Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

As per title - had a look at the wiki on here (clicky) for mobile options and its a minefield - none have any really good all round plans and all are expensive - I couldnt find any info on ISPs in the Wiki and my searches on the forum havent enlightened me

I know I`m spoilt here in the UK - both my wife and I currently have a £20/month O2 "Simplicity" SIM only plan which allows us 800 minutes (anytime/anybody), 1600 texts and unlimited internet bolt on - more than adequate for our needs (I know that doesnt include a handset but I wheel and deal in mobiles and we always have something decent)

Our internet costs £15/month - decent speeds (10-15Meg) and unlimited and the line rental is around £12/month (could probably do better with both but was wary about signing up to a new contract with a move looming)

We dont have Sky (did have but found I genuinely NEVER watched it)

So, we need two mobile deals and one decent (ideally fibre) internet connection, not really interested in phone line or paid TV

I would like some sort of all round mobile plan again for us both in Canada (Edmonton to be precise) - decent minutes and texts allowance (few hundred) and internet bolt on (doesnt have to be a huge amount - its only for when I`m not near the wifi at home) and built in unlimited incoming calls

The providers I looked at all have one snag with their offerings i.e., good price/calls/texts but no internet, decent calls/texts/internet but costs a bomb - possibly the best I have seen is Fidos offerings

I have also looked at ISPs and again theres no obvious choice - all have pros and cons - I`m looking for something with unlimited downloads and stable decent speeds (preferably fibre) as I plan to stream TV (probably needs to be compatible with a VPN provider too I would imagine)

For calls back home I`ll either use Viber or Skype (might take out a package to allow calls to landlines & mobiles)

I`d appreciate any input as to what to look at and what to avoid

Cheers

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

ISP is going to be area dependent to some degree.
can also depend on the building within the geographical area. We aren't hooked up for Bell Fibe for instance because we live in a condo

Big thinh to lok out for is data caps. We are heavy users (sounds like you are as well), these tend to be ridiculously low if you are not careful.

I hear teksavvy mentioned by many people as a good one to try

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Canada.

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Bell have recently bought in an 'unlimited data' for internet for an additional $10 a month if you have a bundle of 3 or $30 if you don't.

As to the OP's question about cell phones - try looking at this website to give you an idea of different packages available. http://www.comparecellular.com/compare-rate-plans/

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

[QUOTE=siouxie;10672349]Bell have recently bought in an 'unlimited data' for internet for an additional $10 a month if you have a bundle of 3 or $30 if you don't.

QUOTE]

While I haven't seen the exact details of the Bell package, I do know that you have to be careful with companies and what their definition of "unlimited" actually is.

Some of them have "fair usage"policies and some will throttle back your service after reaching certain levels. I know that in the US verizon had a rep for this. Don't know the state of play in Canada but can't imagine they'll miss an opportunity to gouge you.

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Thanks for that website link souxsie, very useful! I'd been struggling to find a good comparison site :)

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Can I add a related question to this.... In the uk you can't have broadband without a home phone and line rental. How does this work in Canada? I think we'd be happy just using mobiles, but do we need the phone line for Internet regardless? Is there an equivalent of line rental?

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

We have just ADSL from BellAliant, no phone line.
(it is ridiculously expensive compared to UK ADSL, but that's another story).

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

It's called a dry loop DSL :)

You can get also data add-ons for internet, which you can use if you have a lap top - or get a mobile internet stick (like this one from Rogers) - have a look at bestbuy for different ones available.

:)

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Just had a look at them - thanks for the tip

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

I`ll take my chances, thanks:p

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Thanks for the link

So do Bell only offer wireless SIM based products? (No fibre/cable options?) Looks like theyre 4G, is it reliable/stable/fast?

I had a look on their site and couldnt see the unlimited option for internet, is it only for existing customers?

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Bell offer fibre optic in some locations. They're a phone company so they don't offer cable, you need a TV company for that.

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

http://www.bell.ca/Bell_Internet/Pro...mited-Internet

Do bear in mind that for cable (Bell is satellite and dsl line) who your provider will be is directly related to your address. Most of the cable companies have a designated area that they will provide services to, to the extent you can be on the same street but across from a main intersection and have a different provider servicing each (but not both).

:)

Re: Decent ISP & Mobile Providers - Recommendations Please
 

Good point, I dont want/need a phone line either, broadband and mobiles will suffice, so is it possible to get a fibre hook up for DSL only?