h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Choosing a broadband provider - A35904251
Author: laural-tree - U1573981

If you want to choose a broadband provider and don't know where to start, then read this first!

Traveller in Time triggered by the new 'entry'
"The concept for the entry is not bad, just very UK centric. "

Contention ratio should also be considered when examining the speed, i.e. how many other households share the line you're subscribing to.

If everyone is using the connection at the same time you'll only ever get a slice of the advertised bandwidth.

Thats why you get a line speed check from bt, you wont need to consider contention ratio.
I'm trying to keep it simple as well as good advice, I don't think many people will want to continue reading past any words like contention.
I'm trying to use the terms the suppliers use so readers can see the familliar words and be able to understand what to look out for.

You are right about it being uk centric, this being the target audience of my guide.
Not much point making this relevant to the world and still expect to help anyone who may not have had broadband before.

Short and simple = readable & remembered

I don't know about the technical stuff I'm afraid but you do have a couple of first person references in there which you should look at reworking to remove.

There is also a lot of BT stuff in there and a bit of repitition which you could look at tidying up.

A number of providers offer free broadband with one of their phone packages - that's what I use and may be worth a mention.


Otherwise I can see that this will be a useful addition to the guide when the content is sorted, so with this.

Thank you for your comments.

I realise BT are quite heavily mentioned but they are the ones behind most suppliers supporting them via their exchanges.

Thank you also for pointing out about your broadband package supplied free with a phone package. (Talk Talk?)

I didn't want to get into different types of offers available, I know the details of packages on offer right now and could probably advise of the best ones, but this changes all the time so thought if I just stick to the issues that don't change I would help people make their own informed choice suitable to their needs.
The different types of packages I mention are about the speeds available, and when it comes down to the people I deal with, these are the big issues affecting them, if they realise they have a package that isn't as cheap as some available then at least they will have a package suitable to their usage. The package you have will probably have either a download limit or a mid range speed.
I am sure you have a fantastic deal yourself but in terms of my own personal requirements your deal would be unsuitable because I need unlimited download due to heavy usage and a speed of 8mb is not possible on my line.

Sorry if I've babbled a bit but can you see how I'm trying to focus on the stuff I think is essential to know and not on how to get the best deal.

I've edited the guide and tried to cut out the repetition, what do you think?

The title is how to choose a provider, not a package, but you don't mention customer service. That's one of the biggest factors in choosing a provider for a lot of people. Choose the cheapest and/or fastest and you'll only end up leaving after the contract period after you've realised there's no-one on the other end of the phone...

And yes, it is very UK-specific.

Perhaps then the title should be 'Choosing a broadband provider in the UK'

I'm not going to mention customer service.
I am in a better position that most when it comes to the importance of customer service, being a broadband technical support agent myself, but like I said in an earlier post, I don't want to confuse matters buy putting my opinions accross, I just want people to know what they personally need from a provider/package before actually getting a provider/package.

I have however edited a few lines to include UK as the main focus and attempted to simplify the guide more and make it more human.

Alright laural-tree, it's your guide entry, but remember that the scouts and reviewers will be instrumental in getting this entry picked for the Edited Guide.

There are a few things that spring to mind now that I've read it more closely and I'm not in such a hurry.

Firstly, I don't know what broadband is .... I don't know what dial up is either and you've said there is a difference in speed but I don't know why they're just two different names to me - perhaps you could clarify.

Then we get to the speed thing ... if I were changing tomorrow I'd want to know what all that mb means .... will it take me two days or two minutes to download my favourite album/movie or if I have the top speed available as opposed to the bottom ... what will it actually mean to me.

Customer service is probably the single most important thing after price for customers to consider - so I'd mention it even if only to say it varies greatly. The contract length varies greatly too, like the old mobile phones you can have 18 month or 24 month contracts.

The first person references are still in there and I think most if not all broadband providers will check your available bandwidth for you ... not just BT.

Broadband?

Maybe have a bit more on how it works too?

I don't understand it really

itsnot as simple as that stick it in the phone connection is it?

its more...

thats all i know

cable broadband excluded here.
If you approach a provider they will either go through a bt exchange or have purchassed part of the bt exchange but who ever you ask to do the line test, they will go to bt wholesale to check this so I'm cutting out the middleman and sending you straight to the ones who not only have the answer but who will provide other providers with the answer.
I do not work for BT by the way, if this is causing such a problem for everyone who is commenting on my use of them in my guide.

No - wait. You've changed the title. This entry doesn't cover 'broadband', it covers things to think about when choosing a provider in the UK (except customer service ). It doesn't properly describe the fast-point-to-point subscriber connection to the internet that is commonly known as 'broadband', never mind the proper meaning of the word, which is far, far broader.

So we have an entry here that isn't about choosing a provider and isn't about broadband and isn't about cable, still has all the first person references and isn't any more informative than any magazine/newspaper advertisement for an overground broadband service.


Laural-tree, if you're serious about getting this into the guide please address the issues raised.

Right, I've taken what has been said onboard and have started again.
I have not finished it as yet but I would like to hear some more opinions on the new piece.
Is it any better?

Well done, that's a much better start and it covers sooo much more ground.


Unfortunately I'm in no position to discuss the technical stuff but apart from a bit of repitition I think this has the makings of a useful addition to the Guide.

Is it me or are there two of the same entry here in PR?

Yes there are Opti. I'll drop a note now to the author in their PS

Having read the other thread, I think they are a newbie and weren't sure whether the entry went through first time.