Orange broadband very slow and intermittent

[JtB]

I even ended up doing a factory reset on the Livebox to see if it would help and it took over half an hour before it could even re-establish the ADSL connection to the server. Anyone else seeing any problems?

 

[dan_bo]

I dunno if the mobile broadband's on the same rig but yes, it can be quite bitty can't it?

 

[The Riddler]

Have to agree I have an orange broadband dongle and got to say it intermitant at the best of times.

 

[JtB]

My advise is don't ever consider Orange under any circumstances, they are 100% usless. I've notified them several times about the problem and I've contacted their so called help-line twice. Not only is my broadband down to 200kbps, but my phone line isn't working properly either. Orange have totally ignored any request to get this resolved.

 

[JtB]

I'm so sick and tired of Orange that I've finally requested a Migration Authority Code to switch providers.

The Orange service is ok (ish) while its working, but its impossible to get any technical support when things go wrong. Last week a fault developed with my landline (which Orange are responsible for) which means I can't receive incoming calls and my internet connection is running at about 200kbps. Requesting technical support via email does work with Orange (they simply ignore emails) and neither does calling their technical support lines (you end up speaking to someone who couldn't even fix one of those telephones kids make by tying a piece of string between 2 tin cans). After repeated emails and numerous attempts at trying to speak to someone who has even a rudimentary technical ability I've given up! And this is not the first time either (living in a village our landline has been a bit unreliable at times over the past few years).

Anyway, I need an ADSL broadband connection with national and international phone calls included and the best package (for my purposes) seems to be Tiscali at £24.99 per month (including line rental). A quick search of this forum reveals a mixture of dissatisfaction and satisfaction with Tiscali. Any comments would be welcome.

 

[thomas]

Anyway, I need an ADSL broadband connection with national and international phone calls included and the best package (for my purposes) seems to be Tiscali at £24.99 per month (including line rental). A quick search of this forum reveals a mixture of dissatisfaction and satisfaction with Tiscali. Any comments would be welcome.

Never used them, but I wouldn't consider them personally. Not ADSL, but I'm with Virgin and they don't seem too bad. Had some issues, but they've upgraded the local area and we don't seem to be getting them anymore.

We get 10 meg, phone and tv for £25/month.

 

[JtB]

We get 10 meg, phone and tv for £25/month.

Does that £25 cover unlimited national/international phone calls?

 

[thomas]

Does that £25 cover unlimited national/international phone calls?

not included, just free weekend calls for up to an hour....the rest you would have to pay for...but you should be able to upgrade for something.

 

[JtB]

Looking at ISP reviews in general it seems everyone is unhappy with their provider and the common complaints seem to be slow (or intermittent) connections and extremely poor technical backup. Swtching from Orange to Tiscali looks like I would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Anyone got any views on PlusNet's broadband and home phone packages?

Anyway, an update on my current problem with Orange. They've finally agreed to send out an engineer tomorrow to look at the phone line. At their end though its registering a problem with the customer equipment which is rather strange because they tested the line when I had nothing connected to the phone socket.

 

[andyoxon]

We've been with TalkTalk since Dec 2007, and had no real problems at all. Normally get 5-6MB* broadband (about 1.5mls from exchange), with WiFi (D-Link modem), plus free w/e and evening calls (including international, and line rental) for £16.50. With the calls we pay for, the grand monthly total is less than £22/mth all in.

*edit - just done speedtest.net and got 6.95 MBps DL 0.8Mbps UL. Fastest I've seen it.

Before we went Wifi our wired BB modem, developed a fault & had to be restarted everytime connection was attempted. I mentioned this on their forum, and was sent a new modem to replace it the next day.

Our 18mth contract expired, but we've stayed with them. If it ain't broke... I suppose there are horror stories with every provider.

 

[marinyork]

Looking at ISP reviews in general it seems everyone is unhappy with their provider and the common complaints seem to be slow (or intermittent) connections and extremely poor technical backup. Swtching from Orange to Tiscali looks like I would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Anyone got any views on PlusNet's broadband and home phone packages?

Yes. I had to put up with plusnet at term time whilst a student at one point not so long ago and a mate had them until about 2005. They were a really good company for years and years and then galloped into the gates of hell. A once great giant now felled. Exceptionally poor service, they spin themselves as a good customer service product - they are rather ironically for the customer. Avoid like the plague, the caps are a lie, they cap you well before you reach the limit, they refused to upgrade people to upto 8Mbs etc etc. If you're a very, very light user and want someone to speak to properly at the other end of the phone they might be for you. Most normal customers, I'd say avoid like crazy.

P.S. a former gf had orange for 2 years so I know what I'm comparing to. Plusnet's customer service is way superior, unfortunately their product isn't.

 

[Globalti]

FWIW Orange webmail is also intermittent at the moment.

 

[MrGrumpy]

not any good ISPs left they are all subsiduaries of Tiscali etc. If you can`t go with a LLU provider such as Be there or O2 as examples maybe best staying with BT. Have heard nothing but bad things about Orange broadband.

 

[JtB]

Engineer fixed phone line this afternoon, but broadband still running at 100kbps :-(

 

[marinyork]

See whether you've got any sane options on your exchange?