Migration NTL -> talktalk

[DerbyJon]

My folks are currently on NTL (no TV; no broadband; just the £10/month phone line). They want phone line + broadband for minimum monthly cost, they won't be high bandwidth users, just email and occasional web browsing.

I think their best bet is to go for the talktalk £20 deal. However, how on earth am I going to migrate them without it costing the earth?

I need to get them to 'go back' to BT so their BT line is reconnected, but then I want to dump BT and move to talktalk as phone + broadband provider.

Will they be tied to BT for a certain period?

[Steve B]

last time i checked, it was around 60 squids to get your BT line reconnected. Then you gotta tell everyone you've changed your phone number.

How long have they been with NTL. If its a long time, they might be able to do you a deal. One thing they might say is that you cant get broadband without getting Digital, as you need to be plumbed in as its Cable, not subscriber line.

I think you can pay to get the BT line installed, but not actually connected. I may be talking phish though, better just give NTL a ring

[Waka]

I thought you could transfer your NTL number to BT? NTL certainlt told me it was possible the other way around.

I agree with Steve, if you'e been with NTL for more than a year you should be able to speak to retentions and get a good deal. Also, are you sure you about Talk Talk, I heard they were unreliable rubbish?

W.

[CrazyMonkey]

My friend was on TalkTalk, connections was unreliable and extremely rubbish.
But for surfing and browsing it should be fine.

[DerbyJon]

Thanks guys. I was unaware that Virgin had taken over NTL, and they have a very good offer at the moment (£20/mth for phone line + weekend calls + 2MB broadband), so signed my folks up for that last night.

Anyone know if the Virgin Media bundle comes with a cable modem? Not entirely clear from their website and not sure where to get a cheap one if needed (will be attached to a linux box).

[Waka]

I'm 90% sure you should get a free cable modem. They certainly gave me one a few years ago when I got cable broadband and I doubt the Virgin takeover has changed that.

W.

[schmunk]

Yes - you will get a free modem.

[DerbyJon]

Is it an external modem? (specifically do I just need a bit of ethernet cable to connect it up)

[schmunk]

Yes.

[DerbyJon]

Muchos thankos.

[Metier9]

I know someone on talk talk and it randomly disconnects or wont download files etc...

hell on that connection for some reason you cant dl hotmail attachments it just kills it self..

[Funkstar]

Is it an external modem? (specifically do I just need a bit of ethernet cable to connect it up)

the Virgin/NTL tie up is really new, so they won't have changed the internet hardware yet, if they even bother doing that. The modem is external and can be connected via ethernet or USB, but not both.

[Rabs]

Ive setup a few people on Talktalk, they do have LLU issues at the moment though. With regard to the hotmail attachments, this will be an MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) issue, TT use the same MTU as AOL, so your routers MTU should be set to 1400.