On my way to ID...

[Si]

Hello to everyone,

Just thought I'd pop my head round the corner and say hi.

Well, my order was placed with ID this morning, and I'm due to be up and running by the 1st Feb latest. Been reading the forum here with great interest, and having already experienced the friendly and human side of IDNet support with a few pre-join questions over the phone I am really looking forward to my new broadband experience.

After 4 years of good (but slowly declining) service with Pipex, their recent stealthy switch of my connection over to the Tiscali LLU on my exchange, 4 days of downtime and now sub 1Mb performance combined with interminable waits to speak to anyone who'll tell me the truth meant the relationship had irretrievably broken down. The only reasonable part of the whole process has been getting away - MAC request to email delivery in 48 hours. Thank goodness I was out of minimum contract.

Having researched who to go to in some depth I've been very pleased to find in IDNet an ISP who doesn't see any conflict in offering high quality performance and professionalism with a small company service ethos that doesn't hide its human face. And the happy users I have seen on these forums seem to show that like attracts like!

Roll on this time next week...

Simon (yes, another one)

[Rik]

Hi Simon, with our Simon and IDNet's Simon, I can see we are going to have our hands full working out which Simon said what. Nonetheless, welcome to the forum and, soon, to IDNet. To judge by the number of ex-Pipexers here, you should feel right at home.

[Ray]

 Simon, and welcome to Idnet as well.

[Si]

Thanks for the welcomes! 

Is there anyone who's had experience of coming over from an unbundled Pipex (well, let's be accurate - Tiscali) connection and suffered any issues? Apart from the extra couple of days than a standard migration would take is there anything else that I might need to prepare myself for whilst shrugging off the last vestiges of my "ex"? 

[Rik]

I think there's usually a re-training period when coming from LLU, other than that, it should be painless.

You do know that you can set up and use your IDNet email accounts as soon as you have the account details from them, don't you?

[cavillas]

Another welcome Si(mon). There is also a training period for a few days when you come onto Idnettters, it's the humour side that has to find its own level.

[Si]

You do know that you can set up and use your IDNet email accounts as soon as you have the account details from them, don't you?

I didn't, but it doesn't surprise me! I've had my own domain and POP email for a few years now - it certainly makes moves like this easier. I've used my IDNet login already to have a mooch around the "my account" section, and I've received the email about maintenance tomorrow (great to see the feedback about notifying users that arose from the last upgrade taken on board so swiftly).

Regards the training period - that's no bad thing. My sync pre-unbundle was the full 8128. It's now 1195. I'll take all the re-training I can get! My line stats previously were always fairly reasonable, so it should be fine.

[Rik]

Hi Simon (or do you prefer Si?)

I didn't, but it doesn't surprise me! I've had my own domain and POP email for a few years now - it certainly makes moves like this easier.

Me too, but I do tend to use the idnet.com addresses quite a bit, if only because they seem faster than 1&1.

I've used my IDNet login already to have a mooch around the "my account" section, and I've received the email about maintenance tomorrow (great to see the feedback about notifying users that arose from the last upgrade taken on board so swiftly).

I agree - it's one of the things we treasure about IDNet, they do listen to customers, and respond swiftly if they think we have a valid point or good idea.

Regards the training period - that's no bad thing. My sync pre-unbundle was the full 8128. It's now 1195. I'll take all the re-training I can get! My line stats previously were always fairly reasonable, so it should be fine.

Toes crossed, but at least you know someone will listen if you have a problem and work with you to resolve it.

[Si]

There is also a training period for a few days when you come onto Idnettters...

That reminds me - any need for the router to be power-cycled at intervals during the training? When I last went through training having upgraded to 8mb I was using a modem, so it got re-synced at least once a day when I switched the PC on. Router now, so always on. Any advice?

...it's the humour side that has to find its own level.

Well as long as I don't get booted off for the occasional awful pun I'll be ok....

[Rik]

I left my router on 24/7 during the training period, with no ill effects.

As to puns, we have two ways of dealing with them:

[Si]

Hi Simon (or do you prefer Si?)

I'll answer to anything! 

I was aware of the plethora of Simons here already - so you can call me whatever causes least confusion.


...that and a two-letter user name is difficult to forget even for me...

[Rik]

I'll answer to anything! 

I was aware of the plethora of Simons here already - so you can call me whatever causes least confusion.

OK, we'll go for "Hey you" then. 

[Si]

I left my router on 24/7 during the training period, with no ill effects.

Great to know, thanks.

As to puns, we have two ways of dealing with them:

Harsh but fair!

[Rik]

We like a good pun, our smiley set reflects that.

[Si]

OK, we'll go for "Hey you" then. 

You're not my wife, are you?!

[psp83]

 

I came from Tiscali Datastream and my connection was down for 5 days due to Tiscali/BT screwing up  so lets hope they get it right for you.

[Rik]

You're not my wife, are you?!

I do wear a kilt... 

[Si]

I came from Tiscali Datastream and my connection was down for 5 days due to Tiscali/BT screwing up  so lets hope they get it right for you.

Eeep! I've already had 4 days of downtime this week just from the unbundling....

[Rik]

Never let go of your bundle! 

[Si]

Never let go of your bundle! 

It wasn't so much let go as stolen from me.

Still, I suspect this place is as good as any to come for counselling!

[psp83]

Eeep! I've already had 4 days of downtime this week just from the unbundling....

I kind of expect it from Tiscali thou... they can't and will never get anything right...

Tiscali is like putting hot pokers in your ears!!! Its very painful.

Not like i know what hot pokers in the ears feel like though 

[Rik]

Still, I suspect this place is as good as any to come for counselling!

Just make yourself comfortable on the couch...  8)

[Simon]

Hi Simon, and    from another ex-Pipex user!

One thing I would advise is to make sure you cancel the direct debit to Pipex, or they may keep charging you, then you will have to go through the interminable process of trying to contact them to get it back.  When I left, I had to ask them twice for my MAC, then after I had migrated, I got an email from them telling me that the direct debit had failed, and that I owed them £23.99!!  Needless to say, I then had to waste another 20 minutes of valuable time in a call queue, to tell them I had left, and that they weren't going to be paid.  Later that month, I received a cheque in the post from them for about £32, which related to nothing I could ascertain, but I wasn't going to spend another 20 minutes on the phone due to their billing incompetence, so I thought thanks very much, and banked the bugger! 

[Sebby]

Welcome to IDNet and IDNetters, Simon. 

[Si]

Hi Simon, and    from another ex-Pipex user!

Thank you.    It's a shame really, I've been with Pipex since before I could get broadband and they were a great outfit at first.

Although I never had any issues with billing I know many did and do - so rest assured as soon as I've got IDNet up and running the first thing I'll do is cancel the Pipex DD and send a recorded delivery letter confirming I'm cancelling the service as well. I've been reading the thinkbroadband forums so I reckon better safe than sorry!

Welcome to IDNet and IDNetters, Simon. 

Thank you. I feel like one of the crowd already, and I only put my order in this morning! 

[Rik]

Thank you. I feel like one of the crowd already, and I only put my order in this morning! 

We have that effect.

[Philip]

Hi Simon, with our Simon and IDNet's Simon, I can see we are going to have our hands full working out which Simon said what. Nonetheless, welcome to the forum and, soon, to IDNet. To judge by the number of ex-Pipexers here, you should feel right at home.

I hope we never play Simon Says on the forum, we're confuddled enough as it is  anyway, welcome to the funny farm, er I mean IDNet Si !

[Sebby]

Thank you.    It's a shame really, I've been with Pipex since before I could get broadband and they were a great outfit at first.

I was with Pipex until February last year. They were fantastic at first, but just got worse and worse.

Thank you. I feel like one of the crowd already, and I only put my order in this morning! 

I've only been here since mid-December and I feel like one of the gang. It certainly doesn't take long.

[Philip]

I've only been here since mid-December and I feel like one of the gang. It certainly doesn't take long.

you get assimilated very quickly and without you realising it 

[Rik]

And sometimes we use anaesthetic too. 

[Philip]

And sometimes we use anaesthetic too. 

don't want to make it too painless do we Rik? 

[Danni]

Hi Si, and welcome to IDNutters

I hope you enjoy it here- enjoy

Danni (who has never technically been an IDNet customer as it was in her ex-partner's name, and currently doesn't have ADSL due to a lack of a phoneline...)

[Danni]

don't want to make it too painless do we Rik? 

But the current latest member is called Dopamine... 

[Philip]

Danni (who has never technically been an IDNet customer

like I said, you get assimilated and don't even know it Danni you know you are always welcome here though

[Danni]

Oh, I knew perfectly well about my assimilation- I just make all men I know go on IDNet

[Noreen]

Si!

[Si]

Thanks again for the further welcomes! 

[Malc]

Thanks for the welcomes! 

Is there anyone who's had experience of coming over from an unbundled Pipex (well, let's be accurate - Tiscali) connection and suffered any issues? Apart from the extra couple of days than a standard migration would take is there anything else that I might need to prepare myself for whilst shrugging off the last vestiges of my "ex"? 

I came over from them, and the day my ID went live I lost my line.

The Indian script reader at BT couldn't understand me or my problem. Told me to borrow someones phone.

However the English openreach guy, the next day knew exaclty what was going on and turned a few knobs at the exchange and I was up and running.

So, even if you escape pipex, there's still BT to throw a spanner in the works.

Oh, and

[Lance]

Welcome to the forum, Si!

I must comment about the amount of bad language being used in this thread. The number of times I've seen pipex is enough to bring back bad memories and reduce to tears any ex customer of theirs!!!

[Si]

So, even if you escape pipex, there's still BT to throw a spanner in the works.

Yes, there is that other "variable" to add to the mix!

Having said that, touch wood, I've never had a single problem with BT in my broadband history... Still I suppose there's still plenty of time! 

[Si]

I must comment about the amount of bad language being used in this thread.

I'm sorry. Shall I just refer to that particular ISP as "them"? 

[Lance]

I prefer Bunch of incompetent tos... actually that won't get past the swear filter!!!

[Malc]

I prefer Bunch of incompetent tos... actually that won't get past the swear filter!!!

You could always tweak the swear filter when their name comes up

[Lance]

 

[Noreen]

I migrated from f2s (Pipex) just prior to their takeover by Tiscali and was on their Easynet LLU. No problems except when I received notification from IDNet early morning that the connection was live it wasn't actually live until later in the afternoon due to BT messing about. Haven't had any reason to contact Support since then.    

[Malc]

I migrated from f2s (Pipex) 

I thought for a minute that that said f f s, and was a way round the swear filter, until I took a second look

[Si]

I migrated from f2s (Pipex) just prior to their takeover by Tiscali and was on their Easynet LLU. No problems except when I received notification from IDNet early morning that the connection was live it wasn't actually live until later in the afternoon due to BT messing about. Haven't had any reason to contact Support since then.    

That sounds promising, thanks Noreen. I'll see what happens come the evening of the 1st Feb...

[Si]

Well, about 10 mins ago my Pipex/Tiscali connection dropped, my router's auto-config screen appeared, I excitedly put in my new IDNet login details and.....

It appears I'm here! 

Haven't run a BT Speedtest yet as when I tried it came up with an error (probably due to their systems needing to update to show me as back on IPStream from LLU as it's the same error I got when I first got unbundled). However, I'm no longer syncing at 1159/150 as I had been since being unbundled so that's good.

With the following stats should I be on course for some good speeds once the 10 days are up?

Noise margin downstream: 10db
Attenuation downstream: 27db
Sync: 8128 down / 448 up

I might not tell the office it's up though - Pipex being slow and the potential "up to 4 hours of downtime" for the switchover was giving me a handy excuse not to start ploughing through all the month-end spreadsheets via the VPN until Monday. 

[cavillas]

Have another real welcome now you're here at last.   Now get back to work, no need to slack.

[Si]

Thank you! Sadly I've already started downloading, so I'm earning my crust. Shame though - the sun's come out as well....

[Simon]

Brilliant, Simon, in fact,   

[Rik]

Noise margin downstream: 10db
Attenuation downstream: 27db
Sync: 8128 down / 448 up

Welcome to happy land.

You're getting maximum sync with 4db of extra noise margin in hand, so you should get a 7150 profile and throughput of around 6700-6800k.

Can I have some? 

[Si]

Welcome to happy land.

It feels warmer already!

Can I have some? 

Well it's not coming through that quickly yet (according to the unreliable web-based speed testers) but when it does I'll send a slice off the top in your direction!

[Noreen]

again Si.

[Rik]

Well it's not coming through that quickly yet (according to the unreliable web-based speed testers) but when it does I'll send a slice off the top in your direction!

Thanks. You may well be on a 2000 profile initially, it tends to happen with LLU migrations.

[Lance]

Welcome to our happy place!

Hopefully your profile will catch up with your sync quite quickly

[cavillas]

Not to worry, it's supposed to snow everywhere this evening.  Just right for theweekend.

[Noreen]

You may well be on a 2000 profile initially, it tends to happen with LLU migrations.

Si, I migrated from a LLU connection and you may be interested in the two speedtests made on the day I migrated, note the times.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Si]

Nora that's very useful to see, thank you. I've just run one as well and my speeds are spookily close to yours in the first one. I shall await this afternoon with excitement!

Thanks to all for the info.

[Simon]

It's Noreen, Si, although it would be funny if her surname happened to be Batty! 

[Si]

   Ooops! Sorry Noreen - I did know that, I think it's just a case of fingers typing faster than brain. Too many spreadsheets this morning, coupled with being Pipex demob happy!

[Malc]

A real    to the happy farm

[Rik]

As distinct from the funny farm? 

[Malc]

I feel we're getting there

[Rik]

I've been there for years.

[MoHux]

............... a handy excuse not to start ploughing through all the month-end spreadsheets via the VPN until Monday. 

They don't call 'em 'Spreadsheets' for nothing.

Spread them round the forum, we've got a couple of young bucks who could do with the practice!!

Get them finished double-quick. 

[Rik]

Lance and Sebby should be likely candidates for the job, Mo. 

[MoHux]

Yup!  Sebbu?  isn't he the elephant boy?? 

[Rik]

I believe he was, Mo.

[Sebby]

Welcome to IDNet, Si.

Spreadsheets? I live for spreadsheets!

[Rik]

Oh good. Now about this speed predictor... 

[Si]

Spreadsheets? I live for spreadsheets!

Ha! I try and leave spreadsheets to the accounting types, but they have this nasty habit of inundating me with them on the 1st of each month and leaving me to extract the bits I need. Still, all done now - I'm home, it's Friday, my shiny new connection is up and running. Hmmm, probably slightly too early to uncork a bottle of Cab Sauv quite yet..... 

[jockwav]

A very warm welcome Si,we all settle in here very quickly,it,s like home from home here.

[Rik]

Hmmm, probably slightly too early to uncork a bottle of Cab Sauv quite yet..... 

Hell, you're celebrating, Simon. 

[Den]

Yup!  Sebbu?  isn't he the elephant boy?? 

Showing your age now    I think it was  Sabu but at my age I could be wrong. Used to watch him in childrens flicks on a Saturday morning. Then we had Niaoka the jungle girl and the Flash Gorden but I think he went on to become PM 

[Rik]

And she went on to become a phone...

[Si]

And she went on to become a phone...

In that case wasn't he SIMbu?

[Rik]

 

[Den]

and Flash went on to become a fast running cheese        Gordon Zola

[Rik]

 

[Malc]

Or the other days weather    -    Wednesday Hail

[Rik]

Is that like Ruby Tuesday, only different?

[Malc]

I think so

[RA-1972]

welcome Si.

[Si]

welcome Si.

Thank you! Managed to get a BT speedtest done, confirms my profile is set at 2k at the moment. Hopefully that will sort itself out in the not-too-distant future and then I can get flying...

[Sebby]

It's not uncommon. Hopefully it won't take long for it to clear and you be zooming along.

[Malc]

My first two days were a bit erratic, with a couple of dropped lines, not had a single dip in speed or dropped line in the 3 months since, retraining I suspect

[Si]

Well, almost exactly 24hr since going live I'm getting the below result....

Now THAT'S what I call broadband! Hopefully at the end of the training it'll still be somewhere near that.

Well done IDNet.

[Sebby]

Very nice, Si. Be prepared for that kind of level of speed at all times.  8)

[Rik]

That looks like your profile has lifted to its correct level, Simon. Try for a BT test at some point, that will confirm it.

Congratulations. 

[Si]

That looks like your profile has lifted to its correct level, Simon. Try for a BT test at some point, that will confirm it.

Congratulations. 

Looks like it:

"Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps
    DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 6577 kbps"

I think I can live with that. 

[Rik]

You're going to have to - it doesn't get any better until you get ADSL2. 

[Lance]

It seems more and more people are getting better syncs. Recently there seems to have been quite a few people on here getting max sync. I'm very jealous!!! 

[Sebby]

Indeed. What I've noticed is attenuation figures don't have to be as low as you might think to achieve full sync. The problem is that we have particularly high attenuation figures!

[Rik]

Increasingly, it seems that anyone with a sub-48db attenuation has a resonable chance of full sync, but after that things go downhill rapidly. Oh for a few miles of copper...

[Simon]

Oh for a few miles of copper...

Just give a couple of Scots a penny, and tell them to share it! 

[Sebby]

Increasingly, it seems that anyone with a sub-48db attenuation has a resonable chance of full sync, but after that things go downhill rapidly. Oh for a few miles of copper...

Yep, that sums it up well, Rik. I've got a 47dB or so attenuation figure and certainly couldn't get full sync, though low 40s potentially could. Still, I'm reasonable happy with a 4000k profile.