View Full Version : Broadband without a phoneline
Knipples
20-05-2009, 19:41
Is there such a thing, and if so how cheap is it?
I know theres the dongle things, but how reliable are they, and how much are you able to download on them? I dont download a lot now, but I dont have a limit on my current Tiscali broadband set up. When I move in July though, my parents have Virgin Media, but they said they dont want me downloading lots via it (and I dont think they have it set up for downloading - not agreeing with that sort of thing blah blah)
Is there anything I could get, that would let me still download stuff in the same way I do now?
Cable or 3G are the only realistic ones. Satellite still requires a means to get the data to the provider. In the US you can also get WIMAX services in some places, but they don't seem popular over here.
You can of course have a phone line and cable at the same time, but it's not a cheap option.
Knipples
20-05-2009, 19:47
They also wouldnt be happy about me putting a seperate phone line in I dont think, which is the other reason for me asking this question.
Kell_ee001
20-05-2009, 19:53
How about getting them to up the Virgin package and offering to pay the extra?
When I move in July though, my parents have Virgin Media, but they said they dont want me downloading lots via it (and I dont think they have it set up for downloading - not agreeing with that sort of thing blah blah)
Is there anything I could get, that would let me still download stuff in the same way I do now?
I don't see how a broadband service could not be set up for downloading. It's a broadband link, traffic flows down it :confused:
Are they on cable or ADSL? Either way, I don't think that they'd even notice the traffic you're adding to their connection.
Kell, good suggestion. Does rather depend on the job situation though. :(
Feek, I'd guess at cable, and given Virgin's desire to cap the hell out of the cheaper options, I can understand the concern. Non-cable Virgin is even worse.
Feek, it's cable, and given Virgin's desire to cap the hell out of the cheaper options, I can understand the concern.
In that case... This *points downward*
How about getting them to up the Virgin package and offering to pay the extra?
Knipples
20-05-2009, 19:58
Are they on cable or ADSL? Either way, I don't think that they'd even notice the traffic you're adding to their connection.
They have cable. Thing is I know the setup I have now works (I have a wireless router that does all my downloading internet stuff, but obviously thats via my broadband contract here) My puter has the capability to detect wireless networks itself (and I know my Mum for example doesnt have any wires when she uses the laptop she has there) so there must be a wireless network in the house.
I guess im worried about the change, and its been one of the things keeping me awake at night so I wanted to ask about my options. God that sounds lame I know. I havent lived there for 5 years and everythings changed since I left. Then we all just used one PC and had to share.
So is it the bandwidth or the connection you're worried about? Connection is easy - hang a wireless non-DSL router off the modem. You may have to reboot the modem a few times to get it to behave, but I think that's it. I don't think the MAC address issues that used to exist are so much of a problem nowadays.
Bandwidth is another problem, best solved by offering to cover the cost of a package upgrade.
Knipples
20-05-2009, 20:06
So is it the bandwidth or the connection you're worried about? Connection is easy - hang a wireless non-DSL router off the modem. You may have to reboot the modem a few times to get it to behave, but I think that's it. I don't think the MAC address issues that used to exist are so much of a problem nowadays.
Mark, in the nicest possible way, can I have it again in English because I dont understand a lot of the technical side of things, I know the setup I have now, but wouldnt have a clue how to change it. What do I need to do?
:)
No problem, sorry for getting geeky on you. Can I just confirm it's the connection issue you need sorting then.
Knipples
20-05-2009, 20:22
No problem, sorry for getting geeky on you. Can I just confirm it's the connection issue you need sorting then.
I want to be able to keep downloading the amount I do now. I presume the speed isnt an issue because they have cable. I dont want them harassing me because they end up getting snotty letters due to me upping their bandwidth suddenly, and I want to be able to sit in my bedroom and use my computer in there (where there is no phone line)
How much do you tend to download Knip? And do you know what speed they're on at the moment?
I only ask as we've never received a complaint letter despite me often downloading quite large amounts per month. We started on 1mb but since then they've upgraded us for free to about 10mb now for the same cost, but still never had a problem :)
Knipples
20-05-2009, 20:31
Its not loads and loads, I just worry virgin might object if the household suddenly goes from pretty much no downloading (they only really use it for web browsing - I doubt they would know how to borrow an album or a film for example) to me downloading probably about 5 gigs worth of stuff a month.
I download songs pretty much weekly, and about an album a month, and half a dozen films/tv progs from my newsgroup. (I dont know what the speed is sorry)
Oooooh thats another question, is my newgroup account linked to my IP address, and will I need to do anything when my IP address changes to ensure that all runs smoothly?
Right, OK then, both issues.
1) You need a wireless router, but not one that plugs in to your phone line (which I'd assume is what you have now). It sounds like your rents already have one, but if not, that's what is needed. It'll probably say Cable in the name, or at least it won't say DSL/ADSL.
If you parents already have one, you're done and can skip this part. If not, when you've got one, power off the Virgin box, connect the router into the back, power back on. You'll need a Virgin expert to confirm that this is all that it needs because I've never been on a cable network.
As for the bandwidth. Virgin don't generally send snotty letters these days. Instead, they cap bandwidth.
Do you know how much bandwidth you use (roughly)? Some ISPs provide this, or you may need software to tell you. Ask your parents what bandwidth package they're on, and then look at the table here and see how they compare:
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/traffic.html
If you go over the 'Threshold' at the times indicated, your connection will slow down (by the amount 'Throttled'). If you do that a lot, the best choice is to upgrade. I doubt Virgin will complain unless you go over the Threshold a lot.
sorry for getting geeky on you
I find you can often just wipe it off with no ill effects. ;D
Its not loads and loads, I just worry virgin might object if the household suddenly goes from pretty much no downloading (they only really use it for web browsing - I doubt they would know how to borrow an album or a film for example) to me downloading probably about 5 gigs worth of stuff a month.
I download songs pretty much weekly, and about an album a month, and half a dozen films/tv progs from my newsgroup. (I dont know what the speed is sorry)
Oooooh thats another question, is my newgroup account linked to my IP address, and will I need to do anything when my IP address changes to ensure that all runs smoothly?
Can't see it being a problem. When I moved back from Stafford it would have changed quite drastically and never had a letter :) And that would be from regular net browsing to probably 20-25gb a month at the time!
Newsgroup access won't be affected (assuming it's not your ISP newsgroup account, I'm guessing it's easynews or something) at all :)
Knipples
20-05-2009, 20:39
Yes its an Easynews account Jen. Thanks for clearing that up.
Thankyou Mark, understand it all now.
So theres nothing I can get or do that would allow me to have my own internet access within the house, short of buying a dongle and doing it that way?
NokkonWud
20-05-2009, 20:39
You're worrying much more than is necessary. If they're already wireless then there is no issue, your PC will pick it up and connect. Nothing else needs doing.
Virgin won't worry about a spike in the downloads, they expect downloads on broadband. When I was with Virgin I never had a single problem with them contacting me and I would sometimes download close to 100gb in a month.
The only issue you may incur is if they are capped, in which case, contact Virgin, ask for a better package and it will all be done instantly for you for a little extra money, which you can cover.
Knipples
20-05-2009, 20:40
You're worrying much more than is necessary.
Im sure I am, it just seems to be something I do about everything lately, probably due to the complete instability in my life right now, but thats another story.
:)
Im sure I am, it just seems to be something I do about everything lately, probably due to the complete instability in my life right now, but thats another story.
:)
Oh I know that feeling far too well! Try not to worry though :) In my experience, Virgin have been pretty calm about this sort of thing.
Its not loads and loads, I just worry virgin might object if the household suddenly goes from pretty much no downloading (they only really use it for web browsing - I doubt they would know how to borrow an album or a film for example) to me downloading probably about 5 gigs worth of stuff a month.
I download songs pretty much weekly, and about an album a month, and half a dozen films/tv progs from my newsgroup. (I dont know what the speed is sorry)
To be honest, unless you're breaching Virgin's fair usage policy they can't say a thing. The connection is paid for, whether you're using 1% of it or 75% of it. If it suddenly goes up, they might notice, but they certainly can't complain and ask you to "go back to barely using it please" :)
Oooooh thats another question, is my newgroup account linked to my IP address, and will I need to do anything when my IP address changes to ensure that all runs smoothly?
I doubt it, my Giganews account is just username and password related. I can get access to usenet via any machine/program as long as I'm logged in through my account.
Easynews absolutely, definitely, positively isn't IP tied. Otherwise I'd not have been able to 'borrow' Desmo's account (briefly - I'll get my own if I need one again). You're not really supposed to do that, so they don't like it if you (a) use two IP addresses at the same time, or (b) change IP addresses a lot. Neither of those should be an issue.
Del Lardo
20-05-2009, 21:26
Put it this way, I've downloaded over 150GB/month for the last few months and Virgin have yet to send an assassination team out to get me so you should be fine. If you are really worried then do your downloading between midnight-7am when they turn the caps off.
If your Mum surfs wirelessly then you will just need to get your computer setup on their Wireless router. Virgin provide them free of charge to all their BB customers now so I'd be amazed if they didn't use that one.
The only problem you may have is if your parents can't remember their wireless key but you can find that out in 5 minutes by asking for help on here (the routers all use a standard username/password).
Knipples
20-05-2009, 21:42
The only problem you may have is if your parents can't remember their wireless key but you can find that out in 5 minutes by asking for help on here (the routers all use a standard username/password).
Thankyou for that, will remember it when it comes to accessing their network.
:)
Kell_ee001
20-05-2009, 21:46
I find you can often just wipe it off with no ill effects. ;D
Eugh!
;D
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