Granny internet

debitcardmayhem

alahol2 said:

ballyblack said:

She will need somebody living with her to show her how to use the tablet on-going

I'll be setting up the tablet before sending it on to her.  She's seen other people use a tablet in front of her so she has got at least a vague idea about swiping and tapping etc.  I'm hoping I will be able to set up some form of remote control to assist plus she has a friend who uses a tablet and is reasonably savvy.

J_B said:

Do you know who provides the best mobile signal at her house?

Both O2 and Vodaphone are OK, 3 and EE are a bit of a failure.

GiffGaff uses O2 no contract sim only , not sure what O2 offer for sim only.

steviebabes

No reason it would be locked to 02, as BT own EE.

poppellerant

Call O2.  Although it doesn't show on their website, I recently renewed my contract to 9GB SIM-only for £10/pcm.  Maybe you can get data only with better value, with more data for example, in exchange for no unlimited texts or minutes.

ballyblack

I too had experience with getting a tablet for a 94 yr old. Tablet turned out a nightmare for  the 94yr old to operate..................Got a smart Android mobile with a large screen on PAYGO ...... installed  'Whatsapp' and it worked out fine!

alahol2

Just heard back from the BT shop..."All our items are unlocked to use with any network provider" so that's one worry out of the way.

Thanks Ballyblack: what was the problem with the tablet?  From what I can tell of the Tab A it is in effect a very large Android phone (it can be used as a phone).  I'm intending to strip down the apps on screen to the minimum and, if it's possible on Android 6, lock the home screen.

At the end of the day, if Gran can't hack it, I'll have the tablet back for my own use.  I have to use the wife's at the moment.

ballyblack

alahol2 said:

Just heard back from the BT shop..."All our items are unlocked to use with any network provider" so that's one worry out of the way.

Thanks Ballyblack: what was the problem with the tablet?  From what I can tell of the Tab A it is in effect a very large Android phone (it can be used as a phone).  I'm intending to strip down the apps on screen to the minimum and, if it's possible on Android 6, lock the home screen.

At the end of the day, if Gran can't hack it, I'll have the tablet back for my own use.  I have to use the wife's at the moment.

Tablet was too large/awkward so didnt carry  it around unlike a mobile. Mobile is easier to use selfie camera which is a must in the taking a WhatsApp call ............. is only a matter of touching a button to accept, Skype was difficult.........kept getting signed out on tablet. 

alahol2

Thanks Ballyblack, whatsapp is our app of choice.  I'm hoping that, since the tablet will have a phone number, we can install the phone version of the app which is a lot more straightforward than trying to use a wifi/bluetooth tablet.

Thanks also to the Network advice from others.

We are going to give it a go. 

poppellerant

Something else I would like to add and that's to provide your Gran with a printed guide.  You might find by the time you've told and shown her a few times, she will forgot a few days later and only be too embarrassed to ask you for help in case she thinks she is bothering you.

Take screenshots on the tablet each step of the way and edit these to highlight which areas you are directing her to, with printed text underneath - ideally with a font size of 14pt or above.

With your guides and a fully charged tablet , you and your Gran will be well on the way to using Whatsapp.  Perhaps she might even gather enough interest to use a banking app so she doesn't have to worry about her finances. 

alahol2

Thanks poppellerant.  I was intending to write out a few basic instructions but hadn't thought about the screen shots.  Great idea.

I've been searching the internet for a very basic 'how to' for complete newbies but I guess every phone/tablet and version of Android is different.  Perhaps I should publish...

As for banking, that may be a step too far, she prefers to have a person she can hit with her umbrella if anything goes wrong.

Cheers

a

Then there is this https://www.freshtechtips.com/2016/02/remote-control-android-device-phone-tablet.html

If the Teamviewer is a  good as the PC version you are quids in.