getting a new internet connection - advice?

foreign_correspondent

hello,

can anyone advise me please... I have been away from my house for a year (whilst abroad) and am moving back in a week and a half.

At home, I had a dial up internet connection with NTL.

When I went away I cancelled all the utilities, phone account etc, as I was renting the house out to tenants.

When I move back I need an internet connection ASAP, as I use it for work and am also in the last stages of writing my dissertation....

so, my question is, how do I go about getting a new internet connection?

Can I contact a company and ask to be connected as near as possible to the date I get home?
I would like to get broadband too... do I need a landline phone contract for this? (if not I am considering whether I really need a landline, or whether I can manage with mobile and skype..)

Can anyone recommend any companies? We had ntl before but their charges always seemed to increase pretty quickly!

I am really not sure where to start, so idiot proof answers would be good!!

many thanks,

FC;)

foreign_correspondent

aha... just found the uswitch comparison site.. virgin looks like it might be ok for me, however, what kit do i need?

I want to be able to plumb my main computer in and run a laptop wirrelessly... I think they supply a modem, do I need something else?? a wireless router or some such thing??

sorry not very techie!!

theallpowerful

I really like my Virgin 20Mbit connection, it's really fast and I have never had a problem with it.

Problem with Virgin, however, is that they try to get you to buy all your services (TV, Phone, Internet etc.) off them, and you might not want to dot that... That said, I do, and am very happy with them, although some people complain that they have real problems.

If you want to look elsewhere, our friends use BT Openworld, which they say is good, but pay the pound a month extra for unmetered access. All you'll need to do is make sure you have a BT phoneline in the house, and then phone them and set up the connection to start on a specific date. They'll then send you a BT Home Hub (telephone, wireless router etc.) and all the other bits 'n' bobs you'll need...

Little_John

As of last week NTL work out cheapest at £10 a month + a £25 connection fee. their price jumps up to £18 after the first 12 months. The advantage is no line rental which is fine if you plan to use a mobile and skype for talking to people. but they do become one of the most expensive for that 2nd 12 month and onwards at £18 a month and I bet they badger you over buying their other services like tv and phone, coke, flights, train travel whatever.

If you go down the ADSL route you will need a phone line provided by BT then pay an ISP for the connection. most isp's have an introductory price about £8-9 a month for first 3 or 6 month then jump up to about £15-18 a month after that.

Some ISPs are giving away laptops if you sign up to 24 month contracts orange and AOL.

It also depends on how much you plan to use your connection? everyone has a fair useage policy where they don't like you useing their bandwidth excesivley other have a limit 2/3/5/10/20 and 40GB if your not going to be a high user and can get away with 2GB a month then the best deal is pipex mini £161 for 12 months and they give a wireless router with it.
fredom2surf was a little more at £179 for 12 months but no router and you get 5GB a month.
Tiscali seemed to be the cheapest for an "unlimited" connection for £215 for 12 months £18 a month.

The process
To get ADSL you need a phone number to get the connection put on. You cant get a connection without a number so get BT to install a line first only once the line is installed will bt guarentee the number then you can contact an ISP. BT can give you a number as soon as you request the line but it can change between then and installation no ISP should let you start their side untill your line is installed so don't try jumping the gun.

Last week Pipex quoted 7 days to get the connection up from the order date which is pretty quick, in the past it has normally been 2-3 weeks.

Little_John

Just seen your reply
If you wanted wirelss access using virgin then you would need to buy a wireless router. the cable modem they supply has a single eithernet (network) port on it that you can connect a PC or laptop to or the router. the router alows multiple devices to use the connection either wirelessly or via a cable to the router.

superscaper

theallpowerful wrote: »

I really like my Virgin 20Mbit connection, it's really fast and I have never had a problem with it.

Problem with Virgin, however, is that they try to get you to buy all your services (TV, Phone, Internet etc.) off them, and you might not want to dot that... That said, I do, and am very happy with them, although some people complain that they have real problems.

Also need to be aware that the 20 Mib/s speed and many of the services are only available on cable which isn't installed everywhere. I know I can't get cable in my area and I'm not exactly in the countryside.

foreign_correspondent

thanks folks, your thoughts are much appreciated! :beer:

Ok, we are in a cable area, so can go with the virgin deal. Have also just found that through quidco you can get £55 back... if this is right, £15 connection fee, then £10 a month, so £135 a year, minus £55. Years total £80, so equivalent of less tha £7 a month... think I will try that and see if the cashback via quidco works!!!

Is there anything specific I need to look for when getting a wireless router - OH saw one at pcworld online for about £25, so I assumed they would be cheaper on ebuyer, but they dont seem to have anything for less than about £30, which surprises me, cos pc world always seem expensive!