Broadband advice for numbskull

johnnytee

Hi everyone
Just need a bit of advice.I'm a broadband numbskull and find the whole subject rather confusing.
Anyway,what I'd like advice on is;I want to get connected to broadband.I live in a shared flat.We have an existing phone connection(Telewest),but no phone as we use our mobiles.The first issue is would I have to get the line re-connected via Telewest before I even start? Secondly,I know the previous tenants had broadband but I don't know who with.Anyone have ideas about providers? Cost is an issue,but download capacity is not,as i'm an average user.Thirdly,Does any provider have contracts for six months,as I don't want to be tied in for a whole year.
Any advice very much appriciated
JT

mrJ_5

you could go with telewest broadband - which is fast and unlimite since its already on your phone - but you said you need to reactivate it..... if you do this - you will probably need a 12 month min contract with them (not overally sure) - though your choice is limited to telewest only

the alternative is to get the line converted to BT - but again there maybe a 12 month minimum contract in doing that. Being on a BT line - you will have far more choice. My current ISP (https://www.zazizam.com), wil fit your minimum broadband contract, as you can have broadband from them for £11.99 a month (up to 2mb, with 2gb usage - which would suit you) - there is an activation fee - but since it is a short contract, I would agree with it - you won't find many (if any really) providers that give you free activation and a low monthly price, on a short contract. I also advise that you get a modem and filters from ebuyer, as you can get a modem, and 2 or 3 filters for about £20 which is cheaper

gizmoleeds

Do you have a BT phone?

If not then go with Telewest, as you will not be required to have a phone line as well, as you are with BT. Even if you are with BT, I would still recommend Telewest.

I know NTL are willing to do 9 month contracts for students, and they are merging with Telewest so you could try negotiate, but I would think you will be tied in.

itsallaboutmoney

Ok, why haven't you disconnected the phone line, if you do this you can still get broadband, there is an offer on 9.99 and then it goes up to 14.99 after 3 months. This is the 512K connection.

johnnytee

Thanks for your input guys.Will checkout Telewest and see what packages they offer.Would getting the line converted back to BT be a hassle? And at what cost? Also to connect to two other PCs in the flat would I need a special modem?
Cheers all

mrJ_5

I shouldnt think getting the line converted to BT will be any hassle - and it probably won't cost you anything to do it either

to connect more than one pc to adsl broadband (BT based one) at the same time - you will need either a wired router, or a wireless router network. Wireless is slightly more expensive than wired - but you dont have to lay any network cable around - im sure cable uses some sort of cable router

gizmoleeds

johnnytee wrote:

Thanks for your input guys.Will checkout Telewest and see what packages they offer.Would getting the line converted back to BT be a hassle? And at what cost? Also to connect to two other PCs in the flat would I need a special modem?
Cheers all

Just to clarify, the BT and Telewest lines are separate, BT would connect a new line alongside, not 'convert' the Telewest one - you could have both. Cannot comment on cost though.

On the router issue, mr J is correct. Unless the computers are all near each other then a wireless router is what you need. The kind of router you need is different depending on whether you get ADSL (BT-line) or Cable broadband (cable routers are slightly cheaper).

You would also need a wireless card for each of the PCs (but not any which are near the router as these can be attached by a wire).

Example routers (for BT line):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12464782945&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw&cat_uid=39&subcat_uid=477

Example routers (for Cable line - slightly cheaper):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12464782945&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D&cat_uid=39&subcat_uid=1160

Example PC cards (for connecting desktop PCs to wireless network):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12464877613&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw&cat_uid=39&subcat_uid=1019

(nb. there are a couple of other things in this list which shouldn't be there, just ignore them (they don't look like the rest))

Example PCMCIA cards (for connecting laptops to wireless network):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12464877613&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw&cat_uid=39&subcat_uid=480

Example USB stick (for connecting any PC to wireless network):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12465003008&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51323

Example PC ethernet cards (for connecting desktop PCs to wired network or cable modem):
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12465063906&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw&cat_uid=109&subcat_uid=1151

(nb. again there are a couple of other things in this list which shouldn't be there, just ignore them (they don't look like the rest))

Example cable for connecting PC with ethernet card to router:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D&mfr_uid=-1&cat_uid=24&keywords=cat5e&order_col=cat_desc&order=ASC&show=stock&Submit=filter

(I am not 100% sure on the cables, better let somone else confirm them - cat5e straight is what I think you would need)

johnnytee

Thanks for all the info Gizmoleeds.Guess I'm gonna have to buy some hardware and get started.Wish me luck!
JT