Lo chaps.

I haven't had a problem with my ISP since they put broadband in where I live (a good 7 years). Recently however, they changed their wholesale provider to Tiscalli and now my internet connection is worse than a damp taught string between two plastic cups I've been on the SPA Servers as usual but now the connection drops, ping suddenly goes through the roof, etc. All the bad stuff.

So I was reading Saints thread about his uber 50gazillionbit line directly into his pc, and thought I would ask the question - which is the best ISP for gaming? I need to change as soon as I can really (the other problem is I work from home a lot and can't have it dropping out on me).

The only caveats are:

I'm in the UK.
It has to be ADSL (I'm in the sticks so cable is out).

Saint - I would have posted this at the end of your thread but didn't want to hijack!

Well personally I'm with Plus Net. It's not actually a contract per say, it's really a pay as you go sort of deal. I've found though, that since there's always the chance you'll just stop using their service the connection is pretty much on spot on no matter what time of day it is. If you're into heavy downloading then I wouldn't recommend it. If you only really want it for gaming and surfing the old interwebz then it's sound as a pound. And it's ADSL too. Check it out if that all sounds good matey.

Nice to meet you by the way

turns out I'm in exactly the same boat as you mate

if there's any advice I can give, it's avoid AOL LIKE THE PLAGUE, no matter how many free wireless routers they thrown in with the contract.

so yeah, I'd be just as happy to get any advice on a less crappy isp as the op

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ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: true genius
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: doesn't make sense
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: till you're senseless

I've been using Eclipse Internet, mine is fine on the spa servers, but the problem is I live in the countryside as well and I can only get a max of 3.5mbps

My ping is normally about 45 on spa so thats cool

The problem is that there is a bloody fair usage policy so if you want to download big files then watch out :/ I'm also on the old unlimited package which they don't offer anymore I don't think. They cap it at 2, 10 and 50GB per month now, which is fine for gaming and surfing.

http://www.eclipse.net.uk/index.cfm?id=home_main

I would look at more options though, pretty sure they aren't the best...

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

Yeah, and another problem with Minimooses connection is, occasionally a goat comes over and munches on his telephone line

Orrh, i was on pipex they went tiscalli, were u with them?

Worst connection i have ever had, went back to Virgin and got me sen some cable.

I'm not sure about ADSL really, i don't trust it, apparently ADSL+ is where it's at, depends if your telephone exhange has been upgraded (mine hasn't)

http://www.top10-broadband.co.uk/compar ... broadband/

02 comes very recommended i have seen from websites.
Sky broadband is also quite good, but that is dependant on telephone exhange upgraded to get over 8mb. http://broadband.sky.com/
Be also seem like a cool ISP https://www.bethere.co.uk/

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isps.html

One thing i noticed in my search for a new ISP, ISPs have got this thing where they seem to treat us all like shit, and they get away with it. Because they all do it. you'll never find a 5 star isp because of all the bullshit they pull, fair useage policies for example.

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Computer is fixed. That is all.

Its true, except its sheep, we've had quite a few invading our garden ^^

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

Cheers for the responses guys. I was on 4TheNet and would regularly get connected at near 8Mb, which is pretty much unheard of down the phone line. Mike - interesting you mention Pipex, that was other consideration before I saw they have changed wholesaler to Tiscali. Along the same lines, Nildram used to be great but they changed to Tiscali too and they now suck.

I'm not so worried about the massive downloads, I'm sure my wife will tell me I'm too old for Pr0n and too lazy to download movies

I've heard Be come up a few times, apparently they're quite good. Thanks for the tip about Plus Net too DrMcMoist, that sounds like a great option, I'll look into it a little more. Good to meet you too I'm sure we've play against each other on the SPA servers many times and just not said hello!

***edit for update***

Sadly no ADSL2+ in my area so Be is out

Looks like Plus Net might be the best option. I've got to get a MAC key from the currently supplier (which could be a lengthy process knowing their procedures), but then it should be fairly simple.
I'll let you know how it goes although it could be a few weeks.

DrMcMoist - I'll give you my username when I get it, it looks lke you can get a discount from your bill for a referral so you might as well use it since it came from you!

Cheers
Hicks

Gl with getting it sorted, sometimes you can get the MAC code online if you log onto the website (With certain providers anyway).

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

i'm still living at home, and my mum uses the pipex connection still (she says it;s part of her package so is cheaper), i got my own becuase i was so sick of it, she's paying for 8mbps, and it comes through at less than 1 mbps

glad you've found one

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Computer is fixed. That is all.

I was on pipex for about 5 years before they switched to tiscali, capped download rates and it all went to shit, I wouldn't touch em with yours nowadays.

I'm now on BE, i get 19meg download, 1.3 upload, unlimited usage, it isn't capped, i get between 5 and 40 ping on euro servers. 5 ping on specifics, but 5 pings ridiculous...it's awesome. 19 quid a month, bargain..

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Yes i'm from cheshire...Like Cheese and Cats..

Nice one mate thanks

I would recommend Eclipse - as long as you don't use P2P as they shape p2p traffic so you end up getting seriously crap performance.

I moved away from them after they starting restricting my p2p but apart from that they were the best ISP for general speed and reliability I've ever been with. Another bonus is there customer support was really good.

Remember for gaming the size of your ADSL line doesn't really make much difference. I get the same performance on 8mb and I did with 2mb.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

Thanks chaps, sadly - I'm still waiting for the MAC key to migrate. As I suspected my current supplier aren't exactly willing to provide one (even if OfCom say they have to).
The saga continues!

MAC key?

That needs some further explenation !

I use PlusNet Broadband Your Way Pro (£20 approx, gaming) option now.

Only 2 complaints I have had in the past 4 years - getting speed increase set correctly, going over my "unlimited" allowance.

Ping seems pretty good as is connection.

Were nice enough to send me a letter rather than cut me off when credit card expired and gave me 2 weeks grace.

Owned by BT now btw, but haven't seen much difference since they were taken over.

G'luck with MAC - can't new ISP help in someway?

Oh and for Saint (courtesy of PlusNet):

"A MAC key (Migration Authorisation Code) is a code which any Internet Service Provider can give a customer to let them move their broadband to a different provider. Each MAC key is different and includes 4 letters, 7 numbers (sometimes up to 9), a forward slash, 2 letters, 2 numbers and 1 letter. So a typical MAC key would look like this: BBIP87654321/AB12C"

I'm pretty sure it's the key that your old ISP needs to give you before you can move to a new one. it's to do with some pretty stupid legislation afaik.

of course, the old ISP likes to make you wait as long as possible before they give you the mac key...

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ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: true genius
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: doesn't make sense
ュ~ちゃんgamer.jp Pinky: till you're senseless

Yeah, sorry Saint. As mentioned above, the MAC key is the Migration Code that you need from your existing ISP to give to your new one to enable you to seamlessly migrate (i.e. no drop in service). It only counts for ADSL (I think Cable and wireless are dealt with differently).

In the UK OfCom (the watchdog for such things) specify that the old ISP must provide you with one in 5 days. Of course as ETMI says, they always drag their feet and I have been waiting about 7 now