Confused over what to do with internet decision - advice please

Somerset

I'm on a crappy dial-up with aol, restricted hours @ £ 9.99 p.m. ( plus £ if go into the restricted hours ).

Recently had problems - poor connection/disconnections as speeds using my modem just weren't happening with aol.

My partner has aol broadband (which also failed ). He bought/installed a BT wireless thingee. I now have internet again, working property, as I use this wireless connection, not the modem anymore ( not sure if the modem speeds are fixed yet - aol said it was their server problem )

I read the thread about aol @ £6.99 p.m. if you request your mac and they think they are going to lose you. I've phoned them and they said you don't need a mac for dial-up, so nothing there. I can't negotiate for broadband at £6.99 pm as they say there is only one broadband 'contract' allowed per BT line and my partner already has his broadband linked to our BT line.

Thought about the '3' wireless dongle thing. There seems to be mixed responses. Plus it seems to call itself a broadband contract even though its wireless and I can't 'get' broadband ? ( line/one contract thing )

Now that I can actually use aol again, I'd prefer to keep them, less hassle. But at £9.99 pm on restricted dial-up vs £6.99 pm for broadband plus calls package, I'm paying a lot more for an inferior product.

Any suggestions welcome.

Jonny0000

Is there a reason both you and your partner can't use the BT broadband line? I have multiple computers rigged up and you don't notice any big difference in terms of speed

Somerset

Jonny0000 wrote: »

Is there a reason both you and your partner can't use the BT broadband line? I have multiple computers rigged up and you don't notice any big difference in terms of speed

We thought you could only have one person signed on at any one time ? So if he's in aol as 'MrSomerset' ?? - it won't let two MrSomerset's use it or any other name linked to his account ?? Plus I've got my own master screen-name that I couldn't 'be in' on his account ?

I could be talking garbage - I'm really not very 'up' on this stuff.

Just to clarify - he's got a broadband contract and uses a desktop. I have a dial-up contract and use a laptop.

elektra

If you are now accessing via his wireless you could cancel your dial up and still maintain your aol email (you can double check that with aol, I'm pretty sure that used to be the case).

You can access it via www.aol.co.uk and not need to use AOL software then it would not matter whether your partner signed in or not.

PaulK_3

Yep just get the PC connected to the roter (if you have a router) and then open IE up.

cajef

Somerset wrote: »

He bought/installed a BT wireless thingee. I now have internet again, working property, as I use this wireless connection, not the modem anymore

I can't negotiate for broadband at £6.99 pm as they say there is only one broadband 'contract' allowed per BT line and my partner already has his broadband linked to our BT line.

If you are not using the modem and are connected through his wireless router you are using his broadband connection, just cancel the dial up contract.

Yes you can only have one broadband contract per BT line, but you can connect as many computers to it as you want, you can use his desktop and your laptop via the wireless router.

Somerset

cajef wrote: »

If you are not using the modem and are connected through his wireless router you are using his broadband connection, just cancel the dial up contract.

Yes you can only have one broadband contract per BT line, but you can connect as many computers to it as you want, you can use his desktop and your laptop via the wireless router.

Ok I get the first part.

The bit I don't get is the second part - how can we use the desktop and laptop simoultaneously ? It used to be, many years ago when we shared a contract, that if he was on aol and I signed in, he got kicked off. It would only allow one 'live' user. I get how we can seperately use the desktop and laptop via the wireless router, but I don't get how aol will allow two users to access aol at the same time.

Sorry to be dense

mrJ_5

the router will let you both access the internet at the same time, you don't need the AOL software either ... you don't really need to understand how it does it

rub405

have you tried speaking to BT about the problems? They can do some checks and/or send an engineer round but will charge you if the problem is internal wiring.