Broadband switch deals

I signed up with Pure today, if anyone's interested I can let ye know here how it goes when I get connected to them.

I generally switch between Pure and Sky every 12 months. Pure are always really good to deal with in my experience. The dance of porting between Providers is a by-product of the way "new" customers can be dealt with as an "acquisition" cost rather than a retention cost. I have been an FTTH customer for last 7yrs, 1 of those on Vodafone, the other 6 split between Sky & Pure, all offer the very same speeds, over the same line and the same is true with DSL and FTTC products. In that time though, Pure really have been the best to deal with.

In my case, Pure will be sending me a new modem/router in the next couple of days and the switchover happens in a week from my call so that'll be next Thursday. Pure rang me the day after I signed up on Bonkers. You just swap the modem over on the day that you change so there shouldn't be any interruptions to the connection. That's the plan anyway.

I switch between sky and pure every year (Siro) and pure let you keep the fritzbox. I've never used the sky equipment, the connection just disconnects and reconnects in middle of night and fritzbox keeps on working fine.

My encounters with Virgin have been entirely opposite . Despite calling them three times, each attempt yielded the same response: "Sorry, there's nothing we can do." This was even confirmed in written correspondence from their end. Moved to Pure

That's unfortunate - it's a pain having to ring them every year, but always end up getting a deal - this one was better than most, getting the 9 months - think a lot of it comes down to luck with who you get speaking to

Do you have a suggestion of a router to get?

I am with Virgin, can i just connect the wire from the wall into the router and work from there?

I have a Deco mesh system and for some reason it won't work well on Router Mode from the Virgin box, so am Access Point mode...which removes a lot of the functionality

With Virgin, you need to have them activated IPv4 and put the Virgin Router into Modem mode. Then you connect your chosen router in and that then handles your DHCP, WiFi and any other bells and whistles you want to run.

Recommendations wise, it's very much horses for courses. I use Asus RT-AX88U as my main router with another AC86U as an access point/repeater in an outbuilding. I use my router to run 2 concurrent VPNs for work/hobby related stuff. It also runs my ad-blocker via Diversion. I stick with Asus solely because it's what I know, it was the 1st router firmware I played around with and I kinda know where everything is now.

I also have a few devices set to specific DNS routing for my smart TVs. That allows me to access region locked TV and video apps without messing with device level settings, and keeping the rest of the traffic isolated.

It's very easy for me to say "oh get this because it's better" but the truth is that everyone's use case will be different. My advice would be look at what you need the router to do, and then add what you would like it to do.

Mine has 14 or so wired devices via a switch and supports about 35 wireless with plenty of overhead to spare.

Splitting my WLAN into 2.4ghz & 5ghz along with additional guest works means I have decent granular control over my WiFi networks and devices.

Now all that said? Other routers are available and some are far better. Ubiquiti stuff in particular is rock solid business grade gear.

Got another text off them offering me half price again at €35 a month but decided to go with Sky (Ultrafast+ up to 500mbps) at €30 a month instead.

Does anyone know what router Sky or Vodafone provide?

Looking to go with NBI connection and I think I have it narrowed down to these two

Any ideas who who provides the best router?

That's great, thanks.

Just what I wanted to hear. I've just placed an order with sky for 500Mb for €30 for 12 months.

Do they add on any sneaky costs throughout the year like some of the other providers?

No and after 12 months price only increases by €5 for another 12 months with no new contract.

Got a phone call off them today (Saturday) asking would I consider not leaving them and again offering me the half price 500mb offer.

Told her I had taken the cheaper Sky offer for €30 a month, she wasn't impressed.

Vodafone for years, Broadband and TV (for my sins), legacy multiform, €90 a month. I don't need TV anymore so to downgrade they would put me into a new 12 month contract at €40 a month. Can cancel anytime as out of contract so do not require 30 days notice. PURE seems my best option, like others. Cannot get FTTH so limited options.