I have a friend who switched his phone from BT to Localtel and gained free offpeak access to the Internet.

Recently, they've raised the line rental charge slightly but granted free access 24/7 to your Internet provider. He subscribes to a free ISP as well so he pays nothing for his access.....

 

I'm with BTinternet too, but they DO kick you off after 2 hours of connection. Frustrating when you're in the middle of a multiplayer game of Half-Life! Never any trouble re-connecting though. Otherwise, it seems fine, but only accepts single channel ISDN.

You could try World Online who are offering free 24 internet access at £14.99 per month (http://www.worldonline.co.uk). You have to change your telephone provider to them though. However, these guys used to be Localtel and have had some very bad press in the past when they were running Screaming.net.

Graeme

 

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies so far

I tend to be spending around £200 - £300 a month!! on internet access so any alternatives would be greatfully received.

Moray is right though, it would cause me problems if I needed to plan what times I could access the net and got kicked off after a couple of hours.

I would have no problem with the 'kick off after 30 mins of no activity' idea though.

Cheers

Simon

 

Hi All

I have been told that there are ISPs around now that offer free calls 24/7, support dual channel ISDN and have no time limit??

Is this true and does anybody know of one?

Cheers

Simon

PS. Sorry it's way off topic!

[This message has been edited by Simon de Banke (edited 18-05-2000).]

 

"Oink, Oink!" Duck guys, it's coming in for a low pass!

Better stock up on bacon before the price goes up!

D.Thomas
(Moray)

 

I am currently using AOL to surf as they had a FREE yes FREE 15HRS internet access and FREE yes FREE 15hrs calls offer . Only catch is that I have to call them within a month to cancel the subscription. Look there go's a pig now

 

Thought it was Freeinternet.net but have just cjecked and the site isn't running yet. Definitely saw a site which offered an 0800 dial up, through excite I think. Supports isdn on a 56k link. Will find url today and post.

You have to pay a one off of £50 per year.

Free access 24/7 after that. It disconnects automatically following no action after 30 mins. It then disconnects automatically
on the hour. Allows you to reconnect whenevr you like, so is free for unlimited use (except for 50).

They do a family package too, giving you more accounts and website space, but is double the price.

 

Folks

Check out

 

ids,
I think the address you're looking for is

 

ian/555,

15Hours, or approximatly two thirds of a day hardly equates to 24/7 free call access, does it now. And it's AOL!


Adam,ids,

both these schemes have catches... Imagine getting an hour into a file transfer that doesn't support retries and having the ISP disconnect you because the clock strikes the hour. Frustrating and limiting, to say the least.

Also, I realise the security benefits of limiting access to a specific originating number, but this stops you using a laptop from more than one location, and some telephone systems don't forward the number anyway, so this system won't work for everyone either.

Limiting the facilities available on the connection is also a bit off, but understandable.

I like the idea of a one off annual payment... but the other factors are too limiting IMHO. This is a probably a very good deal for casual net users, but Simon is, I suspect, a little more demanding.

Moray

 

Hi,

I believe you are talking about the deal from breathe.net. It is not quite running yet and it is only available to existing customers. Its £50 one off fee then free calls 24/7 Get yourself signed up at

 

Simon,

If you go into Comet you can pick up a cd for Libertysurf (www.libertysurf.co.uk) Off peak access for £20 a year with peak access at 1ppm or for £35 a year 24/7 free access.

Stuart

 

Simon,

it that case, consider signing up for ADSL, it will be £40 month for unlimited surfing, at about 10-14 times the speed of a 56k modem, plus your normal phone can still be used while you are surfing. Links from BT homepage.

Some other providers ill also be providing this later in the year.

Ive signed up. There is a check on there to see if you will be able to use it straight away,or have to wait till they upgrade your exchange.

robski

 

simon,

i use ntlworld it is a 0800 number the speed and reliability is superb, 1st time connection every time,no dropped calls, i use it down a bt line with a dialling box that puts the ntl network no first when dialing. conditions are you have to spend just £10 per month on none internet calls which is fair enough as there alot cheaper than bt anyway. check out

 

just check this out...

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR><B>I'm with BTinternet too, but they DO kick you off after 2 hours of connection.
Graeme[/quote]
Graeme - I used to be kicked off BT Internet after two hours but this simply does not happen now. I spoke with their tech support at the time and explained that my mate two doors down the street with same Highway system had no problems and was never cut off. Tech Support explained to me that I was 'unlucky.' Very technical I'm sure. About 2 months ago I stopped getting cut off after the two hours and assumed they had changed their policies on this.

For those lucky enough to be in an NTL Cable area I would heartily recommend the Cable Modem service. A couple of friends have this installed (£100-£150ish install +£40 per month) and this brings in downloads at 60-80k/s whereas I get a tenth of that on ISDN.

If you’re a serious web user then check availability in your area on…

 

Moray

Ta for the right URL

Your point about about disconnection on thefreeinternet.net does not happen if you are 'genuinely' using the connection - ie surfing, mail , admin, publishing, ICQ etc. If you are frigging it and you are not really there then you deserve it.

Ok the point with using multiple numbers may limit you but it is fast (now), buckshee (after the £50 notes) and works ! - If you are all over the place then get MTO subscription - you must be able to afford it and surely its better than £200/per month for heafty users

Its up to individual choice I guess ....

 

Moray if you spend that much time surfing you might as well give me your car as you obviously are not using it to it's full potentional (I wish I could psell!) As far as cheap online time. I am waiting on tinyconnect to get back to me about there £25.99 and £6.99 options, the first lets you surf for 24/7 and the second lets you on 6pm till 8am weekdays and all weekend, all you have to do is use there phonline adapter and make £10 of voice calls a month for the cheap option and the £25.99 has got no restrictions and my ISP is totally free for life.

 

I've been with

 

This is more like it!!

Are these 24/7 - No Time Limit Cut Off - guys, supporting ISDN? And what about dual channel?

Thanks for the info chaps!

Regards

Simon

 

Yeah, does the lineone support ISDN? Do you get full services (usenet, streaming data etc) and can you use any number, or do you have to connect a box to your line?

My ISDN bill is 1500 per quarter ( which is heading into leased line zones.

R

 

A few of my techhead colleagues use Redhotant.

 

Hmm, sorry guys, may be misleading you. I've just had a look at redhotant and they seem to have introduced a 3hr timeout on at least some of their services.... Maybe still worth a look though.

Rich

 

Just Surf from work its free then !!!!

 

Not being biased or anything but I would recommend ADSL. For £39.99 per month you get 512k access 24 hours a day.

 

Check this link for who has what to offer.

 

I'd love to go with ADSL but it's not available in my area. In fact nothing ever seems to be in my area. It's like when I'm on a plane, and the hostess with the meals gets to the row in front of me, then buggers off saying that the hostess coming the other way will get to me eventually.

Why me? What have I done?

R

 

ahah -

 

Hiya Simon....

I've been using BT Internet for 3 months now. I signed up expressly for the 0800 evenings and weekend scheme. I don't use the net during the day as I am work (just ordered our new 2Mbps Internet pipe - woohoo ))

I've got Home Highway at home. If you dial the right number, BT Internet don't kick you off after 2 hours:

0800 731 7963 - PSTN / ISDN - 2hr Kick Off
0800 731 7964 - ISDN Only - No kick off

Over the past couple month I've had lots of 4hr + sessions. I also set Windows 2000 to automatically re-dial on link failure with a delay of 1 seconds. I've managed to 128k channel bond on the 0800 service a couple of times, but not very often. You dial-up, both lines connect, but you can't get anywhere.

Check out

 

I have been looking round at these, and one of the better ones I have seen so far is