IF You Have HomeChoice Internet ? In Here Plz :)

[ConquerorUK]

Hi all :)

I'm Pondering over getting the HomeChoice Internet connection at 115Kbs( upload & download ) at £20 a month.
I'm told my line passed the test.
I know it connects via the serial com port.
What I really want to know is:

1. What pings do u get while playing games on line ?

2. What are your typical download speeds ?

3. What is the Service like when to need to call the Homechoice Helpdesk ?

4. Is it 24/7 connection ? Or just evenings & weekends ?

5. Are any ports blocked ? i.e ICQ , IRC , Video e.t.c

6. Any regrets so far after getting it ?


Many Thx for your answers :)

[highlander23]

I cant answer all those questions but be aware that you can get it installed for £40 just ask for the free set top box since u might wanna take out some movies to watch, and they will reduce your faster internet installation too £40.

My mates said they get anyware from 2-12K max, speeds varies in different areas however, the more u got on your street that have the fast net service the less speed u have:(

For 20 quid its a 24/7 connection, u switch on the Pc and your already connected, it has too be connected too a BT line however.

http://www.broadband-help.com/home.asp

check here in the forums for ADSL I belive some people have talked about it and answered some questions too.

As for ICQ well my mates running homechoice fine and ICq at same time.

Its been long rumoured that homechoice will bring out high speed modems capable of 512K+ early next year too compete with the other companies:) expect to pay more though naturally.

[ConquerorUK]

Yo Highlander :)

Many thx for you reply :)

Also Many thx for the Good web site about ADSL stuff :)

You have now given me a better picture about Homechoice :)

I did read on that site the one couldn't download Napster mp3 files ? Is this true ?

Does you friend have problems with Napster Downloads ?

Once again Many Thx :)

[highlander23]

Ok I just spoke in more detail to my friend, sorry there is a problem on ICQ, he just found out recently...

On ICQ u cant recieve files, also on Napster you cannot upload files too others.

But he can still go on websites/ftps/servers and download stuff.

I hope they improve the service so u can in the future... they have been doing alot of upgrading recently, I should be getting mine installed in late December.

[ConquerorUK]

Hey Highlander Thx for the quick reply :)

Shame about ICQ ( i don't tend to use that much anyway )

I'm new to napster, what's " also on Napster you cannot upload files too others. " ? I take it that means others can't download files from my Hard Drive ? Do I have to upload my mp3 files to them ?

I like " But he can still go on websites/ftps/servers and download stuff. " :) Can he also play games like UT , DarkReignII, RA2 e.t.c ??

If I can then looks like I'll be getting it soon :)

Nice one Highlander :)

[highlander23]

No probs.

Well you can still use ICQ just fine, my mates with homechoice are logged on ICQ 24/7, people can send files too u via ICQ file transfer, but if you want too send a file too them for any reason you cant its blocked by homechoice, but its no biggie you can still email it over:)

Well with Napster you can still download your songs as normal but if another napster online user wants too take a mp3 from your harddrive he wont be able too since u cant upload its blocked via homechoice ADSL again.

Its really no big deal you can always email or transfer files too servers and your websites.

Yes of course you can still play online games and RA2 and Q3A and UT etc.

For £40 installation and £20 per month, thats an excellent deal:)

[PADDYBOY]

I'm not convinced that Homechoice is all they are cracking up to be - I have phoned them a number of times trying to find out if pings are going to be the same as for USB ADSL users, and no-one can tell me. I am supposed to be getting it installed on the 16th of this month (more about this in a minute) but I read the contract on the back of the sign up form and there is a clause which lets you cancel the agreement within 7 days of the DATE of the agreement WITHOUT PENALTY. I was told that my installation was on the 16th (and have had it confirmed), so i signed the form for the 15th. If pings are around 100 or more I'm cancelling (and then getting BT to install their USB modem whether they like it or not) ...

Now then - the big question ... how can Homechoice give me an installation date, confirm it and have BT come round and install it when Bt tell me I am 60metres too far from the exchange. Consider that the Homechoice line is a 2mb downstream (which 95% of which is for video). WTF can BT not install a 512k line ... is this cause they have to do something extra to my line that they aren't telling me about and so dont want to do the free connection. Are they just being awkward and lying to me because they don't have enought engineers ... or are they just plain w@nkers?

What do you all think?

[ConquerorUK]

Well M8 looks like I'm getting HomeChoice then :)

1 very last question Highlander :- at the moment i'm on BtInternet £9.99 per Month which includes Evenings & weekends Free.All I pay apart from the £9.99 per month is £25.86 per quarter LineRental which comes to about £52 per quarter . By getting Homechoice will this now be £85 per quarter or does the £20 a month for HomeChoice include LineRental ??

Btw why are you waiting until late December to get it ??

Are they that Fully Booked with orders. When I 1st spoke to HomeChoice a chap said I could be connected in about 2 weeks ??

Thx for the time you've taking out to reply to me. Hope we'll both enjoy HomeChoice :)

[William1]

got a few questions here :-

1) do u have to change telephone line from BT to homechoice to get the ADSL service??
2) how much is the one off fee if you are not a subscriber to homechoice??

thats all :)
cheers for any help at all

[-shiva-]

I thought homechoice was a serial connection.....which means minimum ping will be 100ish...

[William1]

got a few questions here :-

1) do u have to change telephone line from BT to homechoice to get the ADSL service??
2) how much is the one off fee if you are not a subscriber to homechoice??

thats all :)
cheers for any help at all

[PADDYBOY]

You have to have a BT line to have homechoice.

Then its £40 installation (£80 if you want only the net access and no TV service) and £20 a month after that - btw ... you didnt need to spam the board - someone would have got round to answering it ...

[ConquerorUK]

quote
------------------------------------------------------------ but I read the contract on the back of the sign up form and there is a clause which lets you cancel the agreement within 7 days of the DATE of the agreement WITHOUT PENALTY. I was told that my installation was on the 16th (and have had it confirmed), so i signed the form for the 15th.
------------------------------------------------------------
Thx for that bit on Info PaddyBoy :)

quote
------------------------------------------------------------
Now then - the big question ... how can Homechoice give me an installation date, confirm it and have BT come round and install it when Bt tell me I am 60metres too far from the exchange. Consider that the Homechoice line is a 2mb downstream (which 95% of which is for video). WTF can BT not install a 512k line ... is this cause they have to do something extra to my line that they aren't telling me about and so dont want to do the free connection. Are they just being awkward and lying to me because they don't have enought engineers
------------------------------------------------------------
Tell you my quick story :-
When I 1st called HomeChoice I was told they couldn't offer me the service."How come? " I said.When BtOpen says my exchange in enabled & I have the Green light for them to come & install BtOpenWorld ( what stops me is the Price £39.99 & the problem of the issue btw Credit & me having a BtInternet access )
The HomeChoice chappie told me that Bt are proberly holding back releasing the lines ???
My guess PaddyBoy is that Bt are Hiding certain things back from Us ! Why only they know ! Smells Fishy to me !

[A*K]

conqueror why dont you go for cable modem from telewest instead? they are only £33 a month, £50 installation and speed up up to 512kbps compared to homechoices 115kbps :)

just curious

i am definately going for cable, the little extra will be worth it.

[ConquerorUK]

A*K wish I could M8 :(

Neither Telewest nor Ntl cover my area :(

Maybe next year !

I read the ADSL prices could come down to as little as £10 a month !!

Check it here : http://www.broadband-help.com/home.asp

[highlander23]

Ack where too begin !

Ok for one thing, if you take out Homechoice ADSL, you DO not have too change your BT line or Number.

All homechoice do is use the existing BT phone socket and convert it too ADSL, so they can pump there telly/adsl down your BT line too your homechoice decoder/BT ADSL modem.

You keep paying the normal BT line rental nothing changes there, but you do have too keep paying that £20 per month for ADSL homechoice charge.

It is SERIAL only connection so far, but there are plans in the future for an upgrade too faster speeds via a new USB modem as its been rumoured.

Typicaly on a fast UK server you might ping anyware from 100-150 on a good UK server, max download rates ive seen are around 10-12K even. This is all dependable on the server and time though so dont expect 100 pings and 10k downloads all the time !

24/7 connection FREE, just switch on and your online.

ICQ sending out files port is blocked, Napster uploading port is blocked no big deal really, im sure some other ports might be blocked.

You will need a firewall sofware, to prevent hacks.

Installation is £40 ONLY, just ask for fast internet service and also say u might want too watch the Pay per view films and they will supply a free decoder, and then this effectivly reduces the installation to £40 (bit stupid but it works) Or just ask nicely and they will do it for £40.

Well im getting my info pack soon, but last time they told me im forced to wait till december for installation since BT has delayed installation of its lines for homechoice.

Homechoice offer great tech/support I can email them and get a reply within minutes. But they recently upgraded so there a bit busy right now.

Should answer everything out there!

[ConquerorUK]

Highlander!!!!

What can I say but one thing OUTSTANDING !!!!!
You have been really Helpful with your replies & the time you have taken out to post your very well written replies :) :) :)

If we ever meet in the Flesh I'll buy you a well deserved Drink !!!

Now where's that number again for HomeChoice ??? :)

See you around Good Buddy ! :)

[PADDYBOY]

Ho Hum - got home today and had a message on the machine telling me that my installation had been cancelled ... too far from the exchange ... apparantly the line test was only done today ... BT tits ...

[ConquerorUK]

Originally posted by PADDYBOY
Ho Hum - got home today and had a message on the machine telling me that my installation had been cancelled ... too far from the exchange ... apparantly the line test was only done today ... BT tits ...

Sorry M8 :(

I wish they would stop taking us for a ride !!!

Are you going to go the ISDN way ??

[PADDYBOY]

Nah ... cant really afford any of this high speed lark to be honest with ya - and since ISDN would cost at least the same for less - ill give it a miss altogether ...

Im in an ex cable and wireless area though, so maybe NTL will get their finger out sometime soon and give us the cable modem setup ...