broad band

[Arc Tourist]

We recently switched from BT to EE and our monthly expense is considerably lower, However, now I'm having a problem with my computer randomly cutting out.
Our computer guy says the problem seems to be with the Windows 10 security software recognizing the proxy server, so he is working on it; lucky I still have the old PC as a backup.

 

[brightspark]

my comp and phone are with virgin cable its only ever gone off twice in donkeys years and was fixed real quick

 

[TechnicAl]

We recently switched from BT to EE and our monthly expense is considerably lower, However, now I'm having a problem with my computer randomly cutting out.
Our computer guy says the problem seems to be with the Windows 10 security software recognizing the proxy server, so he is working on it; lucky I still have the old PC as a backup.

I did the reverse....again considerably cheaper....37 down to 25 and from EE standard to BT fibre

 

[Seadog]

When you ring Zen, you will speak to someone in Rochdale who speaks English

Are you sure?

 

[ukracer]

my comp and phone are with virgin cable its only ever gone off twice in donkeys years and was fixed real quick

Yep.. That's my problem I have been with virgin since their inception as telewest. Their prices for basic services with quick broadband have skewed.
I have recently started having issues with WiFi being crap and dropping connection with devices but as I have the super hub 2 I was advised to not get superhub 3......but its not easy to sort or get new fast fibre service.

 

[earthman]

Like with the gas, electricity and railway networks, don't you all think that it's crazy what Thatcher decided to do with them all those years ago?

From my point of view, the customer now has more hassle, often worse service and pays more.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Like with the gas, electricity and railway networks, don't you all think that it's crazy what Thatcher decided to do with them all those years ago?

From my point of view, the customer now has more hassle, often worse service and pays more.

Well you couldn't have lived through the 1970s then. The Baroness had no choice, it was either deal with the commies or see the country thrown to the wolves. I agree completely that the market is not how it should be, but the alternative was and would be far worse.

 

[earthman]

Well you couldn't have lived through the 1970s then. The Baroness had no choice, it was either deal with the commies or see the country thrown to the wolves. I agree completely that the market is not how it should be, but the alternative was and would be far worse.

I was a kid back then so didn't experience unions/workers rights etc.

From what I can see, all these privately owned companies, the money is creamed off to the few at the top/shareholders where as in a national company, it would be ploughed back in.

Surely making essential services like gas and electricity better and cheaper for the masses would be a good thing??

 

[ajlelectronics]

I was a kid back then so didn't experience unions/workers rights etc.

From what I can see, all these privately owned companies, the money is creamed off to the few at the top/shareholders where as in a national company, it would be ploughed back in.

Surely making essential services like gas and electricity better and cheaper for the masses would be a good thing??

If only it worked that way! Like Communism, Nationalisation is a wonderful idea on paper, but fails to take into account Human variation. When a company is nationalised, it becomes like the civil service or the NHS. Far from becoming cheaper, the costs would run away because there is no competion. You pay the rate demanded and put up with the poor service or go without. The unions would be running the outfit for the benefit of the few, not the many.

I lived through the 70s and if you weren't there, it is difficult for anyone to believe the way it was. We had three day weeks, rubbish piling up in the streets, power blackouts and dead bodies piling up because they were not being dealt with.

Scargill was effectively holding the country to ransom and other unions were aiding and abetting him, trying to bring down the government. Baroness Thatcher waded in, handbag swinging and brought them to heel, transforming the economy for the better. Then a few backstabbing chauvinists like Heseltine decided to bring her down sadly, so that was the last PM we have ever had with a backbone.

 

[mrsbruce]

If only it worked that way! Like Communism, Nationalisation is a wonderful idea on paper, but fails to take into account Human variation. When a company is nationalised, it becomes like the civil service or the NHS. Far from becoming cheaper, the costs would run away because there is no competion. You pay the rate demanded and put up with the poor service or go without. The unions would be running the outfit for the benefit of the few, not the many.

I lived through the 70s and if you weren't there, it is difficult for anyone to believe the way it was. We had three day weeks, rubbish piling up in the streets, power blackouts and dead bodies piling up because they were not being dealt with.

Scargill was effectively holding the country to ransom and other unions were aiding and abetting him, trying to bring down the government. Baroness Thatcher waded in, handbag swinging and brought them to heel, transforming the economy for the better. Then a few backstabbing chauvinists like Heseltine decided to bring her down sadly, so that was the last PM we have ever had with a backbone.

I lived through the 70’s, and the problem was, she took her ‘backbone’ too far. Sure, Unions were utterly out of control, but in the UK, the only power unions had, was to strike. In effect, unions destroyed themselves, but the fuel was via government policies, which ‘encouraged’ these desperate acts. Other countries like Germany, had legal systems that unions could take their grievances through, rather than strike, but not here. Nor were these systems encouraged, until she broke the unions.

Her biggest mistake (among many, IMHO)was declaring that society did not exist, so opening the doors to “loadsa money”, and “I’m alright Jack” attitudes. I see many of the ‘problems’ with society that folk on here complain about, had some of their seeds sown there.

I shall stop now, before I end up going ‘all political’, about one person’s “strong leader, willing to break the rules” being another person’s dictator. Sometimes that person is the same one, just a change in personal circumstances being the difference.

 

[DAPPH]

We recently switched from BT to EE and our monthly expense is considerably lower, However, now I'm having a problem with my computer randomly cutting out.
Our computer guy says the problem seems to be with the Windows 10 security software recognizing the proxy server, so he is working on it; lucky I still have the old PC as a backup.

​

I'm on a BT line and for about three months now we too have a problem that appears identical to yours . The MS 10 computer diagnostics keeps saying , " Computer failed to recognise the ip code " .. though it could be a fault in the BT ( our internet service supplier ) if some clever nasty person/s have managed to slip a virus into their system that causes the IP number to change momentarily . Every time the fault happens two or more times a day I report it to Microsoft as a Microsoft fault

 

[ajlelectronics]

​

I'm on a BT line and for about three months now we too have a problem that appears identical to yours . The MS 10 computer diagnostics keeps saying , " Computer failed to recognise the ip code " .. though it could be a fault in the BT ( our internet service supplier ) if some clever nasty person/s have managed to slip a virus into their system that causes the IP number to change momentarily . Every time the fault happens two or more times a day I report it to Microsoft as a Microsoft fault

That has to be a problem between the computer and router, not externally. The computer is not being given a sensible IP by the DHCP service or the computer isn't able to understand what it is being offered.

I would try setting a static IP on the computer. If it still misbehaves, factory reset the router and get it swapped out if that doesn't help. As you are on BT, I *think* that your router will be on 192.168.1.254 (but check) so set a static IP of 192.168.1.5 with subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and gateway the same as your router address.

 

[TechnicAl]

If only it worked that way! Like Communism, Nationalisation is a wonderful idea on paper, but fails to take into account Human variation. When a company is nationalised, it becomes like the civil service or the NHS. Far from becoming cheaper, the costs would run away because there is no competion. You pay the rate demanded and put up with the poor service or go without. The unions would be running the outfit for the benefit of the few, not the many.

I lived through the 70s and if you weren't there, it is difficult for anyone to believe the way it was. We had three day weeks, rubbish piling up in the streets, power blackouts and dead bodies piling up because they were not being dealt with.

Scargill was effectively holding the country to ransom and other unions were aiding and abetting him, trying to bring down the government. Baroness Thatcher waded in, handbag swinging and brought them to heel, transforming the economy for the better. Then a few backstabbing chauvinists like Heseltine decided to bring her down sadly, so that was the last PM we have ever had with a backbone.

I started work in Nationalised Industry.....steel....it was fantastic....I got paid to swan off to full time education for 2 years....but back in the real world you could see the issues........they tried to make the pay fair so that you could compare a Turner with a Pattern Maker, unfortunately whatever system they tried it threw up anomalies.......One was you got paid according to how many men reported to you (obviously this meant setting people on when there wasnt really a job for them) and the chief sweeper upper had loads (Yard Gang Manager)....he was on mega bucks and he also brought in outside contractors (and receieved brown envelopes in return, I know, I saw it happen)

All the workers kids thought British Steel made Toilet Rolls and Light Bulbs....because thats what their Dad took home

 

[TechnicAl]

That has to be a problem between the computer and router, not externally. The computer is not being given a sensible IP by the DHCP service or the computer isn't able to understand what it is being offered.

I would try setting a static IP on the computer. If it still misbehaves, factory reset the router and get it swapped out if that doesn't help. As you are on BT, I *think* that your router will be on 192.168.1.254 (but check) so set a static IP of 192.168.1.5 with subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and gateway the same as your router address.

Is this English?

 

[julianf]

When a company is nationalised, it becomes like the civil service or the NHS. Far from becoming cheaper, the costs would run away because there is no competion.

How do the prices of health care compare between our nationalised healthcare system, and America's private system?

(I really think you chose the wrong example for the point you were trying to prove there!)

 

[armalites]

This is so true, been with BT for many years, quarterly bill is just under £150 each time, we make zero phone calls so it's all land line and medium speed broadband basically,...Plusnet's monthly costs are certainly cheaper yet they use the same lines and the parent group is actually BT. What a joke really.

When I moved house 4 years ago I had to wait about two weeks for the service to work, is this the same situation when you switch phone line/internet providers nowadays? I've switched gas and electricity suppliers, that's seamless of course.

We're with Plusnet and find them very good. All the support is UK based and is excellent. Whenever I've rang I got through quickly. My wife and kids have mobile sims with them, there are some downsides like no short number texting but when my wife looked at going back to EE they couldn't even get close to the price.

It is ironic that BT is PLusnet parent company but when you are with BT you get offshore helpdesks and I can assure that when your broadband is down you want to talk to someone who can sort your problem out.

 

[armalites]

How do the prices of health care compare between our nationalised healthcare system, and America's private system?

(I really think you chose the wrong example for the point you were trying to prove there!)

Personally I don't see that there are massive differences in the two systems in net result for most of the population. People often look at the American or Australian systems and think its mad that people pay for health care with insurance type payments. The reality is that is exactly what we all do anyway, we pay every week/month out of wages.

The two obvious differences in our system are it's owned by the state and everyone who contributes pays enough that people who are not able to contribute still get cover.

It's very naive to think of our health care as free, it's not.

 

[Hood]

Personally I don't see that there are massive differences in the two systems in net result for most of the population. People often look at the American or Australian systems and think its mad that people pay for health care with insurance type payments. The reality is that is exactly what we all do anyway, we pay every week/month out of wages.

The two obvious differences in our system are it's owned by the state and everyone who contributes pays enough that people who are not able to contribute still get cover.

It's very naive to think of our health care as free, it's not.

Have a look and see how many people file for bankruptcy due to health bills in the USA then compare to other countries.

 

[Seadog]

The two obvious differences in our system are it's owned by the state and everyone who contributes pays enough that people who are not able to contribute still get cover.

No! The real difference is that our system is meant to be there for everyone but you pay only what you can afford, based on what you earn. America and Australia you're ripped off by insurance companies regardless of your ability to pay, hence the tens of thousands who go bankrupt.

 

[armalites]

Have a look and see how many people file for bankruptcy due to health bills in the USA then compare to other countries.

I'm not saying better I'm just pointing out that many see the USA as paying when ours is free when it's not. When the health service is a national entity it means the payments are shared.

I have family in Autralia and my niece and nephew have braces on their teeth. My brother and his wife have to pay for that as it's not classed as essential.

Our system is very good and I wouldn't want to change it even though as someone who earns a decent and wage but never goes to the doctor I am paying in more than I'm getting out but that may be different tomorrow or in 20 years if something happens to me and that's why the system works(or should)