Anyone else got their O2 free new wifi router

Schizophonic · 17 May 2012 at 12:39

Got an email asking if I would like a free new shiney wifi router - can't say no.

Anyone else got an email from them?

Hope I didn't automatically sign for a new 12 month contract...

mcwildcard · 17 May 2012 at 13:54

I got that email also, not sure what to make of it. In fact I tfound this thread on google while seeing if I could find any further details.
I couldn't see any mention of additional conditions of the deal, so I'd definitely argue if they tried to tie me in. Having said that, I'm on one of their old tariffs which is truly unlimited, so I have no intention of shifting to another provider for at least another 9 months.

mcwildcard · 17 May 2012 at 14:09

Here we go, clarification of the details from O2:

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Home-B...nd-a-boost-with-a-new-router-On-us/m-p/215286

Looks like there's no additional T&Cs, just a free O2WB5 router.
Nice!

I'll see how it compares with my DG834GT when it arrives, hopefully it'll allow remote access, unlike the O2WBII.

Audigex · 17 May 2012 at 16:41

Worth getting to try out - worst case, use it as a Wifi access point...

Schizophonic · 17 May 2012 at 21:48

Just to clarify - We've sent an email inviting selected customers with older equipment an invitation to claim a brand new O2 router completely free of charge. These customers can claim it by just providing their home broadband number and DOB via a microsite enclosed in the email. There's absolutely no obligations to extend or renew your existing home broadband contract with us. The shiny new O2 wireless box 5 will be sent within 28 days
It’s just our way of saying thanks for being a loyal customer!
Enjoy your O2 Broadband
Abs

Boom - job done. I know its not going to be compared to my DGN2200 but its there and free!

Audigex · 18 May 2012 at 00:26

I wish TalkTalk would do this - when my mum took out her home broadband they just sent a USB modem. I've had to buy her two routers since then.

finite · 18 May 2012 at 10:11

Is this a Technicolor TG582n? I've had one of these from Be. Technology wise it's better for sync and stability with fastpath on, but it seems its gone wrong after 15 days use :eek:

jonathanbruce · 18 May 2012 at 12:45

I also have the latest router from o2 but mine came because of a problem with the original WB2 router.

Draeger · 18 May 2012 at 13:02

I took delivery of a new WB5 router a month or so ago after my old Wireless Box II router apparently developed a fault. I was concerned about being placed on a new contract because of this. I've been out of contract for over 8 months now and paying on a rolling basis from month to month as I don't want to renew to one of the new packages and be stuck with a new contract. However after receiving the new WB5 and a further month has passed I'm still showing as "Out of contract" and on the old Home Broadband Premium package.

Indy500 · 18 May 2012 at 16:26

Heh, I'm amazed anyone here is still on LLU (and with O2/Be at that).

TheVoice · 18 May 2012 at 19:11

sr4470 said:
Heh, I'm amazed anyone here is still on LLU (and with O2/Be at that).

Why?

I took delivery of a Wireless Box 5 yesterday actually, although it was because the most recent firmware update on my WB4 had seemed to make the router less stable. The guy at O2 did ask if I was interested in signing up for a new contract because it'd actually work out cheaper than my current rolling one from 3 years ago, but I said I'd decide on that later.

I remember hearing about the 'new' packages having Fair Usage Policies, traffic shaping etc applied whereas the old ones like mine don't have that. Is this still the case? The O2 guy said the new contract would be £3 less a month than I pay now which is not to be sniffed at, but I'm not interested if it means I end up with any kind of restrictions on usage.

Indy500 · 18 May 2012 at 19:25

TheVoice said:
Why?

This forum's full of geeks who jump on the best technology immediately

which is BT Wholesale FTTC or Virgin Media coax\fibre in this case.

Also, Be's forum was filling up with complaints around February about service issues (I don't know how widespread it really is, given people usually post on forums to complain about service rather than praise it).

Audigex · 18 May 2012 at 20:24

FTTC isn't rolled out over the whole country yet... I wouldn't be on LLU if there was a better option.

Indy500 · 18 May 2012 at 20:32

Audigex said:
FTTC isn't rolled out over the whole country yet... I wouldn't be on LLU if there was a better option.

Fair enough. I got the impression most of the forum population lives in urban centres which are usually the first to get these kind of upgrades.

Draeger · 18 May 2012 at 20:54

Audigex said:
FTTC isn't rolled out over the whole country yet... I wouldn't be on LLU if there was a better option.

This^^. I'm kinda of the same frame of mind, although I'm perfectly happy with O2's service after being with them for a number of years. There's been the odd blip here and there but then that happens no matter what ISP you are with. I'm on the old "up to" 24Mb Premium package and I get @19mb download speeds which is fine and dandy for me. No traffic shaping and unlimited d/l, so I'll just stay on the rolling contract for now till something better comes along to my local exchange.

TheVoice · 19 May 2012 at 01:13

Personally I can't justify the massive cost difference for Infinity/fibre, I'd be paying more than triple what I do now just for faster speeds. It'd no doubt be nice, but it's not that big a deal.

Indy500 · 19 May 2012 at 01:48

TheVoice said:
Personally I can't justify the massive cost difference for Infinity/fibre, I'd be paying more than triple what I do now just for faster speeds. It'd no doubt be nice, but it's not that big a deal.

The good ISPs (again, not BT) also charge for installation and as I don't have a traditional WAN router Cisco-style, I'd have to fork out for that too.

Cyclone · 19 May 2012 at 08:03

Ive been with O2 broadband for a few years and cant fault them.

Audigex · 19 May 2012 at 17:50

Draeger said:
This^^. I'm kinda of the same frame of mind, although I'm perfectly happy with O2's service after being with them for a number of years. There's been the odd blip here and there but then that happens no matter what ISP you are with. I'm on the old "up to" 24Mb Premium package and I get @19mb download speeds which is fine and dandy for me. No traffic shaping and unlimited d/l, so I'll just stay on the rolling contract for now till something better comes along to my local exchange.

tbh with 19Mbps you're in no real NEED for FTTC unless you've got very heavy usage. It'd be nice to be twice as fast, but it's not necessary.

Some areas (mine) have slightly, erm, less good speeds. Mine averages 1.5Mbps for a house of 6 students, and can drop as low as 0.5Mbps. Dire need of FTTC - which is being released right after we move out >_>

Most annoying thing about the FTTC upgrades is that they rolled it out to the biggest population centres first which, yes, gives more people the fastest speeds ASAP - but it also starts with those who already have acceptable speeds, rather than focusing on increasing the unusable lowest speeds.

TheVoice · 19 May 2012 at 20:29

Does the new box have the same interface as the previous ones? My IV is working okay for now so I can't really be bothered to change it to the new one unless there's some new stuff to play with!

Also heard that the V box has inferior wireless range to the IV, anyone tried it yet?