You don't usually get owt for nowt these days! (Sky Broadband)

Member Name: lolly23

Product:	Sky Broadband
Date:	17/04/09 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disadvantages: Only free with SkyTalk - still cheap without though!

I practically grew up with Sky. We have had it ever since I was about 7 when it first came out. I have only gone without it for a couple of years when I was 16. This was only because I had just moved out and couldn't afford to get it installed (it was a really hard time for me, lol!). Seriously, I can't imagine ever going back to only 4 channels. Yes, I know there is Channel 5 but hardly anyone can get the signal for it around here.

Anyway, when Sky first informed me that they were starting to supply Broadband, I signed up immediately. I had been having major problems with TalkTalk (the most useless company I have ever encountered!) so when I heard that Sky (who had always proved to be a reliable and easily accessible company) were not only offering Broadband, but FREE Broadband, I got very excited indeed!

Sky, or BskyB as the company is known, started offering Broadband in 2006. It was free for Sky Digital customers or available from £5 a month to non-customers, it has now changed and is only free to Sky Talk customers - which is fine by me as I was already with them and they are the cheapest phone provider anyway!

Sky Talk is £10 a month for line rental, you get free evening and weekend calls included in this and other call are reasonable as well. Throw in the free broadband and is the cheapest by a long shot!

Sky broadband works on three tariffs. Base, Mid or Max.

Base - up to 2 Meg - Free (or £5)
Mid - up to 8 Meg - £5 (or £10)
Max - up to 16 Meg - £10 (or £15)

Apparently there are download limits of; Base - 2GB; Mid - 40GB; Max - Unlimited. I am not sure what 2GB is but I have never even come close to it, even a few years ago when I ran an online business (so I lived on here!) and my ex used to download films every couple of days. I have never been charged a penny extra so either this is never enforced or 2GB is an impossible to reach target. I'm sure you'll let me know either way!


Ready to take the plunge?


You can sign up either online or by phone. Before you do though, check out the latest deals as they usually offer gift vouchers as an incentive to sign up, they also have 'recommend a friend', which is twice as lucrative as both you, and a friend who already has Sky will get the vouchers.

When you have registered your details they will send you out a connection date (usually about a week, two if they are particularly busy) and a free wireless router which is very easy to set up. It is a slimline white and silver one that is 7" by 5" and only 1" deep. My mum's one is Huge - about half the size of a Yellow Pages, so it is a lot nicer to look at and easier to store. They may send out a slightly different one to mine but many of my friends are with Sky and they are all very similar in size and appearance.

It comes with a step-by-step disc that has a video that runs through every step and pauses until you have completed it, 'plug this wire here', 'Press this button', etc. Very simple, even my gran managed it!

They give you a connection date but usually the service is up and running before this so do keep checking every now and again.

If you do encounter problems Sky have their very own technical support line, I have spoken to them before and they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

When you are set up everything should run quickly and smoothly. I have been cut off once in three years and that was easily repaired and dealt with quickly and efficiently, within around 8 hours.

The speed of the service depends on many factors, your PC/Laptop and phoneline will also affect the speed so it may vary, but then this applies to every Broadband supplier. I have been very happy with the speed, it was a huge impovement from my dreaded TalkTalk days and is more than twice as fast as my Mum's connection (Which is with BT).

I have known quite a few people who have Sky yet pay someone else for their Broadband. I have never understood this, especially when they say 'well it works fine, so why change?'. What? You are willing to pay up to £18.99 a month because of the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' rule?
Daft, in my opinion, especially with the economy as it is nowadays.

Even if you don't already have Sky, it is well worth switching as you can get; Line Rental, Free evening and weekend calls and broadband for a tenner a month. That price cannot be beaten and the service is great so you aren't compromising on quality either.

Sky Broadband was also the overall winner in the BroadbandChoices.co.uk July 2008 customer satisfaction survey, so it is obviously not just me who feels this way about the company.

All Broadband packages are subject to area availablity. I think that just about everywhere in the UK is covered now although if you do happen to be outside the network area (somewhere extremely remote!), you can get Sky Broadband Connect for £17 a month. They will warn you of this before you sign up though.

Overall, I would highly recommend Sky. I consider them to be the best choice on price, quality, speed and customer service.

Summary: A good, quick, reliable service at an amazing price