Be Broadband

[Blitzen]

There are a handful of users complaining about speed. However I should mention when I first joined the speeds during peak time were awful. 2-3 weeks later as promised, BT (or Be, who knows with those corporate spin doctors) upgraded the backbone in response to high peak time traffic. Its been stable ever since. Do not get me started on Telewest's response to the area's congestion issues...

Support is ok, occasionally they do need prodding in order to get things done.

Be are fine so long as you dont expect too many miracles over BT's copper lines. They're an ADSL provider, not a magic bullet.

You hot the nail on the head there i think.
Its only the fact they dont traffic shape that makes them a decent ISP.

As you say though, they are still using the same old copper lines that BT use so the dizzy heights of massive speeds arent too likely.

Some get them, some dont.

I got lucky and get 11-13mb with SKY 24/7. Alot do.......alot dont though.

Its just a question of luck whoever you go with tbh.

[javalord]

Dont get me wrong, BE are one of the few rare providers that really can deliver line speeds even during peaktimes! So in that respect, they're truely above many. They're not average in that respect at all.

[MadduckUK]

no there certainly not average. id say rather than luck its far more to do with your house location in regards to the exchange, and the wiring in said house, both of which could not be blamed on BE. pretty close with average house wires like me and just over 20 meg synch, about 2.2MBps download. and fast24, demon, pipex's peak time slowdown are a distant memory.

edit: oh and Syd, use the DG834N router, and consider using this firmware http://www.dontbethere.co.uk/forum/default.aspx?f=6&m=16987 wireless stability improves (to perfect), and synch speed improves (by about half a meg). it shouldn't even be something to consider, the 834 (either the GT or the N) are THE routers to use with BE

[Syd]

no there certainly not average. id say rather than luck its far more to do with your house location in regards to the exchange, and the wiring in said house, both of which could not be blamed on BE. pretty close with average house wires like me and just over 20 meg synch, about 2.2MBps download. and fast24, demon, pipex's peak time slowdown are a distant memory.

edit: oh and Syd, use the DG834N router, and consider using this firmware The Unofficial Be and O2 Users Forum wireless stability improves (to perfect), and synch speed improves (by about half a meg). it shouldn't even be something to consider, the 834 (either the GT or the N) are THE routers to use with BE

Thnx buddy, I will def look at this when I get transferred nxt week

[Syd]

OK BeBox has arrived and connection day is Friday, so it's a case of waiting till it stops working and switching over, after reading up on the be forum I found this advice:

To be honest with you - for the first 15 - 30 days - I would plug in the BeBox when you get it - Be* use DLM (Dynamic Line Management) to push your line with different profiles to see which is the best settings for your line.

Post your stats when the BeBox arrives and is connected - that will help us determine how best to proceed

So rather than use my D834N to use the bebox - at least initially - any experience with this??

Also I've discovered that my router is plugged into a 'spur' from the main socket. The main socket is the other end of the house to my PC and router, would I be better off connecting the router directly to the main socket and using it wirelessly? or am I better as I am with an extension lead of about 5 metres off a spur of about 5 metres off the main socket?

[MadduckUK]

5 meters is nothing, you want to avoid using the beboxes wireless wherever possible (turn it off totally in the options - helps stop the overheating). it may be useful to remove the ring wire from your cabling.

i didnt change to the 834N until id been with Be for about 6 months, just got bored of it spazzing out 4 times a night. so i cant help you there sorry. however it doest sound like bad advice, dont think id bother myself though.

::. Kitz - Low SNR Margin & problems .:: - see the bottom of that page for the ring wire thingy. not sure if its been mentioned in this thread yet

[shaithis]

The thing that makes BE a great ISP is their support.

Calling at 1am to say "I keep getting disconnected" and having someone fix it there and then, is something both Pipex and Bulldog failed to fix over 24months of constant phone calls......BE sorted it the first day I got connected with them.

[Syd]

Did you do the ring wire thingy madduck?

[MadduckUK]

no need for me. i dont need a home phone so iv got it permanently in the test socket

[Flibb]

If anybody is after a router upgrade to use with BE, look on ebay for sky netgear routers, they tend to go for around £20, but are DG834GT. It took me less than 10 minutes to flash my one, am currently using one of the custom firmwares mentioned on the unnofficial BE forum. I had the odd disconnect with the BE box, and it felt quiet hot, but it was when I was doing some torrents, and had 2 other rigs connected, 1 wireless.

[MadduckUK]

If anybody is after a router upgrade to use with BE, look on ebay for sky netgear routers, they tend to go for around £20, but are DG834GT. It took me less than 10 minutes to flash my one, am currently using one of the custom firmwares mentioned on the unnofficial BE forum.

good advice. as iv said the 834GT, like the 834N is a perfect match for be

[Ciber]

I'm thinking about changing to be, it's cheaper than my Nildram 8 meg for a start! As well I'm wary of how the tiscali takeover of pipex/nildram will negatively affect my service as well. A mate is on tiscali and their customer service I would say is very poor.

[Flibb]

My pipex went crap, tahts why I shifted. One thing to note is that Ve does not include email, thats an extra £2 / month.

[Ciber]

I didnt know that about email, but I suppose it's worth it.

[Flibb]

If you have gmail, yahoo, hotmail, etc it might not be. I signed up for it, mainly as some of my forums need a fixed email account.

[Syd]

5 meters is nothing, you want to avoid using the beboxes wireless wherever possible (turn it off totally in the options - helps stop the overheating). it may be useful to remove the ring wire from your cabling.

i didnt change to the 834N until id been with Be for about 6 months, just got bored of it spazzing out 4 times a night. so i cant help you there sorry. however it doest sound like bad advice, dont think id bother myself though.

::. Kitz - Low SNR Margin & problems .:: - see the bottom of that page for the ring wire thingy. not sure if its been mentioned in this thread yet

OK all is now fitted and running, initially I was getting about 2000kps with BT (£25pm)
Be with BeBox to start with 4500Kps - which TBH i was not dissapointed with - However I did the ring wire thing and the results are :


So a big thank you to Madduck

I am pleased, and £6pm better off