Need short-term broadband, 5G Router best option?

RSTime

We are in the process of selling my mum's home (she has moved to a care home). Her BT contract ends in March and they do not offer a monthly contract. I have had a look around and can not find a monthly broadband contract, is a 5G router the best option?

My mum's house is in London and O2 have 5G where she is. Any advice on how to get the best deal on a monthly contract and also what 5G router I should look at? Thanks.

400ixl

If she has moved out, what do you need broadband for before you sell it?

RSTime

Security cameras and control of central heating plus I visit regularly to keep a check on the house...

RSTime

TP-Link Deco X80-5G AX6000 and TP-Link Deco X50-5G AX3000 appear to be highly rated options for routers. I use Asus at home and would prefer an Asus router but they do not seem to make a 5G router.

littleboo

To be pedantic, your mums contract wont end in March, it will go onto a rolling monthly contract at a higher price. So you need to compare that to the costs of a router and SIM costs.

matelodave

Do you really need 5G for a couple of security cameras and the central heating. A cheap 4g router with a paygo sim would do the job. 

As said above,  your "contract" wont end, it will just roll on, albeit at a higher price but depending on how long it takes to sort out your Mum's house it could work out cheaper than lashing out on a 4g router. 

My mate uses one of these at his holiday home with a Lebara montlhy paygo sim - and he can happily watch 4kTV with it, so cameras and central heating won't actually stretch its capabilities.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/STRONG-Router-Configuration-Detachable-Antennas/dp/B09R7VD5HJ?th=1.

I use summat similar from Huawei in my caravan when we are away - https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUAWEI-B535-232-Wireless-Connecting-Unlocked/dp/B0B8DHX7RQ which cost a bit more but isn't noticeably much better. You can get them on E-bay for just over £50

Rodders53

littleboo said:

To be pedantic, your mums contract wont end in March, it will go onto a rolling monthly contract at a higher price. So you need to compare that to the costs of a router and SIM costs.

Not at all pedantic.  I nearly posted a very similar suggestion.

Plus the OP needs to check mobile data connectivity and speed reliability on the Network(s) in that home at different times... Mobile signals can be variable with other users needing the capacity.

flashg67

I;ve noticed that 5g routers currently cost much more than 4g. I use 4g to run multiple smart devices, vpn,WFH, netflix etc. I use a Huawei 4g router unlocked from ebay for about £50  although for a few devices only a mifi device should work and is cheaper

400ixl

You could just plug an old phone into a charger with a sim card in it and create a wifi hotspot for devices to connect to.

Or switch to a monthly ISP contract, or as said just pay a bit more for a few months on a rolling contract.

Stompa

RSTime said:

I have had a look around and can not find a monthly broadband contract

I believe Now Broadband offer them, but they come with a £60 setup fee.

https://www.nowtv.com/broadband#ib-section-section-3

You seem to have to go through the first part of the application process before that option is shown, oddly I couldn't see any mention of it elsewhere on their website.

RSTime

I contacted BT to try and cancel contract and go onto a rolling contract. They will not do so if you have extras (that I no longer need) and wish to cancel. I would have to go with a rolling contract on the current package with all the extras, if I cancel the extras then I will need to get a new long-term contract with BT 🤷🏻‍♂️