Broadband without a landline?

MGAstra

Thanks star1

The sipgate website looks to be just what i want - no line rental for the phone, just pay 1p per min for the occassional call i make and get free incoming calls.

I will get my own hardware off eBay once i've learnt a bit more about it all. I'm usually quite good with the techie stuff once i've been pointed in the right direction.

Sipgate and Telewest - here I come!!!!!

pin

I think with Telewest they will / can throw in a free landline anyway. May be useful for people calling you and making 0800/0808/0500 calls.

star1_2

Telewest are currently doing some good deals on Phone-TV and Broadband - around £30 p/month for the first 12 months. Check their website for similar deals (NTL frequently do similar offers). The only thing to bear in mind is that it will revert to full cost after the discount period. Currently TW charge £10.50 for line rental, but this gives you free unlimited w/end calls to 01/02 numbers.

Regarding VoIP services, Sipgate and purchasing VoIP hardware. Make sure you are aware and note the following:-

- Make sure any VoIP hardware you purchase on Ebay is "unlocked" (I bought a PAP2 box from someone who 'claimed' it was 'unlocked' turned out its wasn't and had to return it for a refund).
- Try the service via your PC using a good quality headset and see what you think.
- If you are going to use the VoIP router inline between your Cable modem and PC (Connected via the RJ45) use somthing like a Netgear TA612VSP (but units sold in the UK are locked to Sipgate - which won't be a problem if you want to use sipgate). If you need to use it 'inline' do not purchase a PAP2 this is not an 'in-line' unit.
- If you have a router the PAP2 will surfice, but you will need to know how to configure your router and the ports to "open" to allow voice traffic through.
- If you are considering buying a new router, consider one that has VoIP ports on-it and make sure it's unlocked. Linksys and Draytek are worth a look.

Lastly - rememeber VoIP lines are not as reliable as Traditional phone lines - if you loose the HSI or power - you also loose your phone !

Good Luck

:cool:

PS - I'm able to call 0800/0808/0500 's from my sipgate

star1_2

Also should have added - the Netgear TA612VSP Firmware has been having issues. You may wish to think twice before using this unit, although it does work ok(ish), a couple of people have reported issues with the unit going off-line - you may wish to look at other products on the sipgate website or try somewhere like broadbandbuyer.

:cool:

kjl26

Just to add, I just got a broadband only connection with Telewest, paying £15 a month (I think, can check), and they threw in a free starter package cable tv for a year. It's a 512k connection but they did say they will upgrade all 512 connections to 2meg ones by Christmas. I think there is another thread somewhere on that, but it's worth checking and mentioning to the Telewest rep. And we've just got VOIP via Sipgate and it's great.

star1_2

Thats correct 512 to 2mb ....

read all about it here ....

http://www.blueyonder.co.uk/blueyonder/getContent.jspx?page=bbs_evenfaster

this page also tells you when your region is due for the upgrade.

:cool:

MORPH3US

I just found out that I *might* be able to get NTL in my flat - only problem is I think it will be a 12 month contract and I only have 3 months left on my lease, might stay for another 6 months (meaning most I would have it for is 9 months) but might move.

We don't have a BT line and I refuse to get one because they want £80 to install it (even though the flat down stairs and next door have a BT line) which sucks !!!!!!! Wouldn't you think they would install it for free to get themselves an extra customer and a life times worth of £10 a month line rental!!! I digress.......

Shame they limit it to 3GB a month on the 1MB connection. Is 3 GB a lot? It doesn't sound it when you think a dvd holds nearly 4 but then I would probably only surf, play games, maybe a bit of football streaming.

M

dudlydum

It is an alternative to ADSL true phone line or NTL - its wireless broadband, no need to have BT phone, ntl or whatever!

I'm using https://www.NTRbroadband.com , 512 speed-£15 pm, but they operate only in Northern Ireland. Check out this http://www.ispreview.co.uk/review/top10.php - you'll find and top10 wireless broadband providers. Limited areas covered, but maybe you'll find a company in your area.

I've got an antena outside my house, works well in sunshine and rain

another company which is not mentioned in my link above is https://www.now.com - £14 pm for 512 speed

star1_2

I'm not sure about NTL - but with TW if you take out a 12month agreement and find you move they will only make you honnor the remainer of your contract if you move to another TW "servicable" address.

Check - But I would suggest you get anything like that in writing to make sure you are 'covered', otherwise NTL might make you pay the remainder or blacklist you.

:cool:

alsavs

Check this site out https://www.snsfeeed.net might be of some help