Internet provider recommendations

So, I've been doing my research on different internet providers and I'm stuck. I'm thinking either Arcor or 1&1, but I'm wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on which is best. I have a router already and would want wireless. Suggestions?

thanks!

Get cable if you can

Do you need only internet or want a complete package with internet and telephone?

Deutsche Telekom - simple if you have no clue (I think you may fall into that category).

For the love of Jebus and his dad and mum, stay away from Arcor.

I would recommend Alice ( formally Hansenet ) as the`re the only comapny that have the balls to offer a contract for less than 24 months ( 2 Years !! ) . To cancel a contarct you can give a months notice ( to the end of the next month ) . This is partically useful if you are moving or is prices start to fall rapidly , I have had 2 price reductions since I statred my connection with Alice last October , if I se them making a cheaper offer , I phone ask for the new price and threaten to end my contract if they dont give it to me , which they have both times . They also loan you the router etc that you need .

You need to qualify what you mean by "best" - cheapest, fastest, quickest to install, best customer service, shortest contracts, most attractive salesmen, or whatever. Each provider might be good at some things and bad at others. Many are bad at most. Welcome to the German Telecom industry

The chap upstairs from me is still waiting after 4 months for his Alice connection

You can make the changes yourself on-line through your account. No need to threaten them with anything.

After a recent unpleasant experience with DT, I´d say:
If there are any providers that offer contracts with less than 2 years "Vertragsbindung" and/or without the automatic 1 year prolongation of your contract (if you forget to cancel it in time) - choose them.

Telekom. Simple. Every big company screws up, especially telecoms companies, but I believe Telekom are probably the least worst option. They're not the cheapest but not far off and do offer at least some support and assistance. And you can phone them up and ask to speak English, or write to them in English, and it usually works.

Edit: But take a German speaking friend with you when you sign up, read the contract carefully and be sure you know what you're getting into.

You could spend hours looking at various forums in the net to try to find out who not to go for.

I say it that way as, after spoening a few hours looking its more abut picking the least crap rather that the best.

As HA says above, all big companines will screw up and due to high turnover of staff in the call centre environment you will get highly different levels of service and competence when you call. Even if you call back within the next 10 mins, the answers to queries given to you 10 mins ago could confuse the current person on the other side of the phone.

My experience with 1&1 was great until we had a problem, then they were crap.

As most are the same(ish) maybe you should look for what you need (eg, 1 month rolling contract - alice, telephone flat rate to other countries in europe - arcor or freenet - both of which are as bad as each other (although arcor seem best from what i have read).

Then again, choosing between them is more like deciding which ear you should cut off rather than going for a porsche or ferrari.

Wash your mouth out.

I wish I could time travel and undo the mistake of signing with Arcor. I am on the phone with them every other week trying to fix their fuck ups. Their most recent stunt was to sign me up to their mobile service and send me sim cards that I didn't order, charging me for it all the time, when I ring up to say I never ordered this product I get "sorry, we can't do anything about it on technical grounds". I have to fight tooth and nail each month to get my bill to cover only what I have ordered. Each month, it's something new they try and charge me for...I really can't wait for the next bill to be received next week...it means more hours on their 49c "service" line. These guys are, IMO, one extremely small step away from being criminal

Although it is not our main business, amongst many providers we are also D Telekom partners. As many agree (See HellesAngel as example), DT is not always the best, but is usually the least problematic when a problem occurs.

We also act as the English speaking point of contact for our clients. Sadly not cost-free for people already signed up, as we get our money from commissions for bringing new clients.

So do we.
All information paperwork, application forms and processing in English.
Eventful Communications

We have our phone and internet through Alice. Everything was hooked up within a week and we've had no problems in the year we've been with them.

@Timmeh,

As I said, its like trying to decide which ear to cut off.

Would you rather sign with freenet?

I have Tonline, the call and surf package with the Virus scanner/software too. I am very happy.
I am computer illiterate, and had some problems with my computer lately, and they (the Telekom techs) on the phone were always really nice to me and helpful.
I know others have had issues, but I have had no problems with them. I have even had call backs the next day from them to make sure everything is working fine.

I have to agree with Carm, I'm with them too and everything works fine. When I changed from dial up to DSL I had to have a guy come round and change the phone system and he turned up when he said he would and did everything that I wanted, quickly and efficiently. As far as I can see one of the other major advantages to using Telekom is that you can use the call by call numbers for phoning abroad, which I do a lot, and as I understand it you can't do that with the other providers.

Just remember for those who like to use call-by-call, I believe you need DT (??).
However Skype are a reasonable option for international calling, so call-by-call is not really important.

If you are technical and unlikely to have a problem then 1&1 are good and the Fritz box DSL router is a super bit of kit.
Unfortunatly I am locked into a 2 year contract with the buggers (which I will be cancelling, just on the principle of good offers for new customers Vs. screw over the existing).

My reason for 1&1 is I have a festnet number & 2 VOIP numbers and my router is set to use a VOIP number for all national calls (as they are free). It then routes any international/mobile calls out the festnet line but it first calls a specified call-by-call number. Then because I can call a national number, free with my mobile (4DSL package), I have a pin protected VOIP which only allows either my wifes or my mobile to call in and then use the festnet line to do call-by-call, so in effect I have a mobile for cheap international calling.
Not so simple to set up but solid once it's working. ;-)

Hi folks, Are there any providers of data-card wifi internet in or around the Gottingen (Niedersachsen) area? That's what we have now and even if it's a little slower than broadband, it certainly is good!

Are you living downstairs from BrewZ, I think he ended up canceling after five months no internet. The final straw was when they started sending him bills and nobody had even made it to his apartment yet to hook up the interenet, let alone sent out a modem or anything.

sorry couldn't be bothered to read to the end, but I was just going to post that, although d-t service and prices have vastly improved over the last year, I think I'm ready to switch. I'm thinking cable Deutschland, does anyone have any experience with this. I didn't get it before because my old apartment didn't have any cable anschluss, however they came by yesterday to check my cables, because our apartment building is going digital. They saw the Telecom garbage and asked why I wasn't with Cable Deutschland for my internet needs. They definitely talked a good talk and I was tempted to go with them previously, but now I'm locked into a account with DT until two thousand and nine!

The other thing they brought up was that the modem provided for me by DT can only go at 10000 and I'm paying for 16000, the modem is the w500v speedport. Does anybody know if this is true? If so can I use this as grounds for early termination of my T-com account?

I changed my provider from 1&1 (ok until something goes wrong) for DSL and Telekom (also ok until something goes wrong) for telephone.

I signed up for Arcor and they said everything would be ready for the 7th July.

They sent all the stuff and more letters saying 'you will be connected on the 7th July'.

I laughed as I only signed the Arcor contract on the 26th June.

However, I checked on the 7th and all was working, telephone and Internet.

The other strange thing is, the dsl connection is now running at 3 times the speed of the 1&1 one even though 1&1 said that dsl 2000 was the quickest anyone could provide us with in our area.

On the strength of this experience I would recommend Arcor.

However being realistic i think I was just either lucky or at some point I will get hit by a tram to even out the karma.