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AIBU?

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Original poster

Help parents with no wifi!

44 replies

Sometimeswinning · 22/03/2020 21:29

Does anyone have advice for me to help my parents stay in touch? They have no wifi/modem. Any experts in this out there? I've looked into dongles and routers. Not a clue!

OP posts:
Frigginella · 22/03/2020 21:31

Can you get a cheap second hand iPhone and monthly rolling unlimited data SIM for FaceTime?

woodencoffeetable · 22/03/2020 21:33

4g smartphone or tablet. preset with skype/facetime or other communication app (whatsapp or telegram also allow video chats)

BlackForestCake · 22/03/2020 21:40

How did they stay in touch before? Did they drop round for tea every day?

woodencoffeetable · 22/03/2020 21:42

and if you decide to get them a tablet, pre-set it so they only need to tap the icon.

Elieza · 22/03/2020 21:42

Perhaps it’s time they moved with the times??

My elderly mother is with bt and managed to get a cheap deal for a router added into her lo caller package. She managed to set it up herself (a miracle as she’s crap with mobile phones) and is enjoying using her tablet that I bought her

AmIAWeed · 22/03/2020 21:45

You can get a mobile broadband device on a 39 day contract. More expensive than a 12 month one but ideal to get them started. It also means you can set it up at your home, with something like a tablet, Alexa, Google home etc then drop off ready to go. It also means if they don't get on with it, in 3 months (ish) you could cancel

Frankiecandle · 22/03/2020 21:45

Buy a cheap smartphone and a giff gaff sim. Install whatsapp on the phone. You can video call on Whatsapp.

AmIAWeed · 22/03/2020 21:45

*30 day contract

Justanotherlurker · 22/03/2020 21:54

If you buy a mobile and 'cheap' sim you need to be aware of the data package, facetime or video calls are intensive on the data.

I presume if they don't have wifi then they have no laptop?

If they have an internet connection a router would be the cheapest solution, otherwise you need to make sure you have enough data.

Might be worth considering going to one of the major providors and buying a tablet with a network connection as it will be more user friendly rather than a small phone.

CarolHasAnotherUTI · 22/03/2020 21:59

Do they not have a phone?

1Morewineplease · 22/03/2020 22:01

A landline?

Frankiecandle · 22/03/2020 22:02

The giff gaff data bundles are very reasonable priced. Not so much of a faff as setting up broadband.

Cryalot2 · 22/03/2020 22:05

I hope you get sorted with something reasonable soon.
Mum has dementia and unable to use even a phone. She has wifi but sadly it is no good . She keeps forgetting about this dreadful situation and wants her family and cries and shouts for them . It is so hard .

KittenVsBox · 22/03/2020 22:06

How old are they?
Think about screen size - my 70 yr old Dad really struggled with phone screen size u til his cataracts were dealt with.

GreatWesternValkyrie · 22/03/2020 22:10

We just bought a 4 GEE WiFi mini from EE, we bought it and then pay a monthly fee of £10 pm, no contract.

We opted for this as we had an older Android tablet we were no longer using. We just set up a gmail address for our elderly relative (81) so that they could use Google hangouts with us (works between our iPads and the android device).

It’s been really easy for them to use and so far it’s been a great alternative to phone calls.They seem to really like being able to see us 😀

Suniscomingout · 22/03/2020 22:12

What would,they have done if,this had happened 20 years (or so) ago? Weite letters? Phone on the landline? There aren't really any other options.

Gazelda · 22/03/2020 22:14

MIL has a fabulous neighbour who has said we can use her WiFi (we've checked the signal), so we've just ordered an iPad and will set it up before dropping it on her doorstep. She's going to find it very difficult (only agreed to have a mobile phone a couple of months ago) and it bound to be frustrating talking her through it countless times.
But for her to be able to see her grandchildren will be priceless. And possibly a lifesaver.

If the neighbour's WiFi doesn't work out, we'll get broadband added to her phone package.

mummydoingamasters · 22/03/2020 22:14

Smarty mobile do an unlimited data plan SIM card for £20 a month. We bought a TP Link mifi router and it connects to our phones, tv and laptops. The connection isn't great but it gets us connected

GreatWesternValkyrie · 22/03/2020 22:17

There’s also this, minimum rental period of three months - I don’t know much about it, so can’t offer personal experience of it but might be worth a look at their Website, YouTube videos and reviews..

checkout.noisolation.com/gb/komp

Frankiecandle · 22/03/2020 22:51

What a stupid comment.suniscomingout.

There are plenty of options and it's not 20 years ago, it's now.

Original poster
Sometimeswinning · 22/03/2020 22:57

Thankyou so much for the helpful comments.

No my parents dont have broadband. Plan was to have it for the gc but it wasnt an urgency. Then this rocks up.

They can move as much as they like with the times. This is for me and my dc. They're quite happy on the phone.

I assumed data was our best bet but wondered what the best choice was.

OP posts:
DimplesToadfoot · 22/03/2020 22:57

Buy them a tablet and ask the neighbours for their password

I would never normally suggest such a thing but times aren't normal right now, for the same reason I wouldn't normally hand out my wifi password to my neighbours but today I would.

Lockheart · 22/03/2020 23:00

"This is for me and my dc. They're quite happy on the phone."

So do I take it they have a landline? Just stay in touch using that if so, why the need to try to set up internet for them now?

onemouseplace · 22/03/2020 23:01

I'm in a similar situation, parents don't have broadband, and from experience only have painfully slow 3G in their area which doesn't support most websites, so no point in getting them a smartphone/ tablet.

PhilCornwall1 · 23/03/2020 05:57

Just use a telephone, it's going to be less hassle and it works.