Free Broadband Blog

Recently i have started being hit by Spam on my comments but that hasn’t affected me really as i look at each comment before allowing it for exactly this reason. But today i got a comment from a smaller ISP. They are not particularly well known but to give you a hint there name sounds like something painful that occurs involving elastic bands.

I bet you don’t know but they will. So is it ok for ISP’s to comment like this? Well not here i am afraid but i will post what he said minus the name.

T**** are tier 1 Internet Service Provider who are constantly recognised for being number one n both customer support and service. We are actively seeking people/ business that are looking to reduce costs and having the best broadband around.

Existing and New Business Account Manager

The cheeky lad even added his fax and telephone details.

I really don’t know how they can claim to be the best broadband around either. Did you win an award Mr New Business Account Manager? I see you got to be a finalist in one of the many categories in the ISPA 2005 contest but that doesn’t qualify you as number one, does it?

Oh well nice try and good luck with world domination.

Ok i know this is pretty old now but it is likely to have a big impact on the broadband market in the UK. Basically AOL has about 2 million subscribers which seems an awful lot but thats what they claim. So apart from the fact there are 2 million people suffering from the AOL browser and all its computer stalling and slowing down that it can offer it basically means that TalkTalk have just bought themselves another 2 million customers give or take a few.

How can a company which has openly admitted not being to cope with the number of subscribers it has envisage coping with another 2 million. Things can only get worse surely.

And what about AOL?

Well to be honest i won’t really miss them but for some it was a nice, comfortable, easy and supposedly safe way to access the internet. There is no doubt that the majority of AOL users have been there for years and they kept using it because they understood the naff graphics and most of all it worked.

So basically i now think there is a gap in the market for or there soon will be a gap in the market for supposedly user friendly (ie i will take over your PC) standalone ISP/browser application which helps the less techie of us out there.

So RIP AOL but who knows where Carphone is going with this.

It seems that sense has finally prevailed at TalkTalk as it appears that customers with genuine complaint such as those citing broken promises, service interruptions, and delayed local loop unbundling are being allowed to leave TalkTalk if they ask.

Basically this is a turn around for the thousands of customers who have experienced problems or have continued to be simply with out a service since signing up for Free TalkTalk Broadband.

The full story can be seen over at The Register 

BBC Watchdog have just shown an article tonight on the continuing issues that have been occuring with Customers signing up for Free Broadband with TalkTalk. They mentioned the fact that Talk Talk had adverts banned earlier this year for making the promise of “Free Broadband forever” and then went on to meet a few disgruntled customers.

Nicky Campbell also went to TalkTalk HQ to discuss this with Charles Dunstone who i guess is the MD, he stated that “half a million have already signed up and the offer has been so successful, the company has been overwhelmed”.

Well no surpise there and what i guess he was trying to say was that basically tou would expect a few disgruntled customers out of 500,000 but i think to be honest it is few more than just a few in this case.

But joy of joys, he then states that he hopes that by Christmas you should be able to TalkTalk to a human instead of a computer. That should be nice.

Anyway to read the full report go to BBC Watchdog.

I think we shall wait and see………did you know pigs can fly?

I am afraid problems just keep on building up with Sky Broadband. I have read this week about a continuing issue with accessing certain websites on Sky, this problem seems to be either due to the IP address Sky Broadband are using for there client or is due to the Anti Virus Software that Sky is giving away for free.

Firstly i would download a free Anti Virus Checker such as AVG from Grisoft then uninstall the software given to you by Sky and install the AVG software. Also make sure you switch on the Windows Firewall. Now try your Sky Broadband again.
As for problems with your Xbox 360 i think this just isn’t a priority with Sky at the moment. I would consider cancelling Sky Broadband stating the issues you have had. I’m not sure if you will have to pay a fee but obviously try and avoid this. Be aware however you will have to send back your router and you will have to get another MAC code.
Even getting a MAC code and cancelling supposedly isn’t simple at the moment they will obviously try dissuade you from doing it but even then a MAC code doesn’t solve your problems. This is because Sky use a different Technology to normal broadband ISP’s and this technology need to be completely cleared from the line before a normal broadband ISP such as the excellent Pipex Broadband can use the line again.
On a plus point when there internet connection with Sky is running well it seems to be mega fast but only of course to the sites that do work. I think it I Still best to hold off with Sky at the moment and use a more trusted and reliable ISP if you want an internet connection that is available when you want it.