Broadband with unlimited downloads

[Colin]

I've recently been having a few problems with Tiscali - they claim to have no download limits yet I've recently fallen foul of their "fair usage policy" which resticts bandwidth use between 5pm and 11pm - I'm on my last warning or else they'll put me on a slow speed for those peak hours.  So basically I'm after recommendations for high speed, with no limits that restrict me watching live football streaming or downloading torrents at any time I wish.

For a simliar price to my 2mb Tiscali I see people like Wannadoo and Bulldog are offering 8mgs - Bethere offer 24mgs for £24 ! I realise I probably wouldn't achieve these speeds in reality but I'm sure they are way faster than what I'm getting now, which is a long way short of the 2mbs I pay for. Anyone tried any of these providers ?

[Magic Star]

Colin, have a look at http://www.adslguide.org/ and it will give you some comparisons on price, usage, speed, and customers reviews

HTH

[Gilly]

Mmmm wonder why your exceeding your limits 

[Miss Poohs]

Gilly - I was just thinking that - knowing  between us girlies 

[Pammy]

Watch the small print with Bulldog - it's not the deal you think it might be

[Colin]

Yep, I've looked into Bulldog and a lot of people aren't too impressed - not keen on changing my phone line to them either.

I'm tempted by Be*...

https://www.bethere.co.uk/

Again a lot of people had teething problems with it, they only started up a few months ago. Most complaints seem to be that they only get speeds of 4meg to 8meg rather than the supposed 24meg capacity - I'd settle for that though, just how fast do people need things to run ?  No matter which ISP I look at people seem to have issues with - although that's the nature of things really, people only post about problems, if things are running smoothly they just get on with it.

I hope I didn't give the impression I'm downloading anything "top shelf" - it's not the case, honestly.  It's the live football streaming that has got me into trouble. 

[silkstocking]

Tiscali!! Rrrrrrrghgh don't even get me started, rrrrghghgh I had nought but problems with them

[Jane S]

Is there such a thing as unlimited downloads with any broadband supplier? I signed up with Virgin on the basis it offered unlimited downloads but they've recently added a 20GB limit per month I haven't gone over the limit yet despite downloading torrents & uploading stuff to websites so I guess I'm ok for the moment

Jane

[Gilly]

I'm with Blueyonder pay £25 a month..... I think. I must download so much stuff within a month it's unbelieveable  so YES mine is definitely unlimited 

[Cob-Web]

Is there such a thing as unlimited downloads with any broadband supplier? I signed up with Virgin on the basis it offered unlimited downloads but they've recently added a 20GB limit per month I haven't gone over the limit yet despite downloading torrents & uploading stuff to websites so I guess I'm ok for the moment

Jane

We have our boradband from our local cable company, Wightcable - and they are definitely unlimited; but no good unless you live here 

[Jane S]

I'm with Blueyonder pay £25 a month..... I think. I must download so much stuff within a month it's unbelieveable  so YES mine is definitely unlimited 

Yeah but some of us can't get cable of any description - we've only just had our exchange upgraded for broadband and cable is a long way off here Shouldn't be a problem for Colin though down in the big smoke

[Cob-Web]

Yeah but some of us can't get cable of any description - we've only just had our exchange upgraded for broadband and cable is a long way off here Shouldn't be a problem for Colin though down in the big smoke

When we moved here 7 years ago, there was no cable - a company bought the Licence and installed the cabling to many of the towns (p***ing off all the locals and holiday makers with the roadworks in the process), and then went bust    The current company took over and seem to have made a great job of it - they did go through a dodgy period last year - but all seems OK now.

Hang on in there Jane - I'm sure you'll get cable eventually

[Colin]

We have got cable here - Telewest. I was looking at that last night - I'm slightly put off from previous experiences with Cable London though, who were a right cowboy outfit.  The trouble these days is there's just too much choice - it just complicates matters and I usually end up sticking with what I've got. 

Is there any easy way of me finding out roughly what bandwidth I use a month, because I've absolutely no idea. As I said earlier I didn't get any warning emails until I started watching live footy streaming. I'd previously been downloading torrents without a problem but I'm reluctant to risk doing it now during the peak hours in case Tiscali start capping me. 

Nobody got experience of Be* ?

[Cob-Web]

There are freeware applications that will monitor bandwidth and download volumes: have you tried Download.com or ZdNET?

I'll have a word with OH when he comes home (with dinner ) and get back to you......

[Colin]

Thanks Rachel, I'll check those out.