plusnet My first month experience with Plusnet Extra Fibre broadband (UK ISP)

[Elliot B.]

Some things have come up which have annoyed me, but all could have been avoided if I checked the website and read everything. These things are:

• The 250 GB monthly download cap does not apply between 00:00 and 08:00 each night
  
• If you do go over the cap, your speeds are reduced to 0.125 Mbps (32 KB/s) until either:
  
  • You reach the next month, when the monthly cap is reset
    
  • Pay ?5 for 5 more GB allowance
    

So basically, to any heavy downloaders considering this company/package and have found this page: Be very aware of the above.

Since I wasn't aware (due to my own fault), I can now not play online games, stream any video (inc. YouTube, Netflix or even webcam in a messenger service) for 9 days.

EDIT: To annoy me further, the Extra Fibre service came out around 2 months ago. We signed up around 1 month ago. They have already increased the prices of (the required) line rental from ?12.99 to ?13.99 a month and the Talk Anytime call plan from ?3.50 to ?4.00 a month!

[barbary]

This is very interesting as I want another fibre line to the house. Is this some resale of BTInfinity as I thought only BT and Virgin have fibre to the house networks in the UK.

That bandwidth cap wouldn't do me and I see thats the top offering as well. I just popped on there website assuming there would be an unlimited offering just alot more expensive but no.

However 20Mb upload is interesting.

Hmm checking further I'm not sure this is fibre to the house.

[Elliot B.]

This is very interesting as I want another fibre line to the house. Is this some resale of BTInfinity as I thought only BT and Virgin have fibre to the house networks in the UK.

That bandwidth cap wouldn't do me and I see thats the top offering as well. I just popped on there website assuming there would be an unlimited offering just alot more expensive but no.

However 20Mb upload is interesting.

Hmm checking further I'm not sure this is fibre to the house.

This is FTTE.

[Detection]

You will probably find as I did, because this is a new toy, you play with it ALOT when you first get it, I did when I first got Infinity, after a few weeks / couple months, your downloading levels out a bit

I have unlimited and its not often I hit 250GB p/m anymore, and that is without having to keep check on my allowance

[Haggis Veteran]

what the hell are you guys downloading to hit 250gb in a month lol

[Elliot B.]

what the hell are you guys downloading to hit 250gb in a month lol

It's not just that. Three house members streaming HD Netflix and YouTube videos all day adds up, too.

[Storm]

Ive been with plusnet since FTTC was launched.

they've been brilliant

i was then on their 80/20 trial.

Then they launched the packages, made them cheaper, and increased the allowance from 80gb to 250gb

This is perfect, bar BT (which are a nightmare if you ever have to call them!), you wont find anyone as cheap with as good cap.

Ive only hit it once, and that was leaving something uploading which i forgot about.

Just schedule downloads after midnight, and tell people not to stream videos all day and get a job instead :p haha

[Elliot B.]

Ive been with plusnet since FTTC was launched.

they've been brilliant

i was then on their 80/20 trial.

Then they launched the packages, made them cheaper, and increased the allowance from 80gb to 250gb

This is perfect, bar BT (which are a nightmare if you ever have to call them!), you wont find anyone as cheap with as good cap.

Ive only hit it once, and that was leaving something uploading which i forgot about.

Just schedule downloads after midnight, and tell people not to stream videos all day and get a job instead :p haha

Sky offer 24 Mbps for cheaper, and it's uncapped.

[Storm]

Yeah thats 24mbps, not FTTC???

And also you have to have their TV package

[Elliot B.]

24 Mbps is still fast and I never had to worry about a cap.

Also, I didn't need their TV package for it to be cheaper than Plusnet.

[Crisp]

Yeah thats 24mbps, not FTTC???

And also you have to have their TV package

Yup, ADSL2+ and no you don't have to have a TV package with them.

[barbary]

24 Mbps is still fast and I never had to worry about a cap.

No its not. For a start I have adsl 2+ and only get 16 not 24. Also Virgin is 130Mb so no 24Mb is not an option for people looking at FTTE.

Thank you for pointing out that it is FTTE I see that BT Infinity is also just FTTE. Still 55 down and 18 up which is what it says I would get isn't bad as a back up. However BT are the only ones doing this for business customers so looks like I am stuck with them. Or carry on with my ADSL 2 for awhile.

[Storm]

Well of course ADSL1/2/2+ is going to be chaeper than FTTC/P

FTTC is 4 x faster, and newer technology.

Just remember when ADSL became popular, how expensive that was.

[Crisp]

I've heard of FTTC and FTTH/P, but what the hell is FTTE? I'm sure people just make up abbreviations in their mind.

[Elliot B.]

I've heard of FTTC and FTTH/P, but what the hell is FTTE? I'm sure people just make up abbreviations in their mind.

Fibre to the Exchange.

[FiB3R]

Have to say, Virgin Media were pretty sweet. Had a few technical hiccups now and then, but the customer service was good.

I was downloading over 300GB a month at one point and they never gave me any grief.

****ed I had to move home and missed out on the free 50 to 120Mb upgrade :/

I'll be making sure their service is available in the area, when looking for my next abode in the coming months.

[Crisp]

The only negative to Virgin is their upload speed.

[dragon2611]

Sky offer 24 Mbps for cheaper, and it's uncapped.

They offer upto 40/10 and upto 80/20 FTTC based products in some areas now.

[theyarecomingforyou]

I have Sky Fibre Unlimited and it's been great - no download/upload limits, reliable service, very low pings and it's a decent price. A quick internet search shows it's the same price and speed as the Plusnet Extra Fibre service yet doesn't have any limits.

There really is no excuse to be accepting download caps with the competition available in the UK market. I often download way more than 250GB a month and would hate to have my service crippled or have to pay extra for it.

[Elliot B.]

I have Sky Fibre Unlimited and it's been great - no download/upload limits, reliable service, very low pings and it's a decent price. A quick internet search shows it's the same price as the Plusnet Extra Fibre service and yet it's twice as fast (40Mbps versus 19.5Mbps) and doesn't have any limits.

There really is no excuse to be accepting download caps with the competition available in the UK market. I often download way more than 250GB a month and would hate to have my service crippled or have to pay extra for it.

76Mbps, not 19.5Mbps...

[Storm]

FTTE??The correct term is

FTTP - Fibre to the Premises

FTTC - Cabinet

FTTB - Basement/Building

FTTN - Node (such as VM)

[theyarecomingforyou]

76Mbps, not 19.5Mbps...

Ah, my mistake... I was confusing the upload and download speed. I was also mistaken in the Sky speed, as I get 40Mbps but the top speed for the service is 76Mbps (it's dependent upon the line). I've now amended my previous post. However, such a high speed actually compounds the problem because it basically means you're more likely to run into the limit.

[Storm]

It doesnt mean your more likely to run into the limit?

It just means that a file you wanted/needed to download, be it on 24mb or 80, its quicker on 80!

[Biohead]

I'd have expect most of the UK to have FTTE - as thats the backbone to the rest of the country surely? Are you positive you don't mean FTTC (Which is what BT Infinity is, and what is resold by other ISPs)? FTTC is the one where Fibre from the exchange, is run to each individual PCP cabinet, which then connects to your house through the existing phone line.

Anyway, how much is it costing you a month? I'm currently paying ?27.75 for unlimited 80Mb FTTC, which also includes Line rental and a basic call plan. P2P speeds are limited between 18:00-00:00, but other than that it's fine.

[ZakO]

Anyway, how much is it costing you a month? I'm currently paying ?27.75 for unlimited 80Mb FTTC, which also includes Line rental and a basic call plan. P2P speeds are limited between 18:00-00:00, but other than that it's fine.

What provider are you with?