Modem advice please

hethmar

My youngest son is finally leaving home this weekend (excuse me as I unpack the bunting) but he is taking his computer set up with him, including the Netgear router he bought.

I know I got a little modem thing when I got talktalk broadband a couple of years back but it didnt work when we got another puter in sons bedroom, hence he paid out for the Netgear.

He also tells me even if I managed to resurrect the old modem he doesnt think it will work as we now have unbundled exchange with up to 8 things speed (!)?

Could anyone tell me please what I actually need to buy? There will only be this puter in the house when son has gone off. And I really need something easy to connect up.

Many thanks.

penrhyn

Assuming you are on ADSL and with Talk Talk why not ring them up ask nicely and they will probably send you a shiny new modem/router.
Tell them you've got a lap top and need a wireless router.

BTW there is no reason why the old modem won't work, unless its faulty of course.

Talk Talk are currently supplying D-Link routers.

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/help/questions/TEC_02_29

mr_fishbulb

I'd still suggest getting a router instead of the modem even if there is only one computer in the house - the NAT will add an extra layer of security (think of it as a doorman between your computer and the internet who only lets in people with an invitation).

hethmar

Sorry, what is a NAT please?

Is it going to be hard to fix up though. I seem to remember going through hell fixing the netgear up.

TalkTalk

Hi Hethmar,

As I said in my PMs to you, if you're out of contract then its worth a chat with retentions to see if they can offer you a discount or even a free router. It depends what the current renewal offers are and this would depend on you taking a new contract with TalkTalk. Otherwise people seem to like Negear routers on the forums and they seem to work very well with our service. TalkTalk currently supply D-Link or HG520b routers.

Cheers
EmmaL x

hethmar

Hi, emma, I did reply to you - may be you havent received it? Saying Im not out of contract - Ive been on talktalk broadband since the very first week they offered it and Ive stayed with them so I cant really ring and pretend Im leaving.:)

hethmar

Well rung customer services who tell me they cant give me a router free and they want £30 for one BUT they need my husband to speak to them as he is the account holder. OH doesnt even know he is the account holder I put him on there as the phone bill goes through his business. I then said to the chap OH is highly unlikely to telephone talktalk (he hates anything like that) so can I not just buy it anywhere online. He tells me I can BUT if I do buy it from anyone but talktalk and the line goes down you will wash your hands of the problem! Not brilliant customer service chat really.

Just reading that HG520B seems to have a lot of problems.

penrhyn

£30 ain't bad and they come preconfigured so are a doddle to set up, but why not do what Emma suggests? My non tech friend set hers up the other week.
Just get OH to initiate the call, then take over the negotiations.

hethmar

Do you mean say Im leaving? Cant do it, in fact the chap actually said to me, youve renewed your contract already so I cant give you one free

The one he offered as above seems to be giving a lot of problems on the forum so I dont really want that anyway.

penrhyn

Just trying to save you some money, not psychic so didn't know you has just renewed your contract with them, although if you haven't changed anything for a year or so I don't see how you can still be.

Here is an idea, if the Netgear router has given satisfactory service why not just buy another one , and get the lad to set it up before he leaves.

Or leave well enough alone and buy his router off him.

hethmar

I wasnt being rude pen, Im really grateful for any help. Its just the chap was really quite off hand with me at customer service. I was surprised really as Ive always found talktalk to be very accommodating.

Yes, may be I will do that, buy him a new one and just leave things as they are. Expensive one though isnt it.