Broadband - some advice/guidance please
My mother-in-law is still paying AOL for the joy of dial-up. The problem being that she was once told that broadband was not available in her area - this was about 6 years ago). I have shown her that there are about 8 wireless networks (all locked) that my laptop can see from her kitchen, so she is coming around to the idead that broadband is an option - the question is which one. Something simple, reliable and relatively cheap.

Answers on a postcard please
(conanow, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 16:34, 17 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Wireless networks in the locality don't mean there's broadband.
I'll grant that it's likely, but strictly speaking the two facts are entirely unconnected.

Have a look on any ADSL provider's website and do a postcode search, this will tell you whether ADSL is available, in which case any of them will do it..

Have a peruse of www.ispreview.co.uk and www.thinkbroadband.com , and think about features (download limit? router/switch needed? speed? 1month rolling or 12 month contract?) that you need, then look through the websites to find out about reliability.

May save money by folding it into TV/telecom deals as well, dunno if you'll get cable internet in your area if you're doubtful about ADSL though.

And you'll probably have to reformat the computer to get rid of all traces of AOL off it. Good luck.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 16:41, Reply)

It does depend where she is and often it's just a matter of trial and error
We started out with Orange - well, I started out with Orange and had no problems until I moved....
Once I'd changed my telephone number (different area code) so the problems started up...
Changed to BT and the problems continued and in fact worsened....

Finally changed to Tiscali and haven't looked back - they've been really helpful with the set up and in the six months or so that we've had them the connection has only gone down once or twice - unlike both Orange and BT both of which seemed to kick you off after about twenty minutes. BT also wanted us to upgrade to a business package because they said our downloading was so high...erm...it wasn't.

All that said, I know people who have had no problems with BT...so I'm sure where you are has a bearing on it and how good your local phone cables are (apparently).

Good luck!
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 16:43, Reply)

Where does your momma
live? There's gonna be different ISPs available I'm guessing.

Also, I have this predicament where I live - could we expand the question to also assess the validity of PAYG/monthly dongles and/or the 'free' laptop type deal you get from mobile phone retailers?
(Colonel Santiago Introduced surprised kitty to the world., Tue 4 Nov 2008, 16:45, Reply)

Ok - good thoughts so far
Re-usage: not a great deal, she has no clue about this sort of thing - so mainly email and the bbc site

She lives on Hayling Island (South Coast of UK near Portsmouth)

getting shot of AOL - is it really a re-format? She has a ropey old dell. May not be worth it, time for upgrade

She would need a router of some sort - no need for wirelessness.

I am sure that the presence of wireless networks indicates web availability as it is an entirely residential area.

Tiscalli - profits warning this morning, potentially being bought out...

Keep your thoughts coming - it is appreciated
(conanow, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:01, Reply)

I've not got a bad word to say about O2
£7.50/month for O2 customers, and it's uncapped ADSL2+. Decent support too.
( rubberduck should only be used after consulting with your GP, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:05, Reply)

O2
am with rubberduck, I have O2 and have yet to have any problems, bonus being if you are a customer you get it for £7.50 a month, which is a bargain!
(LittleRock is planning her next meal, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:17, Reply)

The dongles and 'free laptops' are 3G broadband though
Which is hellishly more expensive than the standard ADSL, although has the advantage you can take it with you.

Be careful though as you usually get locked into 24 or in some cases 36 month contracts!

The laptops are definitely not worth it, they're shit laptops, it would work out cheaper to buy the laptop and dongle separately as someone demonstrated in their column in the Guardian Technology section a week or three ago.

At the bottom end of the market I imagine the services will all be much of a muchness...

Can't comment on the island situation, do they get standard BT copper phone lines? Should be able to get ADSL if so.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:25, Reply)

@ Colonel Santiago
I know people who have had mobile bb from Orange and it is/was a disaster, and they have all returned it within the trial period.

I would steer well clear of the free laptop offers, the monthly cost is high - over and above what you would pay for a laptop and a connection, and you have to commit to a contract (some are 2 yrs).
(LittleRock is planning her next meal, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:27, Reply)

island is not a problem
I've just found a site that indicates that she should be able to get 1.5 Gb via her phoneline.
(conanow, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:30, Reply)

To see which providers she's got on her exchange
Whack her postcode into the postcode search at www.samknows.com and have a look there, then go with O2.

I've not had any problems with BT broadband in four years, but I know it's expensive if you don't get it for free.
(jamesthegill opens new tabs with his scroll wheel, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:31, Reply)

UK Online.
Cheap and reliable, been with them for years, had no probs.
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Tue 4 Nov 2008, 17:55, Reply)

AOL
The only way to completely rid the computer of this infestation is through fire, water and the holy word.

BT Home Hubs are a complete no-brainer to set up and come with wireless. If she has cable telly, those package deals are pretty cheap.
( Kroney, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 19:33, Reply)

I thought UK Online were long gone.
I used to use them back in 1996!

I have Virgin Cable. I know a lot of people bitch about them but I have always been happy. Mr Bin used to work for NTL on their faults line years ago so he tends to be a bit over cautious.

In our last house we had BT broadband. It was really rather rubbish because the phone line, once it got to the house, was little more than bell wire.
When we moved there was no phone line so we paid £25 to NTL, as it was then, rather than £150 to BT. With this we got a shiny new cable.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Tue 4 Nov 2008, 20:07, Reply)

http://www.ukonline.net/
Still there.
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Tue 4 Nov 2008, 20:25, Reply)

Hayling Island?
They aren't that far in the dark ages my friend. Your main telephone exchange is happily holding a DSL DSLAM for you.

Try NewNet, they are based in Fareham (where their main POP is) and I have literally just put nan's house on their broadband services after experiencing such ease and reliability in 3 of our offices across the country at work.
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 21:10, Reply)

Recommendation noted Ethel
As you seem to know your onions ;)
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 21:26, Reply)

Ta
Thank you, plenty to be getting on with
(conanow, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 8:02, Reply)