topic Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist in Community Announcements

Launch of Plusnet Assist

jojopillo — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:17:32 GMT

Hi Folks,
Today we're pleased to announce the launch of Plusnet Assist, a new tool to help with common internet problems.
Plusnet Assist is now available to download free from our website and, once downloaded, will sit in your system tray ready to help you whenever you need.
A greater introduction can be found in our Community Blogs and details about how to download and frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.plus.net/assist
Joanne Pilson.

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

AlaricAdair — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:52:09 GMT

Is the product able to support your router configured as No-Nat with a static IP address range?

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

bobpullen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:56:43 GMT

To be honest I'm not 100% sure, knowing how it works though I'd say the majority of things will work. There's one way to find out if you fancy giving it a whirl? (It's easy enough to uninstall)

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

PeterLoftus — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:58:31 GMT

do I get a prize for being the first to report a glitch
I was working in Chome and downloaded Plusnet Assists and when downloaded it booted up Explorer
I have Chrome set up as my default browser and I don't want to use explorer

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

bobpullen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:12:17 GMT

Quote from: PeterLoftus
I was working in Chome and downloaded Plusnet Assists and when downloaded it booted up Explorer

This is how it's supposed to work Peter as per the information contained in the FAQ.

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

PeterLoftus — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:43:42 GMT

OK but I have had instances where MS tried to take over my machine
You know the sort of thing when you have selected a new word processor and Windows, Outlook and such have to be gone through to make sure that they don't boot up Word and configure it as default.
As long as this Explorer implementation is not the thin end of the wedge

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

pierre_pierre — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:46:53 GMT

and it apparently wont work for me as a free-online customer

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

Strat — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:58:40 GMT

Quote
20. Is this only for Plusnet customers?
Yes, Plusnet Assist has been designed to support Plusnet Broadband. We're sorry but Plusnet Assist won't provide specific support for Force9 and Free-online settings.

As a Force9 customer it lets me out too

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

hulls — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:07:30 GMT

Does this raise the old chestnut about integrating membership? As a Free-online customer, I'd be happy to be moved to a Plusnet account, as long as it doesn't cause disruption, and I can keep my user name and all of my services on the contract I'm on now (I think I already have a Plusnet account as well)
John

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

spraxyt — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:57:53 GMT

Why risk disruption? I think this is one "goody" we can let pass us by. (I'm a Force9 customer.)
David

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

bobpullen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:18:45 GMT

Quote from: hulls
Does this raise the old chestnut about integrating membership? As a Free-online customer, I'd be happy to be moved to a Plusnet account, as long as it doesn't cause disruption, and I can keep my user name...

That's one of the main stumbling blocks. Customers on different 'VISPs' can share the same username i.e. you can have both a FreeOnline and Plusnet customer with identical usernames. The way a lot of our systems are built, the username needs to be unique from one customer to the next.

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

VileReynard — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:25:01 GMT

This won't work on *most* of my PC's.
Since it is trivial to check my router <-> Plusnet connection what is the point of this product?

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

Chris — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:29:37 GMT

It does more than that, it can help set up wireless connections, set up and fix problems with email client configuration etc. If you're able to do all this yourself then maybe you don't need to download it, however there are a lot of people who need help with these kind of things.

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

hulls — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:39:34 GMT

Quote from: Bob

That's one of the main stumbling blocks. Customers on different 'VISPs' can share the same username i.e. you can have both a FreeOnline and Plusnet customer with identical usernames. The way a lot of our systems are built, the username needs to be unique from one customer to the next.

I did have a PN dial up user name that was the same as my FOL one, but it seems to have been discontinued. As I said though, I've got a few perks from FOL over the many years I've been with them (web space, free domain name etc), and wouldn't want to lose them by moving away.
John

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

artificer — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:47:41 GMT

works on linux, does it? just curious.

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

Chris — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:50:30 GMT

Unfortunately not, http://www.plus.net/support/assist/help.shtml#minRequirements

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

PeterLoftus — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:30:20 GMT

so it seems that most of the posters on this forum are never going to use it (having Linux or non PN customers) and will thus not be able to offer their usual brand of advice. Brilliant! who thought that one up

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

bobpullen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:39:46 GMT

Peter, we've had just shy of 1600 customers active in these forums over the last three months. That's less than 1% of our customer base. Don't get me wrong, the forums are invaluable and the help and support provided by everyone who contributes to them is much appreciated. Having said that, those that post here can't really be considered to be 100% reflective of our overall customer-base!

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

rongtw — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:02:13 GMT

just had to DL it to try i can see this being a very handy tool for people who are unsure how to set up their PC and handy links all in one place well done PN
except it tell me i have 2 problems I dont have IE enabled on my PC its poop i only use FF as i hve for several years now yes i have tried IE9 and still not impressed , my other problem it says is my wifi signal is poor , Oh dear i aint got it enabled as i dont need it.
minor problems , maybe should be set to recognise other browser,s other than IE,

Re: Launch of Plusnet Assist

spraxyt — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:28:37 GMT

As the FAQ says IE has to be available on the computer (because it uses technology built into IE), but IE doesn't have to be the default browser. As far as Wi-Fi problems go it will (or used to) report a weak signal when the "problem" was the computer lacked a wireless card.