24 hour internet

[Monnie]

Anyone out there on BT Openworld or something similar?

Have just given up work and DH is disparing of the monthly internet phone bill, so am thinking of switching to one of these 24 hour access jobbies.

My ISP is currently Freeserve so if anyone is on Freeserve Anytime, some comments from the consumer point of view would be great.

Anybody who is using any other package, I would love your comments too so that I can make an informed decision.

Tx

Emsiewill

What type of cable modem are you trying to install?

I ask because I have been using one for over 18 months now on a PC running the original version of Windows '98 without any problems what so ever.

SimonHoward, it's called ambit, or something like that - it doesn't have a manufacturers name on it, just says "ntlhome". I've had to install different drivers (downloaded from ntl's website), and so it's called a different name on my PC now - USB cable modem 351000. Apparently, they've just introduced this one, and they've had problems with it and Windows 98 fe.
PamT, I was wondering about upgrading to XP or ME - I was looking into it last night, and XP seems to be a bit of a nightmare; I was reading that it doesn't recognise a lot of "older" hardware/drivers (which mine obviously is, being almost 4 years old). My dad has ME, so I may give that a try.
I've learnt a lot while trying to install this ?!! modem, but I'd rather have remained ignorant, and have it working fine!

emsiewill - you've convinced me to stay with my 5 year old pc using Windows 95!!

Emsiewill, I would try the ME version if you can and try loading the cable modem before you put any other software on (printer, scanner, other ISP etc). ME is not too different to 98 so you shouldn't have too many problems getting used to it. Incidently, are you wiping the hard drive before you reload? If you are putting one lot of software on straight on top of the other you might be confusing the computer. DH usually starts from scratch to be sure that he isn't creating conflicts. Also, this might sound silly but have you checked with ntl that they have activated the line for you. If you're on the same system as us, you need to plug it in and then ring them to get it activated which can take 24 hours (longer in our case but that's another story).

The only other thing that I can suggest is that you get a computer expert friend or a local computer engineer to do it for you, at least it will save you the cost of any more phone calls. If it turns out to be a faulty unit get on to ntl's customer services and demand compensation, you might not get money back but they will probably offer you extra services or a credit on your bill.

SueW, £164 for one month!!! I bet you were popular. The ASDL service will seem like peanuts in comparison but I bet the telephone company will be losing out on profits from now on. Funny things these computers aren't they, they can be so temperamental when you want to put something new on. We used to have a scanner which always messed everything up. I'm fortunate that my DH mends computers for his job otherwise I'd be absolutely snookered. I know how to play freecell, surf the net and write letters but that is about the sum total of my computer talents.

Who needs sales when you're saving that amount of money?

Typical

A serious discussion about the internet has devolved to shoe buying.

Better than the topics on ironing and the one that's deteriorated into fart lighting...

Anyway, for the record, I have Telewest Blueyonder and it's been great. It's cut down on the amount of work I do about the house considerably. AOL's unlimited plan was pretty good - about £15 which included the cost of phonecalls.

Typical comment from a man there. And men NEVER gossip about trivialities do they? Just like they NEVER watch Coronation Street or all that soap crap but they still have more idea of who is who and who is sleeping with whoever else than we do!

Sorry SimonHoward, I don't mean it, I know that you are not one of the juvenile thirty-somethings that we are talking about on the 'Had Enough' thread. At least you pull your weight at home.

Emmsiewill, did you ever get that cable modem going?

Oh, PamT, if only! I've only just seen your message of 24 June, so sorry that I've not replied earlier.
The saga continues.....
The version of ME that I have installed is an upgrade (which ntl said would be fine), so just installed it "on top" of everything - all seems to be working fine....except the cable modem (of course). I have got further with it than before - ie it has installed fine, but can get no further than that now - it tries to search for an IP address (I think this is what it's doing, but I'm a bit clueless when it gets this technical), and says something about the DHCP server - I think it means it can't establish a connection with ntl. Before you tell me to call ntl and check they haven't got a problem at their end, I've tried that and their tech helpline is constantly engaged. (5 or 6 times, 20 minutes each time, 1.5p per minute....).
I've seen an advert for a local "Computer Doctor" who does house calls - I think it may be time to call in the professionals. My brother's just moved house, and it's not really top of his priority list, so I think "going private" is the next option.
What's more, the computer doesn't always recognise the modem once it's been turned off and on again and there's something funny going on, cos it keeps freezing, crashing and generally going a bit doolally.
I think I preferred it when I was paying £50 per month in phone charges.....
But now I've started, I WILL NOT GIVE IN!!

Good luck, I hope the service is worth it when you actually get it going. Ours seems to have been really slow for the last few days so we're not too happy at the moment.

Emsiewill

If the modem is searching for a DHCP server and not finding it then you do not have the correct settings in your Network setup.

You need to find out the IP address or name of the DHCP server and manually configure the settings.

It will then find the DHCP server and give you your IP address so that you can surf.

Emsiewill, I hope that made sense to you, it might as well have been arabic to me - I just press the buttons. If it is any consolation, my friend had her cable connection installed on Sunday and is still trying to get her modem going - it doesn't like her pin number and she is sick and tired of being put on hold by ntl too. I bet you will be ready for throwing a party when it finally works.

SimonHoward, I sort of thought it would be something like that, but of course I can only find out that information by talking to ntl. And they seem very reluctant to do that! I'm beginning to think that access to the internet with this cable modem is just a joke invented by ntl 'cos they thought I don't have enough to do.
GRRRRRR.
Got a hangover today, so don't have the energy to try and sort it out.

Emsiewill

Is the cable modem you are trying to install a USB connected one or does it connect to a network card in your PC?

It's connected by the USB port, which is (so I've been told) what causes the problem with Windows 98. They do provide a cable to connect through Ethernet (?), but that would involve me putting something else into my PC (I think?).

Emsiewill

I thought this might be the problem.

I use the other sort of Cable Modem that requires a network card to be put into your PC and it was very easy to set up once I had all the right details.

I do know that the cable companies seem to prefer the USB ones at it means that customers can install the hardware themselves and not have to get another bit of equipment installed. The trouble is I have not heard anything good said about them so far, especially where older PCs are involved.

If I can find anything out I'll post it here and let you know.

Don't know if the following is any help but reading it might help you get better answers from the morons on their helpdesk (I work in IT and my opinion of most helpdesks is very low).

homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/usb.html

www.ntlworld.com/help/manual/100Manual.htm

www.broadband-kb.co.uk/kb.cgi?function=popular

Hope some of this helps.

Emsiewill, my friend is still having trouble with ntl too. Her cable modem is working but won't let her access the net because it won't accept her old pin number but she wasn't issued with a new one. She has tried ringing the helpline but has put the phone down each time after being on hold for anything from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. DH tried to talk her through a few things like taking the dial-up instructions off Control Panel to see if that helped but it didn't. She'd just like to be able to speak to ntl, never mind get some useful information from them.

SimonHoward, I haven't had time to follow up your links yet, but I will, later, I promise! I may well consider a network card if needs be, but I hope this *@!"& cable modem lives up to the effort I'm putting in! I must be fair, and say that the tech people have not been morons; they were all (I've spoken to 3 of them) helpful, patient and did the best they could in the circumstances.
And as PamT points out, I'd even settle for speaking to a moron, rather than listen to ntl's music (on a 2 minute loop) for another hour or so.
Thanks for your input - you don't live anywhere near South Wales do you? You sound like just the sort of person I need to come round & sort this out once and for all. (and wouldn't all your fans on the flirting thread be jealous if I got to meet you?!).