britishtrident
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| posted on 15/6/05 at 07:26 PM |
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When NTL works it works well but the whole networking set up had its security designed around MAC addresses which is fine if you are just connecting
one PC but if you install a router the system won't recognise the new mac address and won't issue it with an IP and DNS through DCHP.
The way round this is replicate the PCs MAC address on the NTL side of the router. Incidentally I have encountered a surprising number of cheap
network cars don't have the MAC address set -- just filled with zeros.
Personally If I were sharing NTL on an internal network I would use IPCop running on any old pc as a router.
Customer service with NTL is geared towards sales only.
Bulldog ADSL have had a bad reputation for a while they promised much but didn't deliver and some of thier clients had major outages, although
some have had perfect lightning fast service, it seems to depend entirely on geographic area.
BT Internet were the bane of my ADSL existance -- mysterious 24 hour outages that were never admitted to. Then along came BT Yahoo with its tacky
AOL wannabee C*** !
BT Customer service is only OK if you get the Irish call centre.
Contention ratios don't make much difference all distribution networks such gas water electricity have similar ratios. Connection speed
dosen't make much difference either for 99% of users. What really matters is how good the DNS servers are, the capacity of the providers
internet link and of course how fast the server is at the other end.
Before going ADSL or changing provider do some research the adslguide.org.uk is the best place to start. Go to the compare providers page and compare
the providers you are interested with Zen (has been consistantly highest rated ), BT (usually about average), and Tiscalli (usually at or near
bottom).
Me I am with Zen and just don't get any problems.
[Edited on 15/6/05 by britishtrident]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 15/6/05 at 07:40 PM |
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ADSL Providers comparision
Screen cap from http://www.adslguide.org.uk
 
Rescued attachment srnshot.jpg
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Fozzie
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| posted on 17/6/05 at 08:22 PM |
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Thanks for that 
It goes to show that maybe NTL aren't that bad in comparison
I still say that their customer service/technicians should be more knowledgeable and care that we, the customers pay for a service.
I didn't even worry about connecting the router until my conection was up and running. I would advise all NTL broadbeaners to disconnect their
routers if they need to contact NTL tech support, as they say if you have one connected, they cannot/will not help you! Mad in this day and age when
most homes have at least 1 PC and a laptop.
It can be quite a daunting task choosing a router to work with the 'set top box', but Chris W kindly recommended one to me when this first
happend back in April/May. As long as you follow their instruction sheet to the letter, there are no problems setting it up, you don't even
have to run their 'wizard' it does it all itself! ......which is nice......
Many thanks to all that offered tips and their experiences and most of all the complaint letter from cerbera ...what a classic!
Fozzie
'Racing is Life!...anything before or after is just waiting'....Steve McQueen
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