Neighbours broadband

[FawnFrenchieMum]

Would this be a neighbourly favour or CF to ask?
We are moving broadband providers, the new one has disconnected today and they are coming tomorrow 8-1 to fit the new one. I have to be at home for this to happen.
I’ve just had a meeting drop into my calendars that I can’t really get out of so was thinking of knocking next door and asking if they would mind me connecting to theirs just for the morning.
Background - next door is too elderly ladies. We smile and say hello if we see each other but it’s rare we do. They don’t go out much at all. Have lots of other neighbours on the street that we are on much friendly terms with who I wouldn’t think twice to ask, unfortunately their connections wouldn’t reach.

YABU - Don’t even think about asking CF
YANBU - Of course you ask, why wouldn’t you?

I think it's ok to ask. I'd be happy to let you use my broadband in those circumstances.

Can you do it from your phone, or do you have bad coverage?

No, use your phones hotspot or go to somewhere with WiFi

Use your hotspot or go to the office. The neighbours might not have unlimited internet to support video meetings.

Use your phones hotspot?

I would hotspot off my phone first.

Tether to your phone

If think you were a CF and would say no.

*I’d

I would t do it, they'd need to change their password once you'd finished for obvious reasons and it's an arse logging everything back in with new password.

Smart tv
Ovens
Hone connect
Laptop
Phones
iPad
Nest

Blah blah

Too much

Should say wouldn't do it

I would let you. Lounge the assumption from others about phone hot spots, silver places don't have good enough signal. I'm sitting in the middle of a village with absolutely no signal on my phone.

I wouldn't want to put them on the spot like this. It could cause awkwardness if they say no. Just get enough data to last you until yours is fixed.

Our router went a couple of months ago. I still haven't got round to sorting it as I am using my phone as a hot spot. It can cope with Alexa, TV streaming and zoom calls. Just as reliable as the broadband was.

Yes agreed, it's not fair to ask to change password and they may have a guest option (I do) but may not.
Hotspotting off phone or just dialling in from phone should be fine.
Maybe you should have booked a day's leave rather than working from home without any connectivity ?

Ask them to move the meeting or connect via a mobile. Dont ask next door

I’d have no problem doing this and I’d just change my WiFi password later that day.

However, I’d use my hotspot before asking my neighbour. 4/5g will easily support a call.

Ok, seems the consensus is no. I will try my phone hot spot (plenty of data there so no issues just not convinced it will support a video call). I have to be in the house for them to fit it so can’t go to the office.

This!

Purely because so many people are saying no - is there a risk to letting someone use your WiFi? I’m not super tech risk savvy. It feels like an easy favour but possibly I’m being naive? Thanks!

You're a better person than me, because having to change the passwords on my WiFi enabled items would irritate me.

Yes. You are liable for any illegal activity that takes place on your WiFi. Eg illegal downloading/torrenting etc.

I wouldn't do this. If they are tech save they will be hesitant to let you in to their network if theybthen have to change everything after. If they aren't they will be nervous of what could happen.

Use your phone. J have had to do this a few times. Video normally fine but worst case I say on call that I am having broadband issues so will ask if we can turn off cameras. Also, I have a vague idea (not sure it's roght) that foung the call from the phone will be better than using a laptop.

Yes because computers on the network can "see" each other (typically on a home network people don't set up extra controls) and so if you let people use it then they can potentially access your data also they could use it over and over again if the password wasn't changed (and if they were doing illegal things then it could cause problems for you) and if you change the password then it's a PITA to sort out with peripherals.

@FawnFrenchieMum if you use Teams make sure you're on the latest version, it's less bandwidth heavy. 4G generally good enough for a Teams call but switch off incoming video if it's laggy (before switching off your video which can also help). Make sure your phone isn't doing lots of background data updates (like syncing Instagram etc) and make sure your laptop isn't doing lots either (like Outlook) so just have Teams open and nothing else. You should be fine

On a related note, is it possible to create "guest" access for broadband? As the dc are getting older we have so many kids asking to log on. I don't really mind but it does occur to me that I should probably be keeping my work accessibility separate.

This, personally I wouldn’t ask