Seil Chat

Hi All

Nick suggested that I post to this forum following my email to everyone who had registered for Broadband Internet access on the Balvicar exchange.
Balvicar has a trigger level of 100 registrations set by BT. Currently there are 59 registrations so it would only take another 41 peolpe to register to reach the trigger level. Once reached BT would enable the exchange for broadband within 3 month.
So I would urge everyone (even if you do not want the service yourself) to register and give your community a great christmas present.
The BT site is www.bt.com/broadband
Or just send your name, address and telephone number to me and I will get the registration done for you. paul.obrien@hient.co.uk
Businesses are also eligible for a £300 grant through us to assist them with the take up of the service once the trigger level is reached. Just apply to me using the above email address.
Regards
Paul
Argyll and the Islands Enterprise
Lochgilphead

If an amount can be obtained towards business broadband, what's the whole cost, do you know?

Pat

Hi Pat

When the exchange is enabled you will be able to choose which Broadband supplier you want to use. They are all offering differant deals and monthly costs.
The £300 grant is to assist companies to get the equipment they need to get the service i.e the ADSL modem and filters, the prices of which vary from £80 - £150. The rest of the grant can be used to purchase other related hardware (Broadband router to share the connection over a small network) or software. You may need to get a firewall or anti-virus software if you do not already have them and these are eligable costs against the grant. You could also put the remainder of the grant towards your monthly rental costs.
For info on suppliers and costs see the ADSL Guide web site
http://www.adslguide.org
Paul

Thanks, Paul, that makes it a lot clearer and I'll certainly be applying when the exchange is enabled

I hope we reach the trigger level soon - this satellite broadband is costing a packet!

Pat

As of today 67 people, or 67% of the necessary total, have registered.

To register and follow the progress of Seil and other communities in Argyll towards broadband click here

- Nick

UPDATE 2nd Feb - 69 registrations, 31 to go

You know, this is really hard going
I can't believe this is taking so long, I thought people would jump at the chance of having a broadband connection.
I am in the process of sending leaflets out to everyone in the local directory in the hope that those who don't know about the local campaign will sign up and we can reach the trigger level ASAP. I have to post them as I don't have time to deliver by hand. And I'm having to do it a bit at a time because of the cost of all the stamps (it's awful to be so poor !) I see there are also leaflets at Balvicar PO, so hopefully they will notify a few that I am missing.
I don't know what else to do - anything else you can suggest?

Pat

Check out all the local businesses listed on this website (from the Home Page or directory drop down menu on most pages)

These will all have e-mail addresses, so you can e-mail them. As website owners they must surely have an interest in Broadband.

Just a thought . . . .

- Nick

Very good idea, Nick! And there must be other businesses, like mine for instance, which are not listed because the link to send details doesn't work.

Pat

Sorry Pat,

It's fixed now . . .

Anyone wanting to send e-mail, the address is mail@seil.oban.ws

-Nick

Thanks so much, I appreciate it

Pat

You know, this is a bit weird. Although I know that others have registered for broadband, the level has stayed at 69 for about a week without moving.

BT isn't into a bit of chicanery here, are they, in an attempt at keeping us quiet until it suits them to announce that the exchange will be enabled?

My son is in Oban and the same thing happened with that exchange - one minute they needed around 100 more registrations, the next minute the trigger level was reached.

Just a thought, probably wrong

Pat

The registration figures do seem only to be creeping up, don't they?

It was me who placed leaflets in Balvicar PO and I am going to have to print off some more as they are moving very well - so where are the people who took them? I am sure quite a few more than is being accounted for must have registered by now!!

If Paul O'Brien has no objection I'd like to add his email address with his invitation to register for people. Maybe that might help

This site http://www.samknows.com/broadband/ is very interesting and shows exactly what is happening to the Broadband registrations from Seil. Click onto the exchange search, type in Balvicar, next page click on Balvicar, and you'll see that, although there have been plenty of registrations, 58 are duplicates. Answers a lot of questions! We are up to 70 now. 30 to go.

Pat

PS. Mary, I love your little cat face!

81 registrations, so far!

Pat

Wonderful - only 19 more to go.

Was that a bit of a jump, or am I having what my son and daughter affectionately call a "Senior Moment" and missed a few.

A bit of a jump, Mary! 6 today. You are not insane!

Pat

Pat, what site are you using to get you stats.

Samknows seems to be out of date

Just the BT broadband site at the moment. I've just had an email from Samknows to say they've been upgrading, and that the site will be updated 6 times daily from now on.

Pat

Great leaps forward !!

We are now at 85 pre-registrations

Only 15 to go !!

With 64 duplicates which don't count!

I see that Taynuilt will have their exchange enabled on 6th June.

Roll on!

Pat