Decisions, decisions...

Tweek_1984 · 17 Jun 2009 at 21:01

I've just moved into a new apartment and I was planning on getting a phone line installed by the Post Office (£107), then pay £11.75pm line rental. Then get a cheap internet package for about a tenner per month.

So internet for ~£25pm + £107 connection.

However, I have free access to a nearby BT FON wireless spot. My parents have the full BT package so I'm entitled to unlimited access.

Now this is great and has tided me over fine for the past couple of weeks while I've settled in to my new flat, but I have a few issues:

First of all it's slow at around 500 down and 300 up (kbps). Secondly, you have to connect through a browser, entering a username and pass which renders both of my stand-alone internet radios (which I love) unusable. Finally, the connection cuts out every half hour or so and I have have to manually re-connect via the browser. This is annoying.

The question I've been asking myself is, bearing in mind money is relatively tight, do I save myself £25pm and a fat connection fee and keep my slow, basic wireless, or do I bite the bullet and pay for a standard phone line and internet connection?

Does anyone have any advice/suggestions?

BringTheRain · 17 Jun 2009 at 21:40

You only live once and i cant live without "tinternet" Bite the bullet, sign up with some who will give you 3 months three b b (like be* did) or maybe enquire about phone company's broadband

orange was free for 2meg or £5 for 8 meg. Connection not that great, but for a £5!!!!

Trinitrotoluene · 17 Jun 2009 at 21:44

Any other wireless networks in the area

?

Tweek_1984 · 17 Jun 2009 at 22:05

DAMO RAM80 said:
You only live once and i cant live without "tinternet" Bite the bullet, sign up with some who will give you 3 months three b b (like be* did) or maybe enquire about phone company's broadband

orange was free for 2meg or £5 for 8 meg. Connection not that great, but for a £5!!!!

Yes, well you've brought up another valid point - I need a <6month contract because I'm not sure how long I'm going to be here. That's partly why I went with the post office to connect my line up, because they don't have a contract, whereas BT is 12months minimum.

In terms of ISPs, I'll be limited, but there are a few like NewNet, Freedom2Surf, Nildram etc.

Trinitrotoluene said:
Any other wireless networks in the area ?

Yes, but WPA locked.