Broadband Only

[bainbrig]

We want to buy a broadband-only package for a pal.

He is old, and a techno-phobe, so we’re thinking of just setting up wi-fi in his home, then getting him to use an ipad (internet, email).

He’s on BT phone and doesn’t want to change; he watches Freeview tele; he uses an antique word-processor which he’s not interested in attaching to the www.

So what packages are available?

Ta.

BB

[Eleena]

Some comparisons here Bain ..
https://www.cable.co.uk/broadband/broadband-only-deals/

[Eleena]

Apparently Virgin can provide broadband without a phone line .. you said he wishes to stay with BT. Not sure how it works.

[bainbrig]

Blimey, they are dearer than we thought.He’d probably rather have the twenty quid a month for beer money!

But many thanks for that link - very handy.

[4candles]

No doubt there are others, but you can have Plusnet broadband while retaining BT for the phone.

[chanel5]

How I wish I had pals like you. I too am old, and a techno-phobe. I salute you.

[bainbrig]

Hello chanel5. Our only advantage is that we are old/etc but NOT technophobes, having worked with the darned stuff for the latter part of our working lives. Whether we can persuade our mate Tommy to sign up to the digital age is another matter - and he would LOVE Googling! Nowt wrong with his brain...

BB

[Etch]

BB, an alternative to a landline/cable package would be to use a 3G dongle, either plugged directly into a laptop or into a portable router. See the discussion here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Electronics/Question1648119.html

I have two TP-Link TL-MR3020 routers and they work well with both my 3G dongles

[hereIam]

Ditto to 4candles.

[bainbrig]

Etch, thanks, but doesn’t that mean Tom would either need a laptop or a router?

[Etch]

For an "old technophobe" I was thinking that a laptop, with its physical keyboard, would be better than a touch-sensitive device like an iPad. I've had a look and it is possible to get a "WiFi & Cellular" iPad, but they're quite expensive. For a "WiFi only" device (iPad/tablet/laptop) I would suggest something like the Huawei E5330 mobile internet hotspot:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-E5330-Unlocked-Networks-Configuration-White-Device-Only/dp/B00INXBW3U

This would require a SIM card, which could be pay-as-you-go for a trial period, converting to some other arrangement later on

[bainbrig]

Thanks etch. I do have a spare wifi ipad which he can have, and I think 1-fingered typing is probably fast enough for him! But I will look into your suggestions.

B