Giving up on wired internet for the house

[RaceDiagnostics]

We were previously using NOW TV internet and phone line which was ~£20/month but we both recently changed our mobile phone contacts and have 160Gb of data in our contracts. I doubt we will ever use that up or anywhere near that so when we move into our new house next week I plan to try just using the mobile hotspots for the computer and iplayer/youtube/netflix etc on the TV.

Anyone else doing this?

 

[MattF]

I run a sim router at home, for internet access. Never bothered having a landline installed.

 

[julianf]

5gb a day?

I don't know what the compression is on internet TV, but a film in 2160 (or whatever it is) can easily run to 10gb.

You might want to see if your current provided can let you know what your existing usage trend is (ie what data you used on your wired setup last month)

 

[Miranda]

There are a great many good value unlimited data deals out there….

 

[ajlelectronics]

I have no choice, we are at the end of a lot of manky copper so get service from 4G via EE. It is a bit variable but usually above 10Mb/s. Sometimes I have seen it at over 50 but not that often.

 

[EM1L4]

I had a 4g router (with roof mounted antenna) for a while while I waited for my broadband to be installed and it was fast but it absolutely eats data if you watch video. You might want to check the T’s and C’s of your mobile contract because they often say that if you use over X data they will dramatically reduce the speed which maybe an issue when watching video. I’ve seen this on giffgaff’s ‘unlimited’ data bundle, you technically have unlimited data but after 80gb you get your speed cut right down…

 

[angellonewolf]

I had a 4g router (with roof mounted antenna) for a while while I waited for my broadband to be installed and it was fast but it absolutely eats data if you watch video. You might want to check the T’s and C’s of your mobile contract because they often say that if you use over X data they will dramatically reduce the speed which maybe an issue when watching video. I’ve seen this on giffgaff’s ‘unlimited’ data bundle, you technically have unlimited data but after 80gb you get your speed cut right down…

and at peak times as well before you even get to any limit

add some also say you are not allowed to teather to laptops etc

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Thanks, I'll try it for a month or so and see how it goes.

 

[MattF]

3 changed their policy on that, a while ago. No restriction on tethering now, & I don't believe they throttle on unlimited, either.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I changed from virgin to Vodafone as their coverage was poor at our new place, and got. 60G contract, Vodafone then offered me a second SIM for my wife with 100G for only another £10 a month. Seemed like a crazy offer that I couldn't refuse.

 

[angellonewolf]

I changed from virgin to Vodafone as their coverage was poor at our new place, and got. 60G contract, Vodafone then offered me a second SIM for my wife with 100G for only another £10 a month. Seemed like a crazy offer that I couldn't refuse.

watch them on this yes a 12m 18m contract at 10 but then its the same price as your when the times up

 

[Red'n'Black]

There are a great many good value unlimited data deals out there….

Yep. Set up a friend of ours that way, wired broadband out in the sticks was useless for two kids trying to do remote schooling during lockdown.

There seemed to be two main sorts of gear on offer, 4G routers with an antenna install on the roof for ££££ or a battery-powered portable-hotspot style, mainly meant for use on the road and no wired Ethernet ports.

Found an old router in the loft and put OpenWRT on it.
Tenner for a 4G USB adapter on ebay.
£35 a month for unlimited data on Giffgaff.

She's only a mile from a 4G mast so putting the router and 4G adapter in the loft works well enough. Very happy with it so far.

 

[PhillipM]

I don't know what your data use is like but I could use that entire allowance in a day or two easy.

 

[MattF]

I don't know what your data use is like but I could use that entire allowance in a day or two easy.

Do you have hairy palms perchance?

 

[PhillipM]

That's my usage the past 10 days on one PC, never mind the laptop/phone/tv

 

[MattF]

View attachment 305101

That's my usage the past 10 days on one PC, never mind the laptop/phone/tv

I'd be surprised if I even came close to that amount over the year.

 

[My Old Landy]

We were thinking the same when we move. I won't be getting a landline that for sure and I am hoping we can dump all the streaming services too!

 

[Dev]

Another option is if you can get an extra sim on your contract which shares your data allowance put it in a 4g router. Some of the 4g routers now can even run VPN clients for your service of choice so everything in the house can use it, which can be handy.

 

[optima21]

I've been using mobile broadband for 10 to 15 years now without a landline. Im with 3 in a 4G area I'm currently on a 20GB a month contract for just over £8 a month, Im thinking of changing that to a 40GB contract for £12 a month which will do me fine as I don't stream tv, I use freeview tv. they also do an £18 a month contract for unlimited data and thats a 24 month contract (if you are already and existing user of thiers).

 

[addjunkie]

We have two 4 g amplifier ariels with built in routers, each sim is an ee buisness data sim so unlimited. Rural area usually get 45 ish down and 25 up, beats the 2.7 down the wires and .7 up.