To NOT get WIFI??

[loveitorleaveit]

Me and my DP have a phone each with more than enough data to use when we are at home for internet etc. We have 3 TVs throughout the house with more than enough channels, a DVD player and a PS4 with mass amounts of dvds and games. We have never felt the need to pay an addition cost for sky/virgin/WiFi

My DP has an 11 year old son who comes to ours every other weekend and twice each week on week nights. Since he got his own phone and iPad for his birthday we allow him to connect to our data so he can use them to play on games and access the internet.

I am just about fed up of hearing his comments about us not having WiFi or sky ‘you’re like old people’ ‘it’s just stupid’ ‘I guess I’ll have to waste my mobile data AGAIN’ ‘oh great we have to watch NORMAL tv’ ‘god sake I can’t play online here on PS4’

Really!!?? I’ve told him to doesn’t know how lucky he is! He just roles his eyes at me. My DP doesn’t say anything to his comments, and tells me that’s kids nowadays!

Maybe it is but it still frustrates me!

AIBU???

Just cos it suits your own usage, doesn't mean it works for his - he wants to play games, watch videos, connect with his mates and do things that require the speed of wifi. You're not him.

If you can afford it, why wouldn't you?

I have 30gb of data on my phone but we also have 3 now TV boxes, 2 tablets, an Apple TV box and a PS4 in the house so actually even though I hardly use the WiFi at all the rest of them do. Yabu

You say you didn't expect everyone to agree OP but I haven't seen anyone who agrees, might have missed one but it's almost unheard of for a unanimous verdict on AIBU.

Have you costed wifi? tbh I think it will be worth the cost if your dh wants to keep a good relationship with his son, I know it sounds stupid but surely you want him to want to visit you when he's old enough to decide for himself, no wifi is likely to be a dealbreaker and it seems like you aren't seeing it from his pov at all.

We only have ‘normal’ tv here too. We all survive and just watch things as they come on. As far as I know, none of our worlds have ended. I know so many people who zap all the programmes to watch another time and all that happens is they have hundreds of programmes waiting to be watched.

You must be paying £100+ a month for unlimited data and a slow download speed compared to wifi. You could halve that, add on a £10 a month broadband deal and be quids in.

You'd also be able to use a pc, watch a film online, back up your photos and your dss could use his PS.

Why wouldn't you?

Do you have Wi-Fi though?

OP, WiFi is cheap but if it doesn’t suit you to get it, don’t. Certainly don’t be dictated to by a child.

I'd say an 11 year old would probably burn through mobile data quickly if my own dc's usage is anything to go by. He's there 6 nights every fortnight is that right? Honestly even though we coped without any internet when we were younger, times have changed and I would get it in.

If you get Wifi change the password regularly so that the price of the password is good manners and some help with the dishes or something of the sort.

And if Freeview is good enough for you do not be pressured into getting subscription TV, Enough is enough.

I can't imagine a situation in which using your data would be cheaper than wifi. Impressed if this is the case for you but I don't see the point in being obstructive about it if your stepson is a regular visitor and it would improve his stay and make him feel like it is his home.

I agree with the pp who said not having WiFi is like “not being on the phone” 30 odd years ago. It sounds like more effort not to have it than just get it tbh esp where it involves arsing around tethering phones to iPads.

Therefore YABU

Something from left field here that you might not have considered. Cellular data streaming is not as secure as a secured Wifi with all the proper features and security programs in place in place.
So if your DSS is using your hotspot feature to online game etc you are exposing your data to what can be ( depending on what he pays and uses it for ) to all kinds of potential issues. Online gaming sites are a bit of a security nightmare. Hackers adore hotspot settings as they are easier to circumnavigate.
No idea what kinds of phones etc you have, and what you keep on them ( internet banking etc) but it is something to investigate, and you might find your bills are less with a cheap fixed service.

I know so many people who zap all the programmes to watch another time and all that happens is they have hundreds of programmes waiting to be watched.

It's a double edge sword but I'd rather have 100 programs ready to watch, than miss an episode and have no way of catching up. We would miss so much if we only had 'normal' tv, as watching things when they're on doesn't fit into most lifestyles today. Quite honestly, I don't know anyone who enjoys television programs that don't appreciate things such as iPlayer, All4 and all that (even without a TiVo). Amazing invention of home entertainment, and it's free!

Yep. Don't be dictated to by a child, never mind that it's faster, far more secure, more reliable and would probably work out cheaper for everybody.

Gosh, poor him to have a step parent like this. Are you both trying to ensure he never comes! Wifi is more important than water to most teenagers and 11 year olds. If you do not understand that I suggest you both go on a parenting course and perhaps learn to accommodate a little towards an 11 year old who probably didn't choose for his parents to split up and to have to endure a step parent living in the dark ages or so mean or poor that they won't get wifi.

IS the boy always so rude and entitled?

EdmundCleverClogs We get by with Freeview and a DVR; also an "old" DVD for things we might want to keep permanently (such as Ken Burns's series about the Vietnam War). And we never lack for something to watch either broadcast or recorded. How many hours can you spend in front of the bloody goggle-box?

It’s only a weekend without WiFi, he must have quite an unhealthy habit if he can’t go two days without

With the PS4 you are missing out on a lot. They have deals in their store that aren't available anywhere else. Lots of games with online play. Then of course updates for the consol but also for the games. Oh and game add one.

He's 11. Is he in secondary yet? A lot of schools are signing up to online homework.

Then the hotspot. I use mine when out for my laptop. But I have to re-enter the password unless the connection is same day. So I can see how he's using his own data.

But maybe I am plain stupid so my opinion won't matter.

Imagine what it would've been like when you were his age and your family refused to have a TV in the house. Now do you understand?

its that generation its literally all they know

im a bit like him though wont even go away unless i know the place im staying has wifi-in this country anyway

some networks dont allow tethring and hav a limit on it i would check that

Llangennith I was brought up in a home without television till I was ten and I don't remember feeling left out or cheated.

You sound awful. To not let a child have the use of what is chesp these days - wifi because "YOU and your husband" don't think you need it.

What about you SS's homework and assignments? Most require the net these days.

Even Governments these days have put the internet (aka usually wifi) as a necessity of life and dole payments etc reflect that.

You just sound nasty and me me me.

Tethering off another phone is slow and not as secure as WIFI. Maybe you should think about that.

We only have a landline (which isn't even plugged in) because we need it for wifi.

Okay, so he has mobile data, but that's really not the same as having WiFi or even a decent broadband connection.

The PS4 will need updating (which requires the internet), games will need patches (which requires the internet) and you say he wants to watch videos (again, which requires the internet), so why wouldn't you pick the cheapest/fastest option (WiFi) over the slower, more expensive option?

I would understand if neither of you really used the net, but it would be MUCH cheaper and easier if you just got a router and used WiFi.