BT Internet > Reviews (195)

Surftime - off peak option
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I have been a happy customer of BTinternet Surftime ever since it's inception. The price is £5.99 + £4 for the Surftime element. It has come to light today via an email from BT that they are to raise the price by £2.

For £9.99 (or after 1st August £11.99) you get unlimited Internet use from 6pm until 8am in the morning. Weekends you are able to log on at anytime.

I have read comments from people who have difficulty in connecting to BTinternet. I can only suggest that this is due to your local exchange.

Connection
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Always first time I have found, though this is variable, busier exchanges will have trouble with capacity, and thus it may take you a while to get connected. I live in the Chester area, the worst ISP I have used for connectability is Libertysurf. The best, would have to be BT in my opinion.

Cut Off
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2 hours
(though can be 1 and a half hours when busy)
with a 15 minute idle kick off

Speed
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I connect at 48,000 or 46,777 virtually everytime. Downloads are usually excellent 4kbs +.

Gaming
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If you play games then I can recommend this ISP. When coupled with a good quality modem, the pings that you can get in online games are extremely good. The best I have ever had was 150, usually though it is around 200. I consider a ping of under 250 to be good.

Software
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Excellent, does the job. Also if you try to log on using the wrong dial up number (there is a daytime one and an evening one) it will give you a warning so you don't incur extra costs by mistake.

BT also have no problems in you using, Dial Up Networking to make a connection.
(not using their software in other words :-))

Reliability
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Usually excellent, though the email server can go down several times in a month. Also the news server tends to miss out a lot of posts. For example you can be reading newsgroup posts, and you will not be able to follow the postings properly due to some posts not appearing. Slightly frustrating that. I can always get connected though.

At times (though rare I stress) BTinternet Surftime will disconnect you for no reason. This is usually due to a problem with a server, all service status notices are available either on their homepage or by phoning:

0800 731 7777

Tech Support
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If you are using BT, you of course have access to the 50p per minute helpline if you are having problems. Though if the problem is non urgent perhaps you would like to ask it via the newsgroups. The newsgroups that you will be needing are:

btinternet.support
btinternet.whinge

Staff members of BT monitor these groups and are on hand if you need any assistance.

So do I recommend BT, well I find it an excellent ISP but consider these points:

1. Do you use the internet at daytimes?
If answer is yes then go to question 2

2. Do you own a Credit Card?
If yes go to Question 3

3. Do you have a BT phoneline?

If answer is yes to all 3, then it would be more adviseable to use the BTanytime package costing £14.99 (for just £3 extra). This enables you to connect at anytime (as the name would imply). From what I have heard from friends the service is excellent. Though I can only offer the viewpoint of other people who live in Chester.

Kev -

if you have any questions to ask regarding this opinion then please leave a comment.