The horror of the slowband...

Since the 4G was turned off, we have been using our old Pipex/Tiscali/Talk Talk ISP connection. Although the max speed is around half a meg, the problem is actually the random disconnections and ridiculous slow downs from time to time.

For example, tonight I decided to post about the subject here on Blogger. I ended up closing the browser tab and attempting again a few minutes later. Not once, but several times did I do that - just to get onto Blogger and make a posting!

I intend to get the MAC and move to another provider soon.  Back when we signed up to Pipex, they gave up unlimited downloads for our 512kb connection. Although it is slow, I often downloaded .iso files of new Linux distro releases - either to work on them or to test and review.
Each successive buyout - from Pipex to Tiscali and from Tiscali to Talk Talk - brought more problems.
Talk Talk reduced our service from "unlimited" to 10Gb per month and increased the cost from 20 quid to £25 per month. Yes, I know those of you with cable will be laughing as you suck up your unlimited downloads, TV and phone for £15....

Although I hate BT with a vengeance (they raped their customers by sticking them through Phorm), they offer the same download allowance (10Gb) with their Openzone wifi use out and about for £13 and some free months to start you off...
They also reckon (as they di when "broadband" first arrived here) that we can get better general speeds (750kb - 1Mb).

Although I really find it frustrating to pay the same as someone getting 8Mb or more, I will probably end up going to BT.

Totally cheesed off with the whole internet rip off at the moment. 

PS - this took about 10 minutes to actually post. I had to attempt it several times. And this is after midnight in the UK, so hardly peak times....

Carphone Warehouse, Tiscali and Pipex

Hmm.. well the big news today is that Carphone Warehouse are going to buy out Tiscali. Tiscali, as we know, recently bought out Pipex - which was my ISP.

Pipex was a very good company back when I joined - good reliable service, no problems.
Tiscali took over - still not terrible, but noticeable dropped connections, sometimes for an hour or more. Not generally, but it happened.

Now Carphone Warehouse is taking over.

Carphone Warehouse are, as you may know, one of the big three who have expressed their interest in Phorm - the much discussed outfit who are intending to profile the surfing of their partner ISPs and serve "contextual ads". Well, they won't be seeing my surfing habits - not that they are terribly exciting anyway! As soon as I get confirmation of the selling of Tiscali, I am off. I have opposed Phorm since day one and have no desire to be any part of their spamvertising thank you.

Doubtless the Phorm spies - who I know hunt the web for any negative postings - will eventually find this and waste ten minutes of their valuable time posting some response or other. Well, to those guys - you could save yourself a lot of bother, because this blog is pretty small fry compared to the huge amount of anti-phorm stuff out there!