Metropol

When the ntl bloke came round, did he actually need access to a computer or did he leave that to you afterwards? I ask because I need to get it installed soon (to get a complete contract) but there's no computer in the house for a while it might make things tricky.

So what does the bloke actually do?

Makes sure you have a wall connection and installs it if not, gives you a modem CD-ROM and, and enough cable to connect the things together.
You're left to do the rest yourself.

Fab. Is it coaxial into the tv socket then, and an ethernet modem?

Pretty much so, yeah.

Fab, and with the first 2 months free - even fabber!

(Less fab is the network for 6 computers sharing it)

Lazy gets. When Telewest do an install, the enginner does everything from running the coax across the house, to installing the ethernet CM and registering it on the network.

And, of course, they're not over £12bn in debt, so they're actually able to provide a decent service (with decent customer support).

Our ntl engineer did everything for us...including being more than happy to take the coaxial all round the house to get it to my bedroom without drilling through millions of walls.

Very nice bloke he was too.

Nothing wrong with ntl unless you have to deal with customer service...but frankly I've dealt with worse and when you book an engineer they're usually here the same day or bright and early the next. Marvellous.

Has anybody got any ideas of being able to have a broadband only connection in non-cabled areas, ie with BT? or are there other providers who'll use BT's lines?

Gareth

Gareth wrote:Has anybody got any ideas of being able to have a broadband only connection in non-cabled areas, ie with BT? or are there other providers who'll use BT's lines?

Gareth

I think the following is correct...

Having an ADSL connection requires a telephone line, which means that you'd have to pay line rental to BT. However, it may be possible to have a broadband connection on a line with reduced line rental (Light User Scheme or incoming calls only - "In Contact Plus"). You'll have to ask BT if you want to know if this possible though.

MarkN wrote:

Gareth wrote:Has anybody got any ideas of being able to have a broadband only connection in non-cabled areas, ie with BT? or are there other providers who'll use BT's lines?

Gareth

I think the following is correct...

Having an ADSL connection requires a telephone line, which means that you'd have to pay line rental to BT. However, it may be possible to have a broadband connection on a line with reduced line rental (Light User Scheme or incoming calls only - "In Contact Plus"). You'll have to ask BT if you want to know if this possible though.

I don't think it as I read somewhere that the reason why you can't have ADSL on a LUS line is not technical, but apparently on the grounds that a person who has a line under the LUS wouldn't be able to afford ADSL, otherwise people who are light phone users or have a BT line installed specifically for ADSL would move onto the LUS thus depriving BT of their revenue.

Oh, I'd like to point out that although you must have a standard BT line to have ADSL, you do not have to take up any of BT's pricey and frankly poor value for money ISP offerings.