Help wanted from intelligent people only... [Archive]

View Full Version : Help wanted from intelligent people only...

Hypnobabe

28 Feb 2007, 12:23

...That should get your attention!

At the moment my ISP is AOL and I'm getting well and truly fed up with their cr*p service. What I want to know is this:

* What ISP do you use?
* Do you have any issues with the service?
* Would you recommend it?
* Why?

Obviously because I live in the UK, it would be helpful if UK residents could answer this, unless your ISP is available worldwide.

Thanks in advance for your help, I knew you were clever when I saw you ;)

AndyK

28 Feb 2007, 12:27

You're asking that of people here? :lmao:

BT
Their helpdesk is a complete tautology, i.e. it doesn't!
Yes
Because of the overall bundle I've got, (Internet and phone calls), lead time is slow (9weeks form order to delivery of router and service) but faster than some I beleive, home security package is sort of ok (ie it's Norton so you need to turn the firewall off and use the Microsoft one instead). It's easy to configure and nice and secure which is very important for wireless. Don't install the BT config software though, it screws your laptop up, and uninstalling it is a nightmare!!

Monstro

28 Feb 2007, 12:37

Hypnobabe

28 Feb 2007, 12:45

I'm with aol, to be honest other than they forgot to do my order when I moved I've not had a problem. The online help's good and the telephone help (though it can take a while to get thru) has always resolved issues. I've just installed their router and got wireless for my flatmate's laptop and the speeds seems faster.

I found the same thing to start with, problem I'm having now is that when we try to connect with the wireless router we keep getting DNS server not available messages, and have even had that happen when we're sitting on the same sofa, next to each other, and one of us can connect and the other can't!

We've also had people sign into the AIM service, using a username which is the same as one of my screen-names, and then spam people with soft porn websites, which I then get e-mails from AOL saying I've violated their Conditions of Service!! Despite e-mailing them frequently, and talking to Live Help, I ended up having to delete the screen name, because it was the only way I could stop getting the infractions! Oh, and by the way, the screen name wasn't anything suggestive, it was ChangesHypno!!!!

mszee

28 Feb 2007, 15:01

Alright...maybe I am clueless....but if one has wireless/broadband/DSL connection...why one needs AOL for???

AndyK

28 Feb 2007, 15:04

In the UK AOL are an ISP providing a broadband or dial up service. There are other (in my opinion better) ISP's around as well.

mszee

28 Feb 2007, 15:06

In the UK AOL are an ISP providing a broadband or dial up service. There are other (in my opinion better) ISP's around as well.

Gotcha...here we have telephone company for DSL...and cable company for broadband...don't think anybody is using AOL for that...thanks...

LucyK!

28 Feb 2007, 16:02

I found the same thing to start with, problem I'm having now is that when we try to connect with the wireless router we keep getting DNS server not available messages, and have even had that happen when we're sitting on the same sofa, next to each other, and one of us can connect and the other can't!

I have that problem. We have the main PC downstairs and there are two in bedrooms upstairs all using wireless - someone can be happy online downstairs while mine won't connent at all with "DNS Server Not Available" "Wireless Connection Unavailable"...sometimes it just takes restarting the computer but a lot of the time once it goes it's off for the night :(

AndyK

28 Feb 2007, 16:42

JanT

28 Feb 2007, 17:39

Reset your modem/router.

Don't turn her off... actually unplug her from the mains... give her a ten second count then plug her back in. She'll flash and blink and look most confused but when she comes to her senses she should work fine.

Jan

duke knooby

28 Feb 2007, 18:18

im with tiscali.. had no issues at all, does what i need it too.

Hypnobabe

28 Feb 2007, 18:21

and people wonder why I'm so anti-AOL :))

However, being the kind soul that I am with google as my friend ... this appears to be a common problem with AOHell ...and there appears to be a fairly common fix

http://www.suggestafix.com/lofiversion/index.php/t21320.html

The other solution is the good old hard reset on the router/modem, pull it's plug out wait ten seconds then plug it back in again.

Reset your modem/router.

Don't turn her off... actually unplug her from the mains... give her a ten second count then plug her back in. She'll flash and blink and look most confused but when she comes to her senses she should work fine.

Jan

Thanks for these suggestions guys, but they're all things I've done, and frequently have to do four or five times a day, five or six times a week, and frankly, I'm sick to death of it... We've never really found AOL's 'help' service to be much help, and we've pretty much decided to change the service now, it's just a case of which one we change to!

samurai7

28 Feb 2007, 18:42

im with tiscali.. had no issues at all, does what i need it too.

me too. no complaints here.

RadioMaster

28 Feb 2007, 21:03

I have that problem. We have the main PC downstairs and there are two in bedrooms upstairs all using wireless - someone can be happy online downstairs while mine won't connent at all with "DNS Server Not Available" "Wireless Connection Unavailable"...sometimes it just takes restarting the computer but a lot of the time once it goes it's off for the night :(

That sounds TOO familiar to me :(

Though I have to say that it worked pretty well the last months, was really worse a year ago or so...

djfierce

28 Feb 2007, 23:52

I'm with Sky and so far touch wood no problems at all, and their tech support is fantastic, absolutely idiot proof ;).

Chris

01 Mar 2007, 21:08

I'm with Sky and so far touch wood no problems at all, and their tech support is fantastic, absolutely idiot proof ;).

Ditto.