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Broadband No Phone Line?

Last post Wed, Sep 03 2008, 12:21 AM by fnarrr. 2 replies.
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  •  Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:15 PM

    Broadband No Phone Line?

    I apologise if this has been asked before, but... Is there any way of getting broadband without having a phone line installed first? I have rang up BT and they said it will be 125quid to have one installed. It's only a rented property and I may only be there 6months so ideally don't want to be paying that kind of money right now. I've had a check on Virgin Media website and apparently cable isn't available in my area. I was just checking if there are any other options?

    Thanks.

    • Post Points: 35
  •  Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:47 PM

    Re: Broadband No Phone Line?

    Mobile broadband.

    It's not as fast or reliable as using a landline but you can carry you "phone line" in your pocket. I use Vodafone at £15 per month for 24 months including the "dongle" (= the phone line!). It's marketed for people with laptops on trains but I use it to connect several PCs at several addresses to the internet (as long as I remember to take the dongle with me). If you are planning to use it at one particular address, check the coverage maps and order it via the internet so that you are covered by the distance selling regulations and you can cancel within a few days if the coverage isn't right at your address. (at one address, I have to use a 1m USB cable to dangle the dongle near the window to get a decent connection - I'm sure the neighbours don't mind :) ).

    All the mobile providers offer mobile broadband but Three have a bad reputation for poor coverage. You can pay as you go for one month at a time on 30 day rolling contracts but then you've got to pay for the dongle.

    Most older properties will have a phone line somewhere but it will cost to get it reconnected plus perhaps £10 (?) per month line rental before you even start talking about broadband.

    • Post Points: 5
  •  Wed, Sep 03 2008, 12:21 AM

    Re: Broadband No Phone Line?

    If you plug in a phone and get dial tone, dial 17070. If you get number and further test options then should be on BT's network with no major fee involved. The Phone Co-op do three month contracts for line rental if it's just a restart which they can do, also The Post Office do line rental with no minimum term and also re-connect "BT" lines.

    You then could go for someone like Newnet who do month long contracts for broadband but there are many others - at the pricier end of the market but worth it.

    • Post Points: 5