PlusNet query from newbie

Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie between
PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf? Is it simply that you get
the equipment and line activation included? I can't see any other
difference. I want 2 machines connected so am going to buy a router/modem
anyway (which as far as I can see, PlusNet don't sell).
Also can someone tell me if the dial up modem I've already got can still be
used without problem? Apart from the fact hat I want to keep my PAYG dial
up I use my pc for sending faxes etc too so still need to keep the modem.

"Stef" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bv12oa$rec$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie
between
> PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf? Is it simply that you get
> the equipment and line activation included?

Thats about it, I think you also get spam filtering and anti-virus thrown in
too, but check on the product pages.

>I want 2 machines connected so am going to buy a router/modem
..
they do offer a router option. Last time I heared they were supplying the
SAR110, guess it's the SAR130 now, a nice router.

> Also can someone tell me if the dial up modem I've already got can still
be
> used without problem?

It will need to be attached via a filter, and speed may be down a little.

Apart from the fact hat I want to keep my PAYG dial
> up I use my pc for sending faxes etc too so still need to keep the modem.

Sure, Plusnet allow you to receive faxes on a number they supply into email,
but check if this is available on all account types.

Jc.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Stef <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie
> between PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf? Is it simply
> that you get the equipment and line activation included?

That's basically it. It seems like quite a good deal. Although it
effectively ties you in for 12 months (there are cancellation charges if you
cancel sooner) the extra £3 per month (£36 pa) is a lot less than the
activation fee - let alone the modem


> I want 2 machines connected so am going to buy
> a router/modem anyway (which as far as I can see, PlusNet don't sell).

I think they do, but you can buy your own independently, anyway. You can
then keep the "free" ADSL modem for emergencies - and maybe to get the
connection up and running in the first place. [I'm contemplating the same
move, and it seems to me to be a good idea to have a backup. If, for
example, it doesn't all work when you connect your 3rd-party router, how do
you know whether its due to a faulty PlusNet connection or to a router
hardware/config problem? If you have an alternative means of connecting,
it's easier to diagnose the problem.]


> Also can someone tell me if the dial up modem I've already got can
> still be used without problem? Apart from the fact hat I want to
> keep my PAYG dial up I use my pc for sending faxes etc too so still
> need to keep the modem.

This should still work when plugged into the analog phone output of a
filter.

--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is Black Hole!

"Stef" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bv12oa$rec$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie
between
> PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf? Is it simply that you get
> the equipment and line activation included? I can't see any other
> difference. I want 2 machines connected so am going to buy a router/modem
> anyway (which as far as I can see, PlusNet don't sell).
> Also can someone tell me if the dial up modem I've already got can still
be
> used without problem? Apart from the fact hat I want to keep my PAYG dial
> up I use my pc for sending faxes etc too so still need to keep the modem.
>
>

You've pretty much got it in one.

Check out the "Advanced" package for a router/modem.

You can retain your dial-up modem, if you like as a back-up (I did). For
faxes you won't even need to drop your ADSL internet connection.

Ian.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 18:40:37 -0000, "Stef" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie between
>PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf?

I think the point that hasn't been mentioned about Home Surf
specifically, is that it does not support the use of P2P software or
access to Binary news feeds. This includes things like Kazaa. See
http://www.plus.net/info2/whatisadsl/adsl_faq3.html#not for more
details.

Regards,

Ian
--
| Ian Wild Unmetered & ADSL solutions
| Customer Support for Home & Business
| PlusNet Technologies Ltd. @ http://www.plus.net
+ ------- My Referrals - It pays to recommend PlusNet -------

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
PlusNet Support Team <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 18:40:37 -0000, "Stef" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie
>> between PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf?
>
> I think the point that hasn't been mentioned about Home Surf
> specifically, is that it does not support the use of P2P software or
> access to Binary news feeds. This includes things like Kazaa. See
> http://www.plus.net/info2/whatisadsl/adsl_faq3.html#not for more
> details.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ian
>> Ian Wild Unmetered & ADSL solutions
>> Customer Support for Home & Business
>> PlusNet Technologies Ltd. @ http://www.plus.net
> + ------- My Referrals - It pays to recommend PlusNet -------


There seems to be considerable scope for improving the product comparison
tables on the PlusNet website by:

a) providing tables which compare all the various PlusNet offerings, feature
by feature

b) in the comparisons with the competition, making it clear which PlusNet
service(s) is/are being used as a base

Any takers, PlusNet?
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is Black Hole!

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:46:03 -0000, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:


>a) providing tables which compare all the various PlusNet offerings, feature
>by feature
>
>b) in the comparisons with the competition, making it clear which PlusNet
>service(s) is/are being used as a base
>
>Any takers, PlusNet?

I agree (As would our marketing team!).

It is a long time since we last updated the competitor analysis tables
certainly and if there any specific areas of the data which are
incorrect I would very much appreciate you letting me know.

With regard to representing our products in a nice table, again I
would agree that this is something we should do. In reality though,
the thing we need to do more is to simplify our entire product range
so that no confusion arises in the first place. Doing precisely this
is already planned and we hope to be able to make the required changes
within the next couple of months.

With Regards,

Ian
--
| Ian Wild Unmetered & ADSL solutions
| Customer Support for Home & Business
| PlusNet Technologies Ltd. @ http://www.plus.net
+ ------- My Referrals - It pays to recommend PlusNet -------

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
PlusNet Support Team <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
> It is a long time since we last updated the competitor analysis tables
> certainly and if there any specific areas of the data which are
> incorrect I would very much appreciate you letting me know.
>

I'm not sure about incorrect - but maybe misleading (in a Blairite sort of
way!)

In your table comparing Home Broadband DSL with the competition (which is
difficult to find in the first place!) the price is quoted as "from
£18.99" - which presumably refers to Home Surf - but the table then proceeds
to list a load of features which you don't get with Home Surf - albeit with
an asterisk against them and a footnote in a very small font.

It would, IMHO, be more honest to have an additional column - so that these
features can be omitted from the Home Surf column at £18.99 but included in
the ADSL Home column at "from £21.99".
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is Black Hole!

"Stef" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Also can someone tell me if the dial up modem I've already got can still be
> used without problem?

fine. A great help when the LAN configuration is down and you can
dialup to get to your router from the "outside"

cu

mgk
--
"Freedom requires that we learn and put into practice the
three R's - Respect, Responsibility, and Restraint."
- Brian Cavanaugh

Tiscali Tim <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> Stef <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Can someone very simply explain the difference to a broadband newbie
>> between PlusNet's Broadband EasyStart & ADSL Home Surf? Is it simply
>> that you get the equipment and line activation included?
>
> That's basically it. It seems like quite a good deal. Although it
> effectively ties you in for 12 months (there are cancellation charges if you
> cancel sooner) the extra ?3 per month (?36 pa) is a lot less than the
> activation fee - let alone the modem

Assuming that price doesn't drop by more than a few quid a month in the
intervening months.