Broadband

[sammysam]

Please can someone help me-my mum REALLY wants to have broadband aand has tried-when bt etc check the line they say she can but it then never works-we have found out she is at the very end of the line (she is in the sticks in somerset). So i was wandering if mobile broadband would be any good for her? She has quite good mobile reception at her house. Is it any good? I have no idea trying to use her dial up at the weekend made me so and frustrated-it was crazy slow!

No mobile broadband would be equally shite IME. It's getting there but it's still flakey.

However what she needs to do (and we did this because we are also at the end of the line telephonically is ask BT to upgrade the network and enlist support from neighbours. If you get I think it's 300 folks to register their interest in getting broadband from BT they will do the work to make it happen.

ALSO bear in mind the first three weeks of service from BT generally are fairly shite as they are adjusting the lines etc.

There are some very recent developments in mobile broadband so perhaps it is usable now. I agree that it wasn't before.

comparisons and FAQs

whomovedmychocolate-don't think there are 300 people in the area especially not that she could to all want bt's broadband so that is prob not an option .

Greyriverside-thanks-will look at that in a min

Does anyone actually have it or have used it?

I have used mobile internet and in some places (ie central London) it's fine. However, it was totally unpredictable elsewhere. On trains it was particularly shit - if you went near a power cable it failed. There are a lot of them on trainlines you know, something to do with making the trains go.

So it could be ok if used on a PC nowhere near power lines?!

Need to try and work this out by 30th as can get it half price for her before then

There has to be some way to find out reception etc where you want to use it, but I can't find any reference to that. Maybe you could phone one of these companies and get some straightforward advice. I'm sure people don't sign up for a contract on the off chance.

I supppose what you want is:

1. pick a package that's reasonably priced for how much usage you want.

2. you want to know if this package is available in that area (will mostly be yes I suppose)

3. is there any way to test reception or have it as one month only trial perhaps?

Most seem to be either buy the modem or usb stick and pay monthly or get the modem/usb stick free but sign up for 18 months

if she has a mobile phone do they do a combined package if you go with same company

Thanks greyriverside-I'll have to ring today on her behalf (she won't as has even less clue than me and normally gets railroaded!) she is pay as you go but i'm on a contract so was gouing to do it for her at half price.
I suppose a months trial is the only way you'll know for sure!

I'm told (i.e. this is information that I've not checked) that the only network that will let you have a dongle "on trial" are 3. Apparently, if you get a dongle from Carphone Warehouse on the 3 network, they will accept a return within 3 days. If you need a longer trial, then you apparently have 14 days to return it if you order it online (direct from 3, I think, not from Carphone Warehouse?)