8Meg bb, above-basic tv, and phone .. your recommendations?

mossyd

I currently have BT 8meg bb with phone, and NTL basic package. I am looking to cut the costs of the whole thing, and am wondering what are your thoughts or suggested packages / setups?

Obviously, I want cost to be a factor, but reliable BB is a must! (in my opinion, it has gotten a lot more stable over the last years, but more to go) Keeping this in mind, a good customer service is desirable (if there is such a thing).

I have read some previous posts here and got some good ideas (skype possible as long as I can keep my number and don't need pc on to use it the whole time .. incoming calls needed too)

Multiroom would be needed too, unless I get them when they are installing to 'configure' it :P

I do not mind putting money into initial setup if it will save in the long run.

Let me know what ya think.. Thanks!

bk

Your best bet would be to get a combined TV and BB package from UPC (NTL), maybe also get their phone package if you use the phone much (much better quality, easier to use and cheaper to setup then skype and also cheaper line rental then Eircom).

So currently you are probably paying €61.20 for BT and €24.50 for basic analogue UPC, total €85.70 (I'm just assuming based on your post, you may have different packages).

From UPC for €72 per month you could get the deal with the following:
- Digital Value TV pack
- Digital+ (DVR)
- 10 mb/s BB
- Anytime phone calls (free calls to landlines at anytime).

As you can see much cheaper then your currently paying while offering more. But there are loads of other combinations you could choose, for instance €52 will get you Digital TV Value and 10mb/s BB.

There should be no cost to change to this and you should get it half price for the first 3 months.

On the other hand, I'm assuming you want to keep pay TV, you could always look at going Freesat and cancel your TV sub all together.

mossyd

Thanks BK for your input.

Phoned UP and they now tell me that they only have tv in my area!! But as a 'valued customer' they are going to give me E20 off for 4 months if I sign up for another 12 months with them. So I suppose some good came from it.

So Digital Max is E32 p/m, which works out at E304 p/year (includes the -E20 for the first 4 months).

If I want Digital+, it would be E5 p/m extra, with free installation.

re tv, is there a better option out there (not including looking at taking a lower package / number of channels)?

---

Then I come to the bb and phone. If going with UPC (for the sake of argument), what is the best option out there for phone and bb combined?

Am currently with BT with a bill in the region of E140 bi-monthly (inc a low number of calls .. phone not used that much but is needed) .. this works out at approx E700 p/year.

---

OR, if you know of a different option that I can take other than anything mentioned above, please let me know.
*****
Thanks!

watty

Free to Air / Freesat / Sat4free for all the main UK channels and an Aerial for the 4 Irish channels. No subscription. 100% Legal.

See Broadband forum for various BB options. I have Metro at €37 or so a month inc phone connection and 8Mbps down / 1Mbps up. Uses an outdoor Radio set, so no phone line rental. Not availalable everywhere and needs visual path to Mast from your chimney/wall/roof.