Broadband/laptop query for those in the know!

[sandyballs]

I've finally ordered myself a laptop and am now surfing the net (at work!) to sort out broadband. Ntl:telewest seem to be offering a good deal which includes tv/landline/broadband and mobile for £35 a month (our current landline alone is £30 with BT). Does anyone have any experience of NTL/telewest, good or bad?

Also, I intend to be wireless so what else do I need to purchase to set this up or will ntl do that when they install broadband/digital tv etc.

have you checked if you can have it in your area?

Yes, I entered my postcode on their website and it came up ok.

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i've no experience with them but in would presume they'd provide a box for your internet.
Has your laptop got wireless on it?

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If it has CENTRINO installed it will find the router automatically

BUT you must set the router to talk to your one only iyswim

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Thank you all. I will make enquiries about a reuter. Do you think ntl will sell me one when I sign up with them or shall I just go to PC World or somewhere?

ntl do sell them but they're about £99, you can get a router for about £45.

So are there specific ones for specific laptops/systems or is a router simply a router? sorry to sound so thick!!

you need a usb adaptor that plugs into the laptop. there are two different type routers one for cable and one for phone lines. (think not an expert just installed one though). we got a belkin

I use NTL wirelessly (though a mac ) and works good.

Quite a few laptops come equipped with wireless capability so you should check out your spec. Otherwise you need one of these
Belkin USB and then one of these
Belkin router

Belkin is a good brand. Reliable, instructions fairly clear.

Then don't forget to setup the router security and firewall on your laptop. And virus protection as well. Then you should be set

Don't buy a USB wireless thing UNTIL you see that the LAPTOP doesn't have an inbuilt one

MINE has one inside it and has a switch on the side to turn it off/on BUT mine is permenantly on

SO please don't waste your money with the USB

God it's all so complicated isn't it. I think this is why I have put it all off for so long! Really looking forward to surfing mumsnet sitting on the sofa though!

Thanks for replies.

We took this LAPTOP all the way round the world to AUSSIE and NZ in the summer and it worked there without any additional wires or USB thingys

It found the nearest wireless signal or the one from hotels

I would expect a brand new laptop to have wireless capability, I'll check the details.

TBH having just had a quick squint at PC World -- even their cheapest model there was wireless enabled.

nearly all new laptops have wireless on them.

A word of warnign though, cable internet is notoriously difficult to get to work wirelessly. My bil has it, but it often fails and cuts out intermittently. My dp works with someone who has an IT degree and can't get his cable broadband to work wirelessly!

BBand providers don't usually provide wireless routers, only wired ones. Sometimes you can pay to upgrade to a wireless modem with your package.

THanks USA/UK mum and Kelly, that's interesting about cable internet. Might start a new thread and see if there have been lots of problems generally.

sandyballs, we didn't have much trouble setting ours up. We have been happily wireless for about 1.5 yrs now. Let us know if you have probs....