Trying to help someone......

richardvc

A friend of mine currently is not on the internet but has decided she wants to go online.

She is going to buy a laptop and wants to know the cheapest way to get online with the least amount of hassle !!

She has a BT phoneline.

Any recommendations would be appreciated - I have found talk talk at £3.25 per month (for 12 months) with free router etc seems pretty good but would rather hear your opinions.

macman

Since broadband is exchange-specific, the first thing to do is an exchange search on www.samknows.com
Look for the LLU options shown in the results.
If she is a light user the best option might be Plusnet Value. This is £6.49pm if she is on a Market 2 or 3 exchange, which samknows will reveal. However this has a 10GB monthly cap-is that sufficient? They have a similar 12m half price offer at present (£3.24).
TT (if available LLU), is certainly cheap, but the customer service is dire, should she need support.
The TT tariff you refer to will require her to take her line rental and calls from TT-is she still in minimum term contract with BT?

Buzby

Least hassle? Use the built in WIFi to search and see if she is in range of free access. Only when she confirms there's none, would I investigate getting service installed.

brewerdave

Free access? You mean illegally piggy back on someone else's unprotected wireless network?? Shame on you Buzby!!

yangptangkipperbang

brewerdave wrote: »

Free access? You mean illegally piggy back on someone else's unprotected wireless network?? Shame on you Buzby!!

So if I use the free wi-fi prominently advertised at my local station then I will be committing a criminal offence ?

I do think FGW should tell people this.... ;)

brewerdave

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

So if I use the free wi-fi prominently advertised at my local station then I will be committing a criminal offence ?

I do think FGW should tell people this.... ;)

...I'd presumed that the OP's friend wanted access at home - not whilst out for the day!!:)
A serious point - I wouldn't consider connecting regularly to one of these "free" hotspots - certainly not with a machine that I kept anything confidential on!!You are totally dependent on the security software that you have installed, and have no control over their routing equipment.