Advice on broadband for my good old dad!

Angelina-M

Hi all.

My dad gets really bored this time of year as his hobbies (gardening etc) are on the back burner until spring.

So he's finally getting a computer. My brother has sorted him out with a computer and we want to get him online.

He is on a budget so we are looking for something completely no frills for him. We want the cheapest deal around, no free laptops or anything.

He doesnt want a phone line or any add ons, its just a broadband connection.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a cheapy reliable one?

My brother suggests Virgin but at £18 a month, im sure there's cheaper out there?

Thanks all.

Drunkstar

Does he already have a line of any kind? Will he be doing any downloading? Bnking? Does he already have security?


Lots of factors bud. :P

Angelina-M

Banking? lol no... giving out ones details on a computer is next to standing on the street and handing out fivers according to my dad!

No he'll be looking at tomato planting timetables and astronomy websites.

He already has a phone line in his house but that belongs to his partner and they dont want to mix it up by adding broadband to that. (complicated I know) So the broadband has to be separate.

Security wise i'll sort out that for him. He's just learning how to use a mouse at the moment so I cant see him doing anything too scarey like tapping into the white house for a while :rotfl:

Hungerdunger

Unfortunately you can't just have broadband on its own - he would need a separate phone line installed even if he never touched the phone.

It's quite possible to have a Broadband account while keeping the phone with BT (assuming it's with them at present). Then your father simply pays for the Broadband, as it won't have any effect on the line rental and call charges. That will almost certainly be your cheapest option

Angelina-M

Thanks for that

Well I rang tiscali and they want £14.99 a month and i'm assuming that would include his phone rental.

Talk Talk are closed but I will try them again tomorrow.

So if he took on one of these and still paid his bt line, then surely he would be paying for two lines and that would come out at around £25 a month... I thought broadband was cheap nowadays!

Edinburghlass_2

Most of the big companies are now trying to get you into a package with phone calls and landline included, however there are still plenty of ISPs who will do broadband on its own and your Dad's partner will continue to pay/maintain the BT line which the broadband will route through, it won't involve 2 lines.

Have a read of Martin's article regarding broadband and you'll find links there to some of the cheaper ISP.

spud17

I always suggest Newnet

http://www.newnet.co.uk/broadband/index.php

Also check them here, look where the big names stand,

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php

Angelina-M

Thank you all, some great advice given to me.

He has decided to go with tiscali on the £14.99 package. The worlds his oyster now!

Its opened my eyes to the prices charged.

espresso

Angelina-M wrote: »

Well I rang tiscali and they want £14.99 a month and i'm assuming that would include his phone rental.

Please note: This package is available to 52% of all UK homes. If this product is not available in your area then you will be offered a discounted alternative so you can still enjoy savings on your line rental.

Double check that it is available before signing up to this!

Angelina-M

Well my dad rang up himself today and he's the type to want to know everything before parting with his money so I can only assume that everything went well. He's just waiting to get it plugged in now... bless him!

espresso

Angelina-M wrote: »

Well my dad rang up himself today and he's the type to want to know everything before parting with his money so I can only assume that everything went well. He's just waiting to get it plugged in now... bless him!

Fine but I'm sure that I've read when people have signed up, only to be told later that they can't get that price!

:eek: