UK ISP Recommendations

[SPS]

Hi,

I've just switch from Sky because it was too expensive to Vodafone. After 2 days I'm cancelling it. What an appalling network. I was promised I was allowed to use my own router which I can't and now the network is preventing certain certificates from being certified due to their crappy content control.

So the question is, can anyone recommend good value fibre broadband that lets me use my own router?

I'm currently looking at PlusNet, does anyone have it?

Cheers.

 

[Wraith]

Hi,

I've just switch from Sky because it was too expensive to Vodafone. After 2 days I'm cancelling it. What an appalling network. I was promised I was allowed to use my own router which I can't and now the network is preventing certain certificates from being certified due to their crappy content control.

So the question is, can anyone recommend good value fibre broadband that lets me use my own router?

I'm currently looking at PlusNet, does anyone have it?

Cheers.

I have Plusnet fibre and they are fantastic, yes you have the usual torrent ip ban lists but after that anything goes.

 

[SPS]

I have Plusnet fibre and they are fantastic, yes you have the usual torrent ip ban lists but after that anything goes.

No issues with DNS servers (I know you can use Google's anyway for example), easy to set up own router, issues with legit content being blocked?

 

[Wraith]

They only block Court ordered content that's it, 3rd party router setup is a doddle.. I've switched between Googles DNS and Plusnets they both run tip top.

 

[SPS]

They only block Court ordered content that's it, 3rd party router setup is a doddle.. I've switched between Googles DNS and Plusnets they both run tip top.

Sounding good, have you been with them a decent while Wraith?

Hmm these reviews aren't great but I don't know if they are in the minority.
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.plus.net

 

[AlienALX]

I've had plusnet fibre for about three years now. At weekends and busy times there is some speed drops. It was particularly bad during the six week holidays. Thing is it's all BT any way isn't it? so doesn't matter who you go with on that side of things.

But yeah, Plusnet are OK. Never had any issues with downloads and never had any letters etc.

 

[Wraith]

Been with PlusNet for 5 years, can't fault their service one bit.

 

[SPS]

Cheers guys. Just looked at their order page and it's great to see all the safeguard and router delivery stuff optional. Will be going with them

 

[WYP]

I have not had a great time with Plusnet, though this was well over 4 years ago and in Northern Ireland, so my experience is likely not representative of Plusnet right now in England.

 

[SuB]

Yeah defo Plusnet Have been good for us, haven't got around to using my own router, but the one provided sufficed, you have to ssh into it to change the DNS servers but it's easy enough to do. I've been using google's for ages.

 

[Tripp]

thinking about changing to plusnet myself now, as its cheaper and faster than what i have on sky

 

[SPS]

thinking about changing to plusnet myself now, as its cheaper and faster than what i have on sky

I've just moved from Sky too. After the contract from the online deal expires the cost of it appears to match that of Sky. ~£32 a month. Though you can pay line rental up front for the year which saves ~£2.50 a month long term.

 

[SuB]

WHen it comes to renewing with Plusnet, or when the 'deal' rates run out, make sure you get in touch with them and they will often give you some more months with money off.

I got offered a deal that saves a fair bit after about 18 months. They're pretty good to their existing customers

 

[SPS]

WHen it comes to renewing with Plusnet, or when the 'deal' rates run out, make sure you get in touch with them and they will often give you some more months with money off.

I got offered a deal that saves a fair bit after about 18 months. They're pretty good to their existing customers

I was going to do this when it does run out. Good to see it works

 

[Tripp]

lol sky didn't want me to leave an gave me a better deal, costing me less and getting better speeds that i would with plusnet :')

 

[Wraith]

Yeah defo Plusnet Have been good for us, haven't got around to using my own router, but the one provided sufficed, you have to ssh into it to change the DNS servers but it's easy enough to do. I've been using google's for ages.

Indeed, I have their new Hubone router (3 actually, long story) and it's so easy to work with.

 

[SuB]

Indeed, I have their new Hubone router (3 actually, long story) and it's so easy to work with.

Oh nice, I have some crappy little white one. I'd like to replace it and the modem at some point

 

[SPS]

I've got a Netgear D7000 that has been in bridge mode for ages - it's about to get it's first proper job.

 

[AlienALX]

I have not had a great time with Plusnet, though this was well over 4 years ago and in Northern Ireland, so my experience is likely not representative of Plusnet right now in England.

Depending on whether your lines are LLU you will have BT, like it or not. Companies like Plusnet and others are nothing but beards for BT. Over the years I have been through all of these beards, but I've always ended up with the same crap.

However, Plusnet don't throw their weight around like O2 did. I got the "three strikes and out" for going over 60gb three times in a year. I then switched to Zen, whose customer service was the best ever and got a 100gb cap on that but inevitably the service was still crap until Talktalk stuck in a LLU in that area.

Same story for Dorset too, but thankfully we are now in reach of fibre. But whoever I buy it from it still goes through BT lines.

But yeah, having said all of that? Plusnet are a decent "beard". They seem to have the customer service of some one like the mighty Zen (who were incredible, but £50 a month with line rental !) with some decent prices.

 

[SPS]

Depending on whether your lines are LLU you will have BT, like it or not. Companies like Plusnet and others are nothing but beards for BT. Over the years I have been through all of these beards, but I've always ended up with the same crap.

However, Plusnet don't throw their weight around like O2 did. I got the "three strikes and out" for going over 60gb three times in a year. I then switched to Zen, whose customer service was the best ever and got a 100gb cap on that but inevitably the service was still crap until Talktalk stuck in a LLU in that area.

Same story for Dorset too, but thankfully we are now in reach of fibre. But whoever I buy it from it still goes through BT lines.

But yeah, having said all of that? Plusnet are a decent "beard". They seem to have the customer service of some one like the mighty Zen (who were incredible, but £50 a month with line rental !) with some decent prices.

You still connect to the ISP backend and that can be bad enough. Vodafone for example was blocking all imgur embeds due to a certificate validation error in their crappy content management control (which was turned off!). OpenReach/BT just control from exchange to your house.