Hi there. I am new to posting, but have frequented this site for over a year. I will be moving to the UK with my wife in October, and have a question about broadband in the UK. My inlaws have Wanadoo, but it doesn't seem to work with Macs. Any suggestions for decent broadband? We will be living in London. Thanks for any help.
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Moving to UK, Broadband?
- Thread starter Pyro2b
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All you could ever want to know about UK ADSL: http://adslguide.org
If you are in an area with Telewest Blueyonder cable however, I'd say go with them. they have 768kbps, 1.5mbps & 3mpbs services that are very fast and reliable (I have been with them for about 3 years now).
If you are in an area with Telewest Blueyonder cable however, I'd say go with them. they have 768kbps, 1.5mbps & 3mpbs services that are very fast and reliable (I have been with them for about 3 years now).
robbieduncan said:
Careful now, Bulldog 4 is only available central London. The alternative is Bulldog Alltime, up to 2mbps.
Savage Henry said:
Unfortunately true. And not all of central London at that (for example I'm stuck at 2 as the Mile-End exchange has not been upgraded yet).
Thanks
Thanks for the info. Those links are helpful. One more question. Any good apple resellers in London? I know the Apple store is opening soon, but I am not sure when.
Pyro2b
Thanks for the info. Those links are helpful. One more question. Any good apple resellers in London? I know the Apple store is opening soon, but I am not sure when.
Pyro2b
Pyro2b said:
Services that have been said would be better but I'm curious as to why is it that Wannado doesn't work with a Mac?
It isn't because of a USB ADSL Modem is it?
Because if it is just get an Ethernet one instead
Or is it something else?
This is what I got from the Wanadoo site. Doesn't look Mac fiendly.
To register for Wanadoo Broadband you will need:
A BT phone line
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher
A computer with a USB Port, CD-Rom drive, 200MB Disk Space and 32MB RAM.
For a USB modem: Windows 98/98SE/2000/Me/XP or Mac OS8.6 to OS9.2 (not OS X)
For Wanadoo Home: Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP (Not Mac compatible)
To register for Wanadoo Broadband you will need:
A BT phone line
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher
A computer with a USB Port, CD-Rom drive, 200MB Disk Space and 32MB RAM.
For a USB modem: Windows 98/98SE/2000/Me/XP or Mac OS8.6 to OS9.2 (not OS X)
For Wanadoo Home: Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP (Not Mac compatible)
Pyro2b said:
To me I would take the other guys advice on those other Internet companies
However if you find yourself needing Wannadoo it is possible to get around these little problems
It is really a USB ADSL Modem which is the real pain, if you get an ADSL Modem with Ethernet that should sort out the compatibility problems
For the sake of your own sanity DON'T go with wanapoo.
2 months ago we signed up for there basic package at my company (we only need net for email so their download limit was acceptable)
week 1:
on hold to their helpline trying to get our modem delivered
week 2:
modems here, installed but coulnt connect to the dsl line
1 1/2 hours on hold again - turns out wanapoo "forgot" to ask BT to turn the dsl on.
week 3:
still nothing, aparently the only way to rectify our problem is to cancel our account (WHICH WE ARE BEING CHARGED FOR ALREADY!)
after 2 hours on hold waiting for someone at the "cancel your account" department to pick up the phone i started to cry.
week 4:
emails sent to everyone of their addresses and letters sent to their main office asking for our account to be canceled
week 5:
nice credit card people gladly prevented wanadoodoo from taking anymore money
present day:
gave up - gonna get bt broadband just like i use here at home.
Bye Bye
2 months ago we signed up for there basic package at my company (we only need net for email so their download limit was acceptable)
week 1:
on hold to their helpline trying to get our modem delivered
week 2:
modems here, installed but coulnt connect to the dsl line
1 1/2 hours on hold again - turns out wanapoo "forgot" to ask BT to turn the dsl on.
week 3:
still nothing, aparently the only way to rectify our problem is to cancel our account (WHICH WE ARE BEING CHARGED FOR ALREADY!)
after 2 hours on hold waiting for someone at the "cancel your account" department to pick up the phone i started to cry.
week 4:
emails sent to everyone of their addresses and letters sent to their main office asking for our account to be canceled
week 5:
nice credit card people gladly prevented wanadoodoo from taking anymore money
present day:
gave up - gonna get bt broadband just like i use here at home.
Bye Bye
Hi
I use Zen Internet for my ADSL broadband needs. The package I use is 512 download speed and 256 upload speed. The upload speed I believe is better than most packages around.
I use a Draytek Vigor 2600 combined 4-port router & modem, with a Netgear WAP hanging off one of the ports for the benefit of my PowerBook. The wireless bit will shortly be upgraded to an Apple Extreme/Express combo.
The company is consistently highly rated, I have used them for 18 months now with only one download of half a day, which was attributed to the local BT exchange and the speeds are consistent. Basically it just works.
My package costs £23.82 per month + VAT
If you're interested you can check them out here
As for an Apple store, Micro Anvika are indeed good but I would also check out The Square Group at 78 New Oxford Street, which is not far from the Micro Anvika shop. Its very nicely laid out, they have all the latest Apple stuff, the guys are knowledgeable, there is an Apple service centre onsite and they are happy for you to play with the computers, without being hassled by a guy desperate for commission.
If you're interested, their website is here
Vanilla
I use Zen Internet for my ADSL broadband needs. The package I use is 512 download speed and 256 upload speed. The upload speed I believe is better than most packages around.
I use a Draytek Vigor 2600 combined 4-port router & modem, with a Netgear WAP hanging off one of the ports for the benefit of my PowerBook. The wireless bit will shortly be upgraded to an Apple Extreme/Express combo.
The company is consistently highly rated, I have used them for 18 months now with only one download of half a day, which was attributed to the local BT exchange and the speeds are consistent. Basically it just works.
My package costs £23.82 per month + VAT
If you're interested you can check them out here
As for an Apple store, Micro Anvika are indeed good but I would also check out The Square Group at 78 New Oxford Street, which is not far from the Micro Anvika shop. Its very nicely laid out, they have all the latest Apple stuff, the guys are knowledgeable, there is an Apple service centre onsite and they are happy for you to play with the computers, without being hassled by a guy desperate for commission.
If you're interested, their website is here
Vanilla
You'd better get used to that over here. Macs generally don't exist on product specs. I've even seen products sold in the US that say they work on macs not say they do in the UK. For example this Belkin wireless card says mac compatible on US site but doesn't on UK site. In this case, as someone has already mentioned, it's probably something to do with either the USB modem (most likely) or the registration software. Avoid all registration software like the plague. They are evil.Pyro2b said:
Incidently I use NTL cable for my broadband. They're OK when it's all working but their customer support is terrible so just pray it never breaks!
as general advice to everyone usb modems are the biggest load of crap ever dont use them there crap they make your mac unstable and are inconvinent. for the sake of your sanity get a router (i recomend a d-link 504 never had a problem) as for providers i would of got bulldog or blueyonder but i cant get them where i live so i got demon which is good and very mac friendly.
i have no experience with buldog but many of my freinds use blueyonder they dont have a problem with it and if you get cable i think you get an ethernet modem.
i have no experience with buldog but many of my freinds use blueyonder they dont have a problem with it and if you get cable i think you get an ethernet modem.
Yeah, you get ethernet, I'm on 3Mbit BY, it's very fast (actually connects at 3.2Mbit), and VERY reliable, I can't remember the last time it was down.Hector said:
great info
Thanks for all of the great replys. Sounds like Bulldog or Blueyonder are the right choices. Do any of you know of a Mac user group or anything like it? It would be great to find some like thinking people once I get over there.
Pyro2b
Thanks for all of the great replys. Sounds like Bulldog or Blueyonder are the right choices. Do any of you know of a Mac user group or anything like it? It would be great to find some like thinking people once I get over there.
Pyro2b