BT internet

I'm trying to get a better deal on internet/phone. I'm with Virgin at the moment, and as far as I can see if I want to go with anybody else, I have to get a BT phone line in. And BT tells me if I get a phone line with them I have to take a minimum 12 month contract with them on that phone line.

Of course, I don't have to take broadband with BT, but I figured it would make life a bit easier. I've seen some negative comments about BT broadband, about connection being slow at certain periods. I was wondering is that still the case? And would that vary across the country anyway? If so, how do I find out what it's like round where I live - Cardiff?

Also, BT say on their website that you get 250 free minutes of WiFi every month with two of their packages. I'm not sure what this means. Does WiFi not just mean wireless (i.e. supplied through cable to a router in the house, then from the router to the computer)? And if so, why would I be restricted to a tiny 250 minutes a month, when I'm paying a monthly fee for broadband anyway, which just happens to reach my computer through the air, not through a wire?

Thanks for any help picking my way through this minefield!

[Admin]

You're right that BT will likely either charge you to activate a new phone line or will tie you to a calling plan or broadband contract that will be unlikely to be significantly different from Virgin Media's prices. Virgin's broadband with phone calling plan tariffs are pretty competitive (especially as existing customers on broadband M (2Mb) have had or are about to get a free speed boost to the 10Mb L tariff).

Broadband delivered through BT phone lines slows down with distance from the telephone exchange while Virgin's speeds tend to be less variable due to using fibre optic cable between their servers and the street cabinet. To test whether you'll get significantly less than the advertised maximum speed you'll need to run a postcode check.

BT's 'free wireless minutes' apply to their BT Openzone access points which are spread across the country in locations like motorway services, stations and airports. Essentially this is a free extra allowing you to use these wireless access points on your laptop, netbook, smartphone etc while traveling. If you went with BT Total Broadband, wireless access to your home broadband connection via the inclusive BT Home Hub would of course cost you no extra than connecting via network cable.