wanadoo surf and talk

Grumpysally

Have been trying to make descision re broadband for ages, need to get 3 machines online wirelessly. but bit confused about what to go for and reluctant to but the extra wireless bits incase they didn't work.
Now Ive just seen wanadoos 'wireless surf and talk' and think it's probably the package for us, especially as we are already with wanadoo so transition should be smoother.
Teens want to download music ( legally I hope) We want to be able to upload photos, and just surf faster.
Does anyone have any experience with this package yet, and is the 'free phone calls ' package worth it? (have two teens either online or on phone on a seemingly more or less permenant basis, or at least when ever I need to use phone/ surf.)
Thanks, Alison

Edinburghlass_2

I know what you mean about teenagers and the phone clamped to the ear

Can you tell us how much the package is and what you would get for your money, ie bb and what type of calls over the month.

System

I have recently got the kit. Wanadoo offered it to me free and wireless and talk free for 6 months. I was going to change provider and this was an offer to make me stay. I set up the kit ok, but it interferes with my speakers and the radio as well, so I haven't bothered with it.

Dont have the patience for it at the moment, and there doesn't seem to be anything in the help book or the website about this. I really hate talking on the phone as well, but might get round to doing it some day in the near future.

Grumpysally

Seven wrote:

Dont have the patience for it at the moment, and there doesn't seem to be anything in the help book or the website about this. I really hate talking on the phone as well, but might get round to doing it some day in the near future.

Do you mean the broad band phone? Why is that, is it different to normal ones?

Grumpysally

Edinburghlass wrote:

I know what you mean about teenagers and the phone clamped to the ear

Can you tell us how much the package is and what you would get for your money, ie bb and what type of calls over the month.

It starts at £14.99 for 1st 6months, but thats for the basic package, I think we'd need the next one up. Here's the link to the details, (I hope)

http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/talk.htm?linkfrom=Today&link=3&article=TODinternet_access

Alison

System

AlisonW wrote:

Do you mean the broad band phone? Why is that, is it different to normal ones?

The wireless kit, it must be to do with the frequencies or something. The effect is similar to when a mobile phone intereferes with speakers etc, except it was constant with the wireless kit.

The phone you use with the wireless and talk is just your own phone you provide. You get a new number from wanadoo for the free calls, it is made over the broadband connection.

windym_2

I've been with Wanadoo for years and just changed to broadband as it's just come to our part of Cornwall.

We opted for the wireless and talk. After trying to install a dead livebox and then receiving another that interferes with everything, :eek: I gave up. I am now on their normal broadband modem.

Basically the wireless and talk is a huge modem box (about 6inch x 1 foot) that plugs into your phone line.

It gives you an extra phoneline for free (an 0845 number). Your friends can phone you on the 0845 number or you can use it for outgoing calls only - which are free - with us for 6 months. You must use the handset that is plugged into the box (you can use DECt or wired).

Then, you get broadband which is wireless, by attaching small 'boxes' into your computer via usb. These boxes are about 2inch x 1inch. They transmit to the livebox. I think you can have 2 pc's wirelessly controlled and more hardwired - (don't quote me). With the broadband, comes the ability to use your phone line.

So in effect, you get a phone line freed up via the broadband connection (as per anyone elses broadband) and the 0845 line.

It sounded great for us, but in practise didn't work. The livebox, the first one, died on us before it got going. The second, kept uninstalling itself and thinking it was something else - I guess too many things on too few frequencies.

If you are patient, then I recommend giving it a try. If not, the hardwired normal modem is tiny and very fast. No complaints here.

HTH. Marsha.

Grumpysally

windym wrote:

Basically the wireless and talk is a huge modem box (about 6inch x 1 foot) that plugs into your phone line.

Oh dear, I thought it looked big on the photo, but then decided that it was just exagerated for promotional effect.

looks like this might not be at answer we thought it was. Well at least it should tell us wether or not we can get it to work wirelessly in our house, before we shell out for gizmos that we then can't return to the shop.

Alison

System

AlisonW wrote:

Oh dear, I thought it looked big on the photo, but then decided that it was just exagerated for promotional effect.

looks like this might not be at answer we thought it was. Well at least it should tell us wether or not we can get it to work wirelessly in our house, before we shell out for gizmos that we then can't return to the shop.

Alison

You get the wireless kit free from wanadoo.

It is a big box and it does interfere with everything.

I also recommend the standard wired broadband modem, small, discreet and works perfectly.

Grumpysally

:mad: Just taken delivery of the kit and I'm fuming! Firt of all the telephone connection lead isn't there.
Then I discover that it comes with only one wireles adaptor. Read through tje instruction book, and discover that to link more than one computer you need to purchase extra adaptors! Look on the wanadoo shop site for the things and they are £44.99 each!!!!!! so to get my 'free' live box to work wirelessly with everyones computers I have to fork out 90 quid! What happens if I decide at a later date I dont want the wireless and talk package, Im then left with two adaptors that probably dont work with any other system.
Rechecked on the pages adve
rtising and nowhere could I find it making this clear.
This is what it says on their promo page, you get;

' A Livebox modem - to connect all your PCs and to plug your phone into. '
http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/talkoffer
what does that imply? or is it me who's dim?
Off to compose irate email to wanadoo and cancell order for bb
Boo Hiss! :mad:


Later that same day, yes it's me thats dim. apparently it tells you on registration that you recive the equipment to connect ONE computer wirelessly. The woman on the help desk couldn't guarentee that using another make of wireless adaptor would work with the live box or that their wireless adaptors would work with other modem routers.
Now have to explain to OH that we have to buy some more gizmos.
'DOH'

Grumpysally

UPDATE.
Had it up and running for just over a week, a few problems in setting it up, which could have been solved very quickly if Wanadoo helpline staff had a clue what was going on. My guess is that the powers that be have rushed out this new system before the staff had had suffiecient training on how it works.
The main 'problem' was it was linking to the internet but refusing to show any content.
After ages on the helpline the lady at the other end could only conclude that my laptop must be infected with spyware.
What the problem actually was, as I worked out for myself after having a few hours break away from it, Was that because I was using a laptop and therefore the machine was being switched on and off, there is a security setting on the wanadoo provided wireless adaptor that takes a few seconds to kick in once the connection has been made. If you try and get a page before it displays that it's in 'maximum security' it wont let you. But they pbviously dont know that on the help desk. They asume that your machine is permenantly on.
Also a few days after getting set up I got a phone call from Wanadoo asking me if I'd ever considered upgrading from Anytime to Broadband. Bright sparks.
We've since bought a belkin wireless card for our laptop and a belkin usb adaptor for my dughters and they are running brilliantly.
Will probably upgrade to whole system to belkin when the 6 months free period is up on the livebox, as it's an ugly looking great chunk of plastic.
: )