Tesco Home Phone Line Rental Query

Truegho

We are with Tesco Home Phone and have a question re. the line rental we pay each month to them: We are considering leaving Sky Broadband, as it is too expensive combined with the Sky TV package (total cost £46.00 per month!), so if we picked another broadband provider, would we have to cancel the line rental with Tesco too, or could we still use Tesco even though we install software from a new Broadband provider?

macman

Tesco is a virtual operator using the BT Wholesale network, so you should be able to use any other ADSL broadband ISP while still paying line rental to them.
I think Tesco broadband is run by Virgin National?
You don't need to install any software to use another ISP, you just need to change the settings in your router.

Truegho

Thanks for your reply. So if I install software for another broadband provider, I don't need another wireless router? That's good. All I need to do then is to figure out what settings I need to change.

macman wrote: »

Tesco is a virtual operator using the BT Wholesale network, so you should be able to use any other ADSL broadband ISP while still paying line rental to them.
I think Tesco broadband is run by Virgin National?
You don't need to install any software to use another ISP, you just need to change the settings in your router.

macman

Almost all ISP's supply a wireless router FOC on new contracts. But you can use your own if you wish, as long as it's not locked to your current ISP.
You don't install any software, just put your new username and password into the router interface, these will be supplied after you sign up.
However if you want tech support, you probably need to use the router they supply if it's different to your own.

boliston

macman wrote: »

Almost all ISP's supply a wireless router FOC on new contracts. But you can use your own if you wish, as long as it's not locked to your current ISP.
You don't install any software, just put your new username and password into the router interface, these will be supplied after you sign up.
However if you want tech support, you probably need to use the router they supply if it's different to your own.

It might be "FOC" but you can bet that it's not free as you will pay for it as part of your monthly sub. I'd rather go with an ISP that does not supply a router if I already own a router, as it seems a bit wasteful and is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.

macman

boliston wrote: »

It might be "FOC" but you can bet that it's not free as you will pay for it as part of your monthly sub. I'd rather go with an ISP that does not supply a router if I already own a router, as it seems a bit wasteful and is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.

No, it's because most people don't want to go and have to buy a router separately, or wouldn't know what to buy. It also makes it easier for the ISP, as they only have to support a couple of routers.
If you rule out all ISP's supplying a 'free' router then you'll rule out many of the best options.

ACDeag

Truegho wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. So if I install software for another broadband provider, I don't need another wireless router? That's good. All I need to do then is to figure out what settings I need to change.

Sky's routers are locked to their service. But as mentioned most Broadband providers will give you a new wireless router when you sign up.

boliston

macman wrote: »

No, it's because most people don't want to go and have to buy a router separately, or wouldn't know what to buy. It also makes it easier for the ISP, as they only have to support a couple of routers.
If you rule out all ISP's supplying a 'free' router then you'll rule out many of the best options.

I was specifically referring to someone who already had a router, and does not therefore wish to pay indirectly for an unnecessary second router. An example would be someone who is switching ISPs rather than someone who is having broadband for the first time.