One BT line and two ISPs?

Jonesy127

I think this is unlikely, but I thought I’d ask anyway.

At home we have a BT phone line and broadband internet, both installed and paid for by my wife’s work (as she works from home).

Of course technically we shouldn’t be using the broadband for personal surfing, or using it at all at the weekend. So I think it best, as I’m the main personal user, to set up my own separate ISP.

Can I use the existing BT line with another ISP? I’m expecting not, and I also know I could go the cable route anyway (thus making the question irrelevant), but there seems to be lots of good broadband deals at the moment, and often a BT line is required.

DatabaseError

Yes you can!

...but only on dialup

The correct solution would be for your wife to have a business line, and you to have a home line...but this will be a lot more expensive...and nobody (except GB) would blame you for not doing it.

GeoThermal

Has your wife's employer said you can't use it for anything else? I'd be surprised unless as part of your wife's work she uses all or close to her download cap.

macman

What possible objection can her employer have to personal surfing (at home in your own time)? They have to pay the same monthly fee for the broadband whether she uses it 1 hour a week or 12 hours a day, as long as she's not above the download limit. The only thing they can legitimately ask you to pay for are any personal calls.
The only alternative is another line or a cable service.
You're currently getting free broadband and line rental. Why rock the boat?

bottlered

3mobile have mobile broadband (15gb) for £15 pcm, if that's any help?

signal strength can vary, and its quite a long contract (24 months) but it's another option?

clio

3 mobile do pay as you go, buy the dongle/usb modem and top up once a month £15 for 3 gig or £10 for 1 gig. dongle/usb modem costs £30 odd quid from play.com or ebay may sell them cheaper.

macman

I use 3, the only catch is the top up expires after 30 days. Also look at Vodafone PAYG, top ups more expensive but not time limited.

Jonesy127

macman wrote: »

You're currently getting free broadband and line rental. Why rock the boat?

I'm just uncomfortable with relying on something I'm not paying for; I know it sounds stupid. :embarasse

Of course what I forgot to mention is that the connection is often ropey (often at the weekend), and of course there's no support to call on then...

Jonesy127

clio wrote: »

3 mobile do pay as you go, buy the dongle/usb modem and top up once a month £15 for 3 gig or £10 for 1 gig. dongle/usb modem costs £30 odd quid from play.com or ebay may sell them cheaper.

I'm more interested in the £6 a month type deals out there, although I haven't fully started researching what useage limits are applied to such deals.

macman

Jonesy127 wrote: »

I'm just uncomfortable with relying on something I'm not paying for; I know it sounds stupid. :embarasse

Of course what I forgot to mention is that the connection is often ropey (often at the weekend), and of course there's no support to call on then...

BT support is available at the weekend. What is the problem with the connection? May be something that is easily fixable without recourse to a second line!

macman

Jonesy127 wrote: »

I'm more interested in the £6 a month type deals out there, although I haven't fully started researching what useage limits are applied to such deals.

Firstly you need to consider what reception is like on your preferred network at your home. To use mobile broadband with any practicality you need a decent 3G signal. 3G is extremely variable, most bigger towns and cities are OK, much of rural UK is not. Without 3G your connection will be effectively at little more than dial up speed.