Been an O2 BB customer for a while and initially did have some problems with speed etc…but I have to say that the Tech Support staff are fantastic and tried and tested everything to resolve the issues. Even changed the equipment in the exchange (Lift & Shift etc I think it is called), a couple fo times. Finally one day my speed jumped from 1meg to over 6Meg. Brilliant.

With regards to the SMTP servers and Skype. I use Skype on a daily basis for video conferencing and never have had any issues at all. Works perfectly…for hours at a time.

SMTP – Again I dont understand why anyone has had issues with this or has been charged extra for this service. I have private email addresses for work and personal use and it works great. The outgoing email server for O2 that I use is: relay.o2broadband.co.uk. Never had a problem with it. I know in certain places it is stated to use smtp.o2.co.uk but as far as I know that server is purely for your O2 email account.

Hopefully that helps.

I am using O2 broadband for the last 1 and ½ years. I am very frustrated that they block port 25. I am an IT consultant and I need to do tests on port 25 and of course, I can not do so. And other people that want to use their own SMTP server would have the same problem.

As you mention in your article they block port 25 on accounts with dynamic IP addresses and if you want to use it, you must upgrade to static for £5.00 extra every month!

They claim this is for anti-spam security! Big rubbish!!! Even that I pay for a dynamic IP address they have assign to me the same IP address for ever. They do this, just to make extra money. The only reason that I stay with them is because at the moment is the cheapest ISP for an 8Mbs service, afer the discount.

Good points :

- Very fast, especially after Virgin Media.
- Easy router setup….literaly plug it, put WEP key in lappy, bobs you uncle. No cd full of garbage you don’t need being installed to your machine. No techy router stuff.

Bad Points :

- My company uses its own email servers on its own machines at its own domain. If I want to send email from home i have to change the SMTP server address to relay.o2broadband.co.uk

I have never had this restriction anywhere, and use the laptop to send/recieve email everywhere. After i leave the o2 Wifi range, i have to change the SMTP server back again to get it to work elsewhere. Major pain it the butt, email should just work as it does everywhere else.

I believe skype does work on o2, It better as i need it 24/7 for work. it would be a major drawback it it didn’t work.

So on the whole I thing i would give O2 4/5 until they sort the email server restriction out.

Has anyone tried port 587 ?
I spoke to O2 support today and they claimed that port was not being blocked.
Also they mentioned another SMTP server relay.02broadband.co.uk

And I can also confirm that Skype is not blocked (I called the O2 support on 08002300202 via Skype!!

The SMTP restriction seems really weird, usually ISPs block *outgoing* traffic from *local* port 25, to block spambots and zombies.

I’ve never seen an ISP block outgoing traffic *to* remote port. Not a big deal I suppose, if you can set their own SMTP hassle free and mail doesn’t get flagged as spam. (Tip: you should add an SPF record to your DNS entries to avoid your email being tagged as spam)

I’m afraid I don’t know the details re: skype, it’s just what the O2 CS informed me – above however, Anton says he has had no issues…

As regards SMTP server, I mean using an SMTP server that is hosted elsewhere on the internet – it’s blocked unless you get a static IP address, as I have. I don’t use googlemail, perhaps one of the readers can confirm about whether there are issues with that.

If you are considering getting O2 Broadband, I’d give the CS a call and get the info from the horse’s mouth, so to speak

Cheers

Ben

Also about the SMTP server. Do you mean running your own server or connecting to an outside SMTP server?

I use Google’s server – is that blocked too? Very weird.

Never choosing them again, the router needs resetting twice a day and you can’t even buy your own with the way they run it. And the internet slows down to a crawl at peak times. I tried to complain but I’ll have to pay 70p per minute for the privilege and I tried to complain via email but they never responded.

Nice to read your reviewing of the O2 broadband! Thanks!

I totally agree with your opinion on the points and the given 5 stars. However I can confirm that Skype is NOT restricted and there is also no restriction to use the O2’s SMTP server. I did not install the CD. Simply logged through the browser on the web admin control panel to the router and got the WiFi key as I connect wirelessly to it.

My impression of the O2 customer service is great too!
The only problem I had was that initially my router couldn’t stay more than 10-15 min connected. I called the support and they reduced something on the line which they said would cut off 100 kbps and I agreed. Since then I enjoy a very stable connection and my speeds just below 16 mbps which is GREAT!

Highly recommended!

@Graeme: I choose not to use O2’s server because I pay for another one anyway, and I know I can call up any time and have it sorted if there is an issue. BTW the O2 broadband is only £12.50, including the static IP address, so good value. I think perhaps we have the same router )

@sboy2010: I haven’t tried to set up the free forwarding of emails, so it’s interesting to hear your feedback. I agree re: the service working! As I said in the story re: skype, I don’t really use it, so it being blocked (or not as you have commented) isn’t an issue for me – but great that you can confirm it works!

Cheers guys,

Ben )

The service has been excellent. The problems I have had were to do with setting up the additional services, like forwarding emails from my o2.co.uk account to my mobile via MMS. This is a free service from O2, along with address book syncing. The UK based Customer Support are excellent guys, with a great response everytime.

This servcie really is hard to beat. Not as cheap as the ‘free’ services, but then it actually works and is supported by some UK techs.

PS I use Skype with no problems. Dunno why CS have told u it is blocked, as it’s not in the T&Cs and a restriction like this would have to be, I’m sure.

The Be service has no Skype restriction, and no traffic restrictions. They do insist that you change your outgoing mail server, but I don’t see why this is a problem if you have your own domain. I can send mail fine from my own domain from Be’s network with their SMTP server. Also, Be don’t charge extra for a static IP address if you take the 24Mbps service (£18 per month).

I moved from Pipex a few months ago and I’ve been pretty impressed. The only problem is that the ADSL modem can be a bit flaky, but not annoyingly so.