppose that an absence of complaints is hopeful .....

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2015 12:21:51 +0100, Andy <an...@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk>
wrote:

>Yes, I could perhaps install something like
>Chrome, but last time I read their Ts&Cs I decided that I didn't want to
>share with them the intimate personal details that they seemed to
>demand.

You don't need to tell Chrome anything. It will work as a browser with
no details about you.

[dmy...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 9:35:41 AM UTC+1, dmy...@gmail.com wrote:
> A question on changing ISP. As mentioned elsewhere here, I have finally opted to leave Demon for BT.
>
> My switchover happens next week so what happens to Demon emails after that?
>
> 1. How long can I expect to access them or does that facility just end with the switchover. I have seen suggestions of 30 days, but does anyone have experience?
>
> 2. If there is a delay of 'n' days, does demon send me a termination of email access notice? (I expect not, but worth asking.)
>

As there was no answer to my actual question, I thought I would post what I found.

Switchover to BT happened on 13th April.

On the 14th an email arrived from Demon with my updated bill, which was all negative amounts, so I suppose negating the previous bill. After that all emails via Demon stopped.


Finally: Sad to have left Demon after all these years...

[C21Soc]

Thanks for this. Will be interesting to read your experiences with BT over the next month or so. Am thinking about them or PlusNet. Plusnet is favourite at the mo' but I am afraid that they remind me of Demon in the early days and am wondering if BT will kill them off in the mid-term.

[dmy...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 1:41:07 PM UTC+1, C21Soc wrote:
> Thanks for this. Will be interesting to read your experiences with BT over the next month or so.

A couple of initial things:

a)I understood from BT that the router would arrive through the day (7am to 6pm) and the switch over would then take place later on that day. Switch over was before 6.15am, which had me wondering whether I had been switched over; Demon was down or my line was down. With no information, I was stuck for a while until I remembered that I had saved an old manual for the Home Hub 4, which gave some info, i.e. the broadband username, which was all I needed to change on the TG542 router. So that got me back online by mid day and the router + info arrived by post a hour later.

b) BT seem to block all the 'popular' torrent sites, although that is not really a problem for my use.

I forgot my btinternet.com password when out a couple of days ago, so have yet to try access away from home. (Free foreign access via Fon looks interesting.)

I have found a lot of comments posted about port forwarding with the BT routers, but so far no problems there for me.

Having signed up for £10 a month inclusive a week or so ago, I had a letter yesterday offering £7.50/ month for a year to go to BT... Always the way :-)

I did look at Plusnet and others a while back, but personally I did not want to change my telephone line provider, otherwise they would have been high on my list.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <fb2ff892-ef29-4913...@googlegroups.com>,

I think there is _some_ similarity to Demon, in that the way they're run
seems to have declined slightly in the last year or so; however, it's
still fairly good (and what alternative do you have, unless you can
afford Zen or A&A who are apparently excellent). It's not the same as
Demon though in that it either started off as already part of something
much bigger (BT), or at least has been so for some years; it seems BT
are continuing to operate a hands-off policy. Which has always puzzled
me, since BT offer much the same services, but for more money, less
flexibility, and with offshore callcentres.

(I went to PlusNet at about - I think it's what prompted me, I can't
remember now - the same time I _did_ change my 'phone supplier [I now
use PN for both]; I was with BT [for 'phone], and just got fed up of the
incompetence of their customer non-service. [The actual product - the
'phone line - was OK; just getting them to _do_ anything, such as fix
bugs on their website, met a combination of incompetence and arrogance.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Just seen a Dyslexic Yorkshireman wearing a cat flap!

[David Rance]

On Sat, 18 Apr 2015 08:02:48 wrote:

>b) BT seem to block all the 'popular' torrent sites, although that is
>not really a problem for my use.
>

>I have found a lot of comments posted about port forwarding with the BT
>routers, but so far no problems there for me.

Does BT block Port 25 (SMTP)?

>
>Having signed up for £10 a month inclusive a week or so ago, I had a
>letter yesterday offering £7.50/ month for a year to go to BT... Always
>the way :-)

Do you have a static or a dynamic IP address?

>
>I did look at Plusnet and others a while back, but personally I did not
>want to change my telephone line provider, otherwise they would have
>been high on my list.

[dmy...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 5:20:21 PM UTC+1, David Rance wrote:

> Does BT block Port 25 (SMTP)?

Early days here, so not clear, but if blocked can apparently be opened with port forwarding. I haven't found anything that lists the ports that are actually open but not currently in use. (Btw the supplied router is a Home Hub 4 and the technical information seems limited.)

> Do you have a static or a dynamic IP address?

I believe that it is dynamic. I read somewhere that business IPs may be static. (I did note my IP this morning and when I reboot the router I'll check.)

The following may be of concern to some people, but is avoidable: I understand that some IP addresses are shared, but one can opt out of this quite easily. (I checked and I do not believe that my IP address is shared. Perhaps this was caused by my opting for full uncapped usage; it may have been different if I had wanted only a small allowance per month.) If interested, see http://btsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/44044/c/6433 on 'IP address translation/sharing')

I hope this helps.

[Charles Ellson]

On Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:52:49 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
<G6...@soft255.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>In message <fb2ff892-ef29-4913...@googlegroups.com>,
>C21Soc <curleww...@googlemail.com> writes:
>>Thanks for this. Will be interesting to read your experiences with BT
>>over the next month or so. Am thinking about them or PlusNet. Plusnet
>>is favourite at the mo' but I am afraid that they remind me of Demon in
>>the early days and am wondering if BT will kill them off in the mid-term.
>

Like an assortment of other businesses picked up over the years,
possibly more likely to keep it as a self-contained unit if it doesn't
exactly duplicate what BT Internet does.

[David Rance]

Thank you. That's very useful.

[Richard_CC]

On 18/04/2015 21:34, Charles Ellson wrote:
> Like an assortment of other businesses picked up over the years,
> possibly more likely to keep it as a self-contained unit if it doesn't
> exactly duplicate what BT Internet does.

I suspect the strategy will be plusnet as a no frills internet
connectivity + phone line provider, BT will be a Sky-Virgin style whole
family entertainment company (TV, sport, films, music) across platforms
including mobile phones, and provide connectivity as part of that bigger
package. (I suspect that's where Vodafone wants to be as well).

Each has its own target market, own price structure and so can survive
under the same ownership but still make money.

The interesting bit comes in a few years when each entertainment company
constructs "garden walls" like apple, so BT customers can ONLY stream BT
content, and so on.

[Bill]

In message <ff14c598-31f4-460d...@googlegroups.com>,
dmy...@gmail.com writes

I've not quite decided who to move to, and don't understand why FTTC
seems to have disappeared as an option when checked via the Plusnet
site. The cabinet is about 60 feet from my front door, just round the
corner, and I'm sure it was available when I checked in the past.
The BT site, when I ask what options are available, just sits there
until I give up. I assume it isn't meant to take over 90 minutes!

I suppose I can manage without the static IP, perhaps using something
like Dyndns, or some trick or other. I only kept it after closing the
business so that it was easy to run security cameras in the family
houses. IP address sharing sounds worrying, though. Presumably this will
apply to any of the 38Mb/s offerings from any providers.

--
Bill

[Charles Ellson]

The nearest visible cabinet isn't necessarily the actual cabinet that
feeds your line (although it's possible you might have had that one
confirmed as such).

[Charles Ellson]

On Sun, 19 Apr 2015 16:29:40 +0100, Richard_CC
<ric...@nospam.rjcresources.co.uk> wrote:

>On 18/04/2015 21:34, Charles Ellson wrote:
>> Like an assortment of other businesses picked up over the years,
>> possibly more likely to keep it as a self-contained unit if it doesn't
>> exactly duplicate what BT Internet does.
>
>I suspect the strategy will be plusnet as a no frills internet
>connectivity + phone line provider, BT will be a Sky-Virgin style whole
>family entertainment company (TV, sport, films, music) across platforms
>including mobile phones, and provide connectivity as part of that bigger
>package. (I suspect that's where Vodafone wants to be as well).
>
>Each has its own target market, own price structure and so can survive
>under the same ownership but still make money.
>

.. or be more easily sold off as a ready-assembled business if it
doesn't.

[Richard Stearn]

Charles Ellson wrote:
> The nearest visible cabinet isn't necessarily the actual cabinet that
> feeds your line (although it's possible you might have had that one
> confirmed as such).

This gives the cabinet and services available (may only be correct for
BT though)

http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/pls/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

[Charles Ellson]

The relevant cabinet number usually being marked on it.

[Richard Stearn]

Charles Ellson wrote:
> The relevant cabinet number usually being marked on it.

Yes. Unless obscured by graffiti :-)

[Bill]

In message <mh0sv7$jl4$1...@speranza.aioe.org>, Richard Stearn
<inv...@invalid.invalid> writes

>Charles Ellson wrote:
>> The relevant cabinet number usually being marked on it.
>
>Yes. Unless obscured by graffiti :-)

Not in an exclusive area like this. :-)

OK, it says Cabinet 5 and then

FTTC is currently not available on this cabinet due to following
reasons:- Sorry your cabinet is temporarily unavailable, capacity will
be restored as soon as possible.

It predicts May 6th.

This doesn't inspire me with confidence as, when son who lives down the
hill went on to FTTC, he would regularly appear here saying Can I use
your broadband, mine's died again.
He has been reasonably happy recently, though.

--
Bill

[Simon Turner]

On Sunday, in article <hf8ClqMl...@itsound.demon.co.uk>

Billa...@gmail.com "Bill" wrote:

> In message <ff14c598-31f4-460d...@googlegroups.com>,
> dmy...@gmail.com writes

> > [...]

> >
> >The following may be of concern to some people, but is avoidable: I
> >understand that some IP addresses are shared, but one can opt out of
> >this quite easily. (I checked and I do not believe that my IP address
> >is shared. Perhaps this was caused by my opting for full uncapped
> >usage; it may have been different if I had wanted only a small
> >allowance per month.) If interested, see
> >http://btsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/44044/c/6433 on
> >'IP address translation/sharing')
>

> [...] IP address sharing sounds worrying, though. Presumably this will

> apply to any of the 38Mb/s offerings from any providers.

Carrier grade NAT (which is what this IP address sharing is called) is
done by individual ISPs, depending on whether or not they are running
out of IPv4 addresses for their customers; it doesn't apply to all ISPs
(regardless of whether BT provides the underlying ADSL/FTTC/whatever as
part of their near-monopoly on UK broadband infrastructure). Some ISPs
are doing it, others aren't. (A&A, for instance, make a thing about not
doing it: their main page http://www.aa.net.uk/ says "No carrier grade
NAT" and http://www.aa.net.uk/kb-broadband-realinternet.html reinforces
that.)

--
Simon Turner DoD #0461
si...@twoplaces.co.uk
Trust me -- I know what I'm doing! -- Sledge Hammer

[dmy...@gmail.com]

Just to confirm, my IP address is dynamic. Not a problem for me, but could be for others.

[David Rance]

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 09:48:38 wrote:

>Just to confirm, my IP address is dynamic. Not a problem for me, but
>could be for others.

I think one has to have a BT business package in order for there to be a
static address which, of course, is more expensive.

I've experimented with a dynamic IP in France and was quite surprised at
how quickly DDNS caught up with any changes. Not that dynamic IPs change
all that often if the router is left on. Mine in France changes once a
week (on a Monday), others say that they hardly, if ever, change if the
router is left on.

Dyndns used to be free but now, after a two week trial period, it costs
$30 a year. I was using DNSexit which is free and it allows you to use
your own domain name.

[Rick Hewett]

On Sun 05 Apr Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
> Recently have changed both my PayPal home address and email address.
> It's quite easy. Login and click the icon with a head on it and then
> click "profiles and settings".

Hmmm... I was able to add a new email address, but I couldn't make it
the primary one until I'd verified it, and the "Please verify this email
address" emails all came with helpful instructions to "click the link
below", which would have been fine if there'd actually beed a link...

It took about a dozen emails, sundry web messages, and at least a couple
of phone calls to complete the process.

Of course, that all involved stepping round the problem of the duff
verification emails, so presumably that part of the process remains
broken, at least for some subset of customers...

--
..Rick Hewett http://www.hewett.org/
"Actors," said Granny, witheringly. "As if the world weren't full
of enough history without inventing more."
-- (Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters)