Yet another new box!

Crisp_£_note

:mad: Am so fed up with our internet box (modem?) we seem to be replacing it at least once every year, 8 months the last one lasted us previous to that we were going through one about every 4 months!

We are with Tesco for BroadBand and pay £14.60 a month for the use. When it forst went wrong on the modem box Tesco supplied we complained to Tesco and asked for a new box but they refused to supply a replacement free and after waiting almost 3 weeks for them to supply a new one (without any way to get online and yet they still expected us to pay the bill) we ended up buying one from a local store (Staples).

This newest box which we replaced yesterday must be the 8th box in 24 months!!

We now have 2 wireless laptops connected up as hubbys PC went kaput last November so we decided a laptop for us both was better than a PC to share .

I am considering either switching our internet supplier or calling out BT to check the phone line. To be honest we have used Tesco for years and there are a few things I am fed up with them for (they wont combine our landline and internet bill so have to pay both separately so am sure it costs me more than say going over to Sky for Phone, Internet and TV) so ok I would lose out on a few pounds worth of points but if I get a cheaper and better service as a loyal customer elsewhere then what have I to lose in ditching and switching?

Anyway please can anyone give us an idea of why ours keep burning out? We've used different brands like Belkin and NetGear, we've tried switing it off at night and leaving it on constantly but nothing we do or advised to do for it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance

macman

'Burning out' indicates an overheating problem. Is the router (I assume you are talking about a wireless router-if you are still using a USB modem then get rid of it-it's obsolete and flakey) properly ventilated and not sitting on a thick carpet, surrounded by piles of stuff that limits the airflow, near a radiator etc?
A basic Netgear DG834G or similar will cost you about a tenner on eBay.
Your ISP is not under any obligation to replace a failed router, it's an initial freebie to tempt you in, but they're not obliged to maintain or replace it.
Tesco is just a BT reseller, you would do better on an LLU service if available. Do an exchange search on www.samknows.com for your LLU options.

balletshoes

thanks for these posts - I suspect my wireless router is getting close to being on its last legs too, but its decided to play again at the moment. I had no idea that Sky (my provider) wouldn't replace my router if it goes kaput, so forewarned is forearmed .

Will the Netgear model you've mentioned above work fine with my Sky broadband access?

penrhyn

balletshoes wrote: »

thanks for these posts - I suspect my wireless router is getting close to being on its last legs too, but its decided to play again at the moment. I had no idea that Sky (my provider) wouldn't replace my router if it goes kaput, so forewarned is forearmed .

Will the Netgear model you've mentioned above work fine with my Sky broadband access?

Only a Sky supplied router will work with Sky Broadband.* If yours is faulty then they will replace it for free, I've had a couple in the last few years.
They need to be mounted vertically and be well ventilated.
If you just fancy a change they will sell you a new one for £35.

* It is possible to extract the username and password from Sky routers to use in Non Sky supplied ones but it is against their T&Cs.

spannerzone

Makes me wonder whether the OP has a loose mains socket or dodgy wiring - if the mains socket isn't a tight fit then these large black powersupply bricks that are often used with modem routers might be making a bad electrical connection and failing due to arcing or such like.

I've never had issues with the dozen or so routers owned and used and can't say I know anyone else that has.....the other thing as suggested, is the modem tucked away where it can't get good ventilation and overheats as a result?