Broadband/wireless/mobile internet advice needed please

flutterbyuk25

Hey all

I'm moving into my own place soon and want to have internet access.

However I do not want to have a landline (I have a work and personal mobile). So can anyone suggest the best option for me. I'm not too techie and don't really understand which option is best for me.

I would like wireless or mobile internet as it will give me option to use laptop in bedroom, lounge or on balcony

I don't download much at all, but can spend 2-3hours online per day, mainly emailing, on MSe, on Facebook and occasional MSN Messenger use.

I currently have an Orange mobile phone contract, so wondered if they may be an option?

TIA

x

macman

Without a BT line you only have 2 options. One being Virgin cable (if you are in VM cabled area), the other being mobile broadband through a dongle.
Wireless broadband requires a landline.
Chose your network based on who can give you a decent 3G signal at your property-that should be your only consideration. 3G will give you reasonable speed but it is not a substitute for ADSL broadband.
90 hours online a month can still use a fair amount of data-every time you open a web page you are still downloading data.

-TangleFoot-

If you go for the mobile broadband option, bear in mind that you won't be able to download as much as you can via a landline without incurring exorbitant surcharges.

flutterbyuk25

Many thanks macman.

I can get an Orange dongle for £10-£15/month, and it says the 3G coverage is excellent (5 bars on the graph)

Would the fact that I'm top floor of 4 storey flats make any difference to signal?

TIA

x

macman

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

Many thanks macman.

I can get an Orange dongle for £10-£15/month, and it says the 3G coverage is excellent (5 bars on the graph)

Would the fact that I'm top floor of 4 storey flats make any difference to signal?

TIA

x

In theory it should help being up high-but don't rely on the postcode checker, it's a general guide only. But if your Orange mobile has 3G, check the signal strength on that-or if not try to borrow a 3G phone to check.
If there's a 5 storey block of flats between you and the mast, it's not much help.

duchy

Probably the simplest is to go for Sky if you are having the TV package anyway.
Sky now do phone lines without the very high installation/connection fees that BT charge too so you could bundle your TV, Broadband and Phone all onto one bill. Their router is wireless so you could have the laptop wireless in the bedroom and the current deal is TV/Phone and BB for £16 per month (Although I suspect you can add another £10 for line rental to that for the whole package including telephone rental)
I suspect this is the cheapest and simplest solution for you. Mobile dongles seem to be a bit tricky and you wouldn't need one if you have a bb wrireless router anyway.

flutterbyuk25

Thanks all.

I will check my mobile 3G coverage when I go to do the inventry next week before deciding. Building is tallest in the area so that should be ok.

Re Sky, I'd rather not have it as I'd just watch mindless tv! I only have 4 channels now so am rather used to that! lol. But I will look at it.

Thanks

x

-TangleFoot-

If you pop your postcode into this it'll tell you where the telephone exchange for your area is; you'll also get a list of the landline-based Internet Service Providers available to you.

inmypocketnottheirs

Check with orange their mobile web tariff. I seem to remember facebook being free. You could just add a data plan to your mobile account for a month to see if you are getting what you want. But you would have to monitor your data usage and charges very carefully to see if you are overstepping the allowances and incurring heavy charges.

kwikbreaks

If you do persist with the 3G mobile broadband option make sure you read up well on how to cancel the contract and return the kit without having to pay the full year because even with the benefit of a high flat and the service map showing a signal good enough to power your electric light the actual service delivered could still be dire.

Bowling_4_Gold

Could you somehow get orange to add unlimited mobile broadband to your phone contract? Depending on what phone you have, you could use that as a modem for wireless internet...