Recently (one month) became a Primetel user.

I emailed their help desk for info regarding using their modem and connecting a wifi router to (access throughout house. I also asked about changing channel, using USB ports on their modem.

Sometime later I received a reply stating that "For security reasons we do not allow access to our customers on to our modem" (apparently I can't even change channel).

I'm also informed that all ports to one IP 192.168.2.10; which I can use for piggy-backing a router. Should I wish to do this they can turn off the wifi on their modem (I was told in a phone call that it would cost me €29-95 to turn it back on).

Thanks for the post, but I've already tried that (also stopped extensions like Firefox Sync).

I installed Opera for when the connection went down, and it does seem that the DHCP is being released and attempting to take out a new connection with Netway instead of Wavespeed but I don't understand how or why -  it doesn't seem to follow the normal length of DHCP lease.

But it also hasn't happened since I put my original post up.

I was using Netway but swapped to Wavespeed about 8 months ago. originally no problems, but after a couple of months kept losing connection.

I went to i-choice logon page and each time the (old) Netway box was checked, as I was no longer a subscriber obviously I wasn't logging into Netway. Logging back into Wavespeed got me back online.

I found no reason for this, but deleted all network settings on desktops, laptop, netbook, phone, internet radio, reset router to factory settings but problem continued for a few more days, then disappeared.

Now, 5 or 6 months on, its back - not as often but twice today I've had to reconnect to Wavespeed (router attempting to connect to Netway).

I'm using Ubuntu 10.04 & Debian Lenny on desktops, Ubuntu 9.10 on laptop, Ubuntu Netbook remix, with Windows Mobile on phone, Cyta's Thomson 585v7 is the router.

Any suggestions please?

The past few days usenet speeds have plummeted, seems they've introduced traffic shaping.

FTP speed is slow - but I don't know whether they've shackled that too, or its just the particular sever I' downloading from.

As my annual subscription runs out in a couple of weeks I'll be going elsewhere.

My download times over the past few days (week?) are horrific - at the moment down to 20 kb/s for the latest snapshot of Ubuntu.

Fortunately only a couple of weeks before my subscription runs out.

Where did you get your information, Surfer?

Difficult to write a report on i-choice, I've used them with two different ISPs and had opposite experiences which suggests that problems lie with the ISP rather than i-choice itself.

With Netrunner slow downloads, numerous service interuptions, with Netway no problems.

If you need the assistance of the helpdesk, make sure you've got a comfortable chair and a drink. Turn on the TV to pass the time as well.

Is it possible to separate Netrunner from i-choice?

I-choice works OK (OK Cyprus is behind the rest of the world in speeds) with other ISPs - but not Netrunner.

Why don't I get the numerous service interruptions with my current provider that I had with Netrunner - and was forced to wait in CyTA's 40+ minute queue listening to their dire music, only to hear someone tell me to "turn off my computer and modem, wait 5 minutes, turn on the modem, wait for the lights to stop flashing then turn on your computer".

"I tried that when I spoke to your colleague an hour ago"

"Click on 'run' and type 'cmd'"

"I use linux"

"Fine, just click on 'run"

or

"turn off your modem"

"I have a router"

"OK turn off your modem then turn off your router"

"The modem is part of the router - its a modem/router/switch"

"OK but turn off your modem then your router".

[REAL]

After using the atrocious netrunner for nearly 3 years, I tried Netway after hearing good reports on a couple of forum.

I was conditioned by CyTA - if there was a problem it was down to them. The dire music, the 40 minutes' wait.

The first time there was a fault with my connection I was on the phone to Netway - phone answered by a REAL person, passed to technician immediately then, to my embarrassment found the problem was my end.

Problem quickly rectified followed by "my name's ***** any problem just ask for me" (that was my one and only call for support).

It was reassuring when, told to "click on 'run' and type 'cmd'" I said "I use linux" and heard "open a terminal" instead of "fine - just click on 'run'".

About 4 months later I took a years subscription - which I will be renewing shortly.