Time for BT to release ADSL 'marker'

I ordered broadband from BT today for my parents. While ordering I went
through a bit too fast and was assuming it would at some point ask for a
credit card or DD details for the broadband bit. It didn't, instead it
said it was going to be charged to the BT bill. (Which I was surprised
at as you can sign up anyone with just their telephone number and postcode!)

I phoned up BT a couple of horus later who said there is no other option
for payment, either the bill gets charged or I could cancel. I decided
to cancel, the BT guy said the 'line marker' would need to be removed
but would take 10-15 days.

Does anybody know what BT mean by line-marker and is 10-15 days realistic?

What ISPs do people recommded? This is for simple web browsing so a
limited option is fine, just want good CS (the BT checker said a BT
engineer may be required to visit). Happy to pay upto 20 quid a month. A
good router bundled would be a bonus.

CheekyMonkey wrote:

> A good router bundled would be a bonus.

Not especially. Most ISPs only offer a USB modem and you're better off with a
router. Also *never* let you choice of ISP be determined by freebies, you still
have to pay one way or another.

Graham

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> CheekyMonkey wrote:
>
>> A good router bundled would be a bonus.
>
> Not especially. Most ISPs only offer a USB modem and you're better off
> with a
> router. Also *never* let you choice of ISP be determined by freebies, you
> still
> have to pay one way or another.
>

Not sure about that. A USB is fine for a light user like the old folks
often are. I agree that freebies are often factored into the price
somewhere though - no free lunches.

steeler wrote:

> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > CheekyMonkey wrote:
> >
> >> A good router bundled would be a bonus.
> >
> > Not especially. Most ISPs only offer a USB modem and you're better off
> > with a router. Also *never* let you choice of ISP be determined by freebies,
> you
> > still have to pay one way or another.
>
>
> Not sure about that. A USB is fine for a light user like the old folks
> often are. I agree that freebies are often factored into the price
> somewhere though - no free lunches.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/usb-adsl_W0...Z1QQsofocusZbs

I started off with a USB modem myself but the effect on PC performance isn't
insignificant. Changing to a router was a noticeable improvement.

Graham

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> steeler wrote:
>
>> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > CheekyMonkey wrote:
>> >
>> >> A good router bundled would be a bonus.
>> >
>> > Not especially. Most ISPs only offer a USB modem and you're better off
>> > with a router. Also *never* let you choice of ISP be determined by
>> > freebies,
>> you
>> > still have to pay one way or another.
>>
>>
>> Not sure about that. A USB is fine for a light user like the old folks
>> often are. I agree that freebies are often factored into the price
>> somewhere though - no free lunches.
>
> http://search.ebay.co.uk/usb-adsl_W0...Z1QQsofocusZbs
>
> I started off with a USB modem myself but the effect on PC performance
> isn't
> insignificant. Changing to a router was a noticeable improvement.
>
> Graham
>

A couple of silver surfers looking up holidays in Margate and playing a
little online bingo are hardly going to feel the benefit. If you are
downloading, then maybe but I feel it would be wasted on most light users.

steeler wrote:

> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > steeler wrote:
> >> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> > CheekyMonkey wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> A good router bundled would be a bonus.
> >> >
> >> > Not especially. Most ISPs only offer a USB modem and you're better off
> >> > with a router. Also *never* let you choice of ISP be determined by
> >> > freebies, you still have to pay one way or another.
> >>
> >> Not sure about that. A USB is fine for a light user like the old folks
> >> often are. I agree that freebies are often factored into the price
> >> somewhere though - no free lunches.
> >
> > http://search.ebay.co.uk/usb-adsl_W0QQbsZSearchQQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQc oentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfposZAL15EBQQfromZ R10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425 QQsacatZQ2d1QQsadisZ200QQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ3QQsbrf togZ1QQsofocusZbs>
> > I started off with a USB modem myself but the effect on PC performance
> > isn't insignificant. Changing to a router was a noticeable improvement.
>
>
> A couple of silver surfers looking up holidays in Margate and playing a
> little online bingo are hardly going to feel the benefit. If you are
> downloading, then maybe but I feel it would be wasted on most light users.

You're missing the point. It's not download speed that's the problem, it's how the speed of the *PC* is affected because of the need to use driver software.

A router doesn't need any driver software.

Graham

On 20 Mar 2007, Eeyore wrote:

>it's how the speed of the *PC* is affected because of the need to
>use driver software.

crumbs, I don't recall any problem with USB driver software, so I'd
have to ask what CPU was being used, how much RAM, and so on... My
Alcatel ('frog') was only really used for ~3 months in early 2002,
so the PC I used was significantly slower than recent models.

NoNeedToKnow wrote:

> On 20 Mar 2007, Eeyore wrote:
>
> >it's how the speed of the *PC* is affected because of the need to
> >use driver software.
>
> crumbs, I don't recall any problem with USB driver software,

It's not a *problem* per se. It just slows down the PC by using up resources.


> so I'd have to ask what CPU was being used, how much RAM, and so on... My
> Alcatel ('frog') was only really used for ~3 months in early 2002,
> so the PC I used was significantly slower than recent models.

I noticed the difference on a 600MHz P3 for sure. I forget exactly how much ram
it had but around 256M and it was running W98SE. After getting a router it was
noticeably quicker.

Graham