final questions (I hope)

OK I'm about ready to sign up for broadband - final 2 questions:

If I start with a 512k or 1MB service, with a cap, to test and see what it's
like, do ISPs charge if I want to quickly upgrade?

Is there a way of testing my phone line to see what speeds it's capable of -
or is that not an issue?

Cheers

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 15:00:33 +0100, "Me" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>OK I'm about ready to sign up for broadband - final 2 questions:
>
>If I start with a 512k or 1MB service, with a cap, to test and see what it's
>like, do ISPs charge if I want to quickly upgrade?

Depends upon the ISP.

>Is there a way of testing my phone line to see what speeds it's capable of -
>or is that not an issue?

You will not know for certain until the circuit is live.

--
Hiram Hackenbacker

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 15:00:33 +0100, "Me" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>If I start with a 512k or 1MB service, with a cap, to test and see what it's
>like, do ISPs charge if I want to quickly upgrade?

ISP specific, some allow you to pay more to "flex" to a higher speed
from time to time (Eclipse), Zen charge £15 to upgrade speed, Wanadoo
and F2S give you 1M as standard if you're line will take it.

>Is there a way of testing my phone line to see what speeds it's capable of -
>or is that not an issue?

the number checker at www.bt.com/broadband will tell you what you can
order. Don't be put off by weasel words like "may", "should" and the
like.

Phil
--
spamcop.net address commissioned 18/06/04
Come on down !

Me wrote:
> OK I'm about ready to sign up for broadband - final 2 questions:
>
> If I start with a 512k or 1MB service, with a cap, to test and see what it's
> like, do ISPs charge if I want to quickly upgrade?
>
> Is there a way of testing my phone line to see what speeds it's capable of -
> or is that not an issue?
>
> Cheers
>
>

If your ISP of choice gives 1Mb for the same price as 512k, and many are
now, you apply for the 1Mb. If the line won't tkae it they will offer
you 512k. Most places under 4 miles of wire from the exchange will get 1Mb.

For data transfer I think all the ISP offering variable caps are quite
happy for you to move up (and down ??) the scales.

As you are considering these issues I'd suggest that you may want to
make sure you do go for an ISP with a sliding scale rather than a choice
of 1GB or unlimited at very different prices.

Bill

On 16 Oct 2004 in uk.telecom.broadband, "Me" wrote:

>If I start with a 512k or 1MB service, with a cap, to test and see
>what it's like, do ISPs charge if I want to quickly upgrade?

Best to ask the ISP(s) you have in mind. Worth checking upper limits
(if they have them). I have seen some report massive amounts, and
depending on which services I am using I have exceeded 2 GB a day
(but that was exceptional, and I do have a couple of connections).

Last time I looked at some with caps, there were some 'steep' fees eg
a monthly fee of 19.99 plus up to a further 12 pounds - that was with
BT Broadband a few months ago... they've since dropped the price to
17.99 with a 1 GB limit or 24.99 with a 15 GB limit and mention extra
GB at 200p as an indicative price but could be lower.

There are some with no cap, such as Metronet's PAYgo DSL which costs a
modest amount in months of no use, but has maximum fees comparable with
Plus.Net (and is still lower than some of the othe ISPs!) Good luck.

--
PlusNet <http://tinyurl.com/24ymz> - I recommend them and save some cash.