Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news From: "Olly Read" Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english Subject: Re: All gone a bit quiet Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 12:53:52 +0100 Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE) Lines: 114 Message-ID: <7ma0fa$t1v4@chuka.playstation.co.uk> References: <7m8dtp$dq819@chuka.playstation.co.uk> <7m8mv4$dq821@chuka.playstation.co.uk> <7m8suf$dq822@chuka.playstation.co.uk> <7m9nde$t1v1@chuka.playstation.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: 212.49.232.56 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Ah, there is life out there! Apologies for the original message, but I was deliberately being provocative. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, it is screaming.net. Yes, the service is completely free - but that is about it's only good point! So here is a list of all the bad points: - You have to transfer your phone connection from BT to a company called LocalTel. They use the same equipment as BT, so no hardware needs changing. The line rental charges are the same, and the standard call charges are guaranteed 10% cheaper than BT. BUT, it took them (BT) nearly FIVE weeks to transfer my phone account, allegedly due to overwhelming demand. And, when it finally was transfered, I discover that I'm being charged line rental from BOTH BT and LocalTel for the same period! But can I get through to LocalTel customer services? - can I f***. - As Peter Dollochan rightly says, actually getting connected to the service is a marathon effort - one night it took me 93 redials! However, just now it only took 5 redials - so you have to try and guess when everybody else is not using the service (ie. when it's 90F and hot and sunny). I have to admit, if I just need to read my mail without faffing about for an hour trying to dial up, then I still use the freeserve connection, at a cost of 5p a time. - Even once you are connected, it is usually mind-bendingly slow. The connection speed is the same as freeserve (44000 in my case), but the bandwidth is so low that it takes forever just to load a web page with a few graphics. Apparantly, this is due to screaming.net not having cache servers to speed things along (unlike freeserve), although they keep promising to upgrade their systems. - The email system is a pile of poo. You may be able to access it maybe one time in three - usually it seems to have problems logging in, and even they admit that the servers are far too slow. As you may notice, I'm still using my Middlesex Uni mail server for my email - 100% reliable. To be fair, it is (so far) the only service to do this, so they were bound to have teething problems. Freeserve was in a similar state when I joined that last year, but now it's very good. And just look how many ISP's there are now offering no subscription charges - it'll only be a matter of time before a load of other companies follow screaming.net's lead. Meanwhile, my phone bills will hopefully reduce dramatically - the last one was 80% internet call charges! (sad git or what) Olly Peter Dollochan wrote in message news:7m9nde$t1v1@chuka.playstation.co.uk... > Well..... The service will really make you SCREAM .. took 30 redials for me > to get on this morning and if you miss the 5mins to 6 thang at nights you > just dont get on till like 1pm ... yup its free but if you cant use it whats > the point .. at the moment I suggest using either BTfree or F9 premier both > 0800 access over the weekend at a cost of 11.75 (BT) 9.95 (F9) monthly. Much > better service as well although F9 think its necessary to CHANGE?? the 0800 > number every week and BT kicks you every 2 hours regardless of modem > activity.... actually I think it depends more on the number of peeps using > the service my mates have been on for 6-7 hours before getting kicked. While > I'm pointing out something about BT, F9 are gits when you want to cancel the > service so check it all out before signing up :) > > > Pete. > > > Scott Ward wrote in message <7m8suf$dq822@chuka.playstation.co.uk>... > >Seen as you're not the pope here's a response, > > > >Maybe you could share the name of this magical service so others could > >profit from this apparent free internet time. ;o) > > > >Scott Ward > > > >My hand is well and truelly UP. :o( > > > > > > > >Olly Read wrote in message > >news:7m8mv4$dq821@chuka.playstation.co.uk... > >> Now there's a challenge! If this doesn't produce a response, then I'm the > >> pope. > >> > >> Hands up all you mugs who are still PAYING for their internet > connections. > >> > >> I get mine totally free (no call charges) evenings & weekends. Anybody > >else > >> on the same system? (far be it from me to advertise...) Yes, the service > >> ain't that good, but since you're not paying for it, who cares? And to > top > >> that, ALL my phone calls are 10% cheaper then BT. > >> I used to be on freeserve (hey Ed), which is now an excellent service, > but > >> of course the phone bills kept mounting up. I wonder if anybody is still > >> paying subscription charges too? > >> > >> Olly > > > > > > > >