the right package - help please?

Aidan · Feb 24, 2008, 18:17:37

Hello

I am trying to choose the right package for a friend. There is poor mobile phone reception where he lives but it is possible to log in to his work extension via his laptop. This way he can call his children and they can call him ion the other end of the country when he is a tome on his own (broken marriage).

There would be very little downloading. It would be mainly checking emails (so sending and receiving) and browsing the internet. Email attachments would be downloaded but these would mainly just be Word docs or EXCEL spreadsheets. I guess this would mean that the GBs downloaded wouldn't be high but I have no idea how heavy the use of a VOIP programme would be.

Any suggestions which package to use? The most important thing is to have a good quality phone line which is more important than anything else as he gets pretty lonely in the evening sand being able to have a decent broadband connection delivering good quality connection to the phone line is the most important thing. He has a Vodafone £25 per month dongle thing but it doesn't provide a good enough broadband connection. Presumably this is a reflection of te3h fact that the mobile phone reception is also poor. He is living in a small village in Bucks near Aylesbury if anyone knows how good the IDnet service is around there.

Many thanks in anticipation!

We are about to move office and we use broadband to power the office computers for internet and email and a second broadband line for our VOIP phone system. Has anyone got a similar set-up with ID net and would they recommend them for such use? I need to consider switching as we have had quality problems with the current provider.

Regards

Aidan

Rik · Feb 24, 2008, 18:27:49

Hi Aidan, welcome to the forum, have a karma.

The quality of the broadband service is, ultimately, determined by BT, of course. If he has a good line he will fly with IDNet, if his line is poor, he will get less speed, but IDNet will deliver him the best that the line is capable of. With interleaving on, poor line, I ping the BBC is ~24ms at almost any time.

There's no charge to move between any of the IDNet packages, with the exception of downgrading from Home SuperMax. If your friend doesn't want the web space, blog space or photo album which comes with Home Lite and above, he could start on Home PAYG at £14.99pm, with an inclusive 1GB. If he is likely to overshoot that limit, he'll receive ample warning by email from IDNet. All packages charge £1/GB over an above the inclusive allowance. In addition to the email, he can check his usage and projected usage at any time via the customer accounts page, and can sign up there for daily notification via RSS feed.

If he signs up this month, the first month will be free anyway, so he might like to start on Home Lite (5Gb allowance) and see how his usage pans out. Changes can be made at any time.

IDNet have a number of blue chip clients amongst their user base, so I think you would find them perfect for your needs too. Give them a call tomorrow, 0800 0267237, and they can advise. Note that the same number is used for tech support.

HTH.

Aidan · Feb 24, 2008, 19:29:26

Thanks Rik

I will phone them tomorrow. The service sounds great!

Aidan

cavillas · Feb 24, 2008, 19:55:29

It is, the best around.

Simon · Feb 24, 2008, 20:35:31

Aiden! I'm sure you will be impressed by the advice / support IDNet can offer you.

Lance · Feb 24, 2008, 20:58:25

Welcome to the forum, Aidan!

slt76 · Feb 24, 2008, 21:11:45

Aidan

I can't praise IDNET enough. I've migrated over from a world of pain and phone calls to India with BT. Having only ever needed to phone these guys once they answered within two rings and sorted out my query within a couple of minutes.

To be honest you proably won't need to call IDNET as the support from the guys here on the forum is top notch.

Sebby · Feb 24, 2008, 23:22:52

I think Rik's already answered your question regarding packages. All I can say is that you won't be disappointed with IDNet.

plugwash · Feb 25, 2008, 01:03:18

Quote from: Aidan on Feb 24, 2008, 18:17:37
but I have no idea how heavy the use of a VOIP programme would be.

A standard BT phone line (once digitised at the exchage) is 64 kilobits per second. 64 kilobits per second works out at just under 30 megabytes per hour. At one hour of calling per day that works out at just under a gigabyte per month. I suspect most voip stuff is lower bitrate than that.

Unless he spends a huge ammount of time on the VOIP phone I would say he will probablly be best on home PAYG and paying overage if nessacery.