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**mattSix** · 08-07-2005, 12:31

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**Spatial** · 10-03-2006, 21:52

Old thread revivial I'm afraid, but it's an apt one

I've just stumbled across the fact that Pipex have changed their packages (even tho I'm stuck on the old one). That means that for the ?23 a month that I'm currently paying for 1MB, I could be getting a 2MB connection. Nice of them to tell existing customers of the change

Anyway, I've emailed Pipex who said I can upgrade but doing that will start a new 12 month contract (which is no real problem as I'm happy to stay with them). The only thing is they mentioned that the package is slightly different than the one I'm presently on (which I think is the old solo-to-go 1000 version). They didn't elaborate so I've had a look on their site and can't find any real differences.

Just wondered if anyone on here has upgraded? I note that Pipex say the connection is uncapped but is subject to fair usage policy (not really anything new with most ISP's these days and I don't think my usage is heavy enough to cause a problem anyway).

Is there any real difference?

**superkully** · 10-03-2006, 22:52

Cheers for the heads up, I would never have found out about this either...

**Casual_Gamer** · 11-03-2006, 00:01

Word of warning...

Pipex are currently in the process of throttling P2P -it has already begun for some users on the Xtreme4 domain. Current reports would indicate that it's being throttled to 20kb/sec for all P2P traffic. Note, this is different from the FUP throttling they've been doing - this is a blanket throttle for all P2P, particularly Bittorrent.

At the moment, you can get around it by encrypting your downloads (Azureus and uTorrent have this funtion). But apparently they're bringing in new hardware that is smart enough to detect this. So if you are contemplating 'upgrading', do so knowing that for the next 12 mths, you are tied in to a crippled service (unless you don't yarr).

Oh, and there's no opt-out clause either. If you want out, you have to pay the remaining subscription IN FULL...that's right, no more ?57 cancellation fee.

As far as the new Pipex Go package is concerned, it's a 2mb connection, for ?18 if you get their Talk 3000 package for ?5 a month. Otherwise it's ?24 a month. The difference from Solo2Go 2000 is there is no newsgroup access or DSLspace, and the number of mailboxes is reduced as well.

Personally, I'd wait a little bit longer. BT are upgrading a whole bunch of exchanges come 31st March, and bumping up their connections to 4mb. This means that there is a likelihood that other ISPs will follow suit with their own 4mb/8mb plans (a la Pipex's DSLMax). I'm actually looking to changing to Be Unlimited as well - I've worked out I'll get a 15mb connection, judging from my line stats, and I'd be paying ?24 a month. But I'm still going to wait and see what's happening come April 1st.

**Spatial** · 11-03-2006, 06:57

Originally posted by Casual_Gamer

As far as the new Pipex Go package is concerned, it's a 2mb connection, for ?18 if you get their Talk 3000 package for ?5 a month. Otherwise it's ?24 a month. The difference from Solo2Go 2000 is there is no newsgroup access or DSLspace, and the number of mailboxes is reduced as well.

Cheers C_G - I think I can live with those things being removed (can't say I've ever used any of them).

As for an impending exchange upgrade, I'm estimating it'll be another three years before BT see fit to do anything in my area. It wasn't until late 2004 that they decided to give us Broadband - before that I was having to shout down some paper cups on string for a phone and draw web pages by hand

And I've read elsewhere that P2P throttling is something that's going to become common place amongst most ISP's soon. Again, it's not really something that'll effect me but I should those on the Yarr gravy train are going to be well miffed.

**babs** · 11-03-2006, 10:14

Spatial, the exchange upgrade to MAX is nationwide, regardless of exchange. The only exchanges it won't be happening on are those which were activated as part of their 'exchange activate' program, which is where local communities clubbed together to pay for the upgrade (and then 512k is the max).

Here in Cornwall our last lot of exchanges went live in autumn 2005, and there's a lot of small rural exchanges too, but it means of the 100 exchanges in Cornwall, 100 are getting MAX.

I'm tempted to go to max but sadly it may have to be with another ISP. I've been with pipex for over 3 years, but the price for 2Mb unlimited was silly (?34/month). I found that if I threatened to leave, I got a 'retainer' package of 2Mb, 30GB usage (ample for me) for ?17.99/month, so I'm on that at the moment. It all depends if they'll let me keep the same for the MAX service.

**Spatial** · 11-03-2006, 12:35

Nationwide? I didn't know that - just had a look and my local exchange has a tentative Max upgrade date of 31st March

Seem's well worth waiting a few weeks to see what happens.

**babs** · 11-03-2006, 15:06

Yeah, everywhere goes live on 31st.

**Kongster** · 11-03-2006, 20:19

I'm with pipex on a 2Meg line - upgraded not that long ago. I wish I hadn't now - my p2p downloads are getting throttled big time these days

**Casual_Gamer** · 12-03-2006, 10:09

Originally posted by Kongster

I'm with pipex on a 2Meg line - upgraded not that long ago. I wish I hadn't now - my p2p downloads are getting throttled big time these days

If you're using BT, have you tried the encryption function in Azureus / uTorrent? Apparently it's working as a temporary fix.

http://azureus.aelitis.com/wiki/inde...raffic_shaping

**Psyduck** · 12-03-2006, 11:56

Back to Pipex - I'm on 1mb with them too, and although they haven't said anything, I've only been charged ?19.99 instead of ?23-something like usual, which is nice of them.

**Concept** · 12-03-2006, 11:58

Originally posted by Kongster

I'm with pipex on a 2Meg line - upgraded not that long ago. I wish I hadn't now - my p2p downloads are getting throttled big time these days

I get this with Zen even though it's not supposed to happen with them.

60-70kb max downloads on a 2mb connection over torrents. Woo. At least I'm on a monthly contract. How about you?

**Kongster** · 12-03-2006, 23:11

Originally posted by Casual_Gamer

If you're using BT, have you tried the encryption function in Azureus / uTorrent? Apparently it's working as a temporary fix.

http://azureus.aelitis.com/wiki/inde...raffic_shaping

Thanks for the uselful info, man. I'll check out Azureus /uTorrent and give the the encryption function a try

I've been using bittornado for the download of my torrents and I've been getting max d/l speeds until recently.

Originally posted by Concept

I get this with Zen even though it's not supposed to happen with them.

60-70kb max downloads on a 2mb connection over torrents. Woo. At least I'm on a monthly contract. How about you?

My download speeds vary from 20-70kb for torrents thses days. I'm gonna have to wait until next year before I can even think of migrating - I'm on an annual contract.

**Spatial** · 23-04-2006, 10:24

Oh dear. Pipex can't seem to get their act together with Max ADSL and existing customers.

After speaking to them they were originally saying that they'd be able to offer existing customers a Max service from tommorow - but now they say it might be another two or three weeks

Time to look elsewhere methinks. So, anyone want to recommend any ISP's to me? Been looking at Zen who seem to be pretty good.

**babs** · 23-04-2006, 10:50

Zen do really fast regrades on max too. Pipex's problem is that due to the huge number of subscribers, they need an automated tool to carry out the upgrades. Smaller ones such as Zen do each one manually.

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