Home Phone Handset & Broadband - Recommendations Needed

[Londonscottish]

Hi All,

I'm just about to move to a new rental property and have noticed there's no phone handset(s). And Idon't yet know if there's any broadband.

- Has anyone bought a phone dock & three handsets recently - if so what make/model/price?

At the moment I am assuming that there's a BT line in and I could pay for broadband on that line (assuming I can wait for many weeks as BT are notoriously slow)

- But if I don't go BT hase anyone gone elsewhere for broadband? All I need it for is a couple of laptops.

 

[corned]

A colleague of mine has a USB dongle from '3' for his broadband. About £10 per month and virtually unlimited.

Does your mobile provider offer anything similar?

 

[Londonscottish]

A colleague of mine has a USB dongle from '3' for his broadband. About £10 per month and virtually unlimited.

Does your mobile provider offer anything similar?

Hi there - my employer gives me a 3G dongle which is a short term fix but slow.

SWMBO has here own laptop and phone - I'll ask her to look into it.

At a push that would get us going.

(as I said earlier BT can be a real nightmare taking weeks and weeks to do something very simple)

 

[Classic_car]

Hi there - my employer gives me a 3G dongle which is a short term fix but slow.

At a push that would get us going.

Do this as a short term measure! BT will more than likely goof it up, from experience (BADx3)... you would be wise to use the dongle whilst you sort out Broadband. With Virgin Cable now, OK ish.

 

[Mr E]

BT were excellent in sorting out the debacle created by another provider - and were very quick too.

If you're moving into a new place they can normally get that sorted very quickly.

WRT phones, have had loads over the years but the Panasonics seem to have been the best. A good balance between price, features and longevity. I have an Audioline upstairs in my office that has great hands-free performance so I've stuck with that.

 

[Cabe]

I have a KX series Answerphone + 2 handsets (bought another)

Panasonic Kxtcd210, 220, 240 Additional Phone Handset: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Got these about 7 or 8 years ago and they are still going strong. I have no hesitation recommending any of the Panasonic systems. They are especially easy to use when the answer phone base unit isn't somewhere useful (our master socket is in the front bedroom) as they offer full functionality from any handset.

As for internets if you have Sky go with them, especially if you are on an LLU exchange (Sky's own service rather than from BT) - http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker - if not I am with VM and never (touches wood) had a major issue with them.

 

[Londonscottish]

Do this as a short term measure! BT will more than likely goof it up, from experience (BADx3)... you would be wise to use the dongle whilst you sort out Broadband. With Virgin Cable now, OK ish.

Yeah - in the past they have taken something like four weeks to add broadband to a new fixed line. Why? I have absolutley no idea.....happened twice though.....

In this case there is hopefully a fixed line in place (waiting confirmation) so the delay may be less if i can get the landlord onto it ASAP.

 

[Londonscottish]

I have a KX series Answerphone + 2 handsets (bought another)

As for internets if you have Sky go with them, especially if you are on an LLU exchange (Sky's own service rather than from BT) - SamKnows - Broadband Availability Checker - if not I am with VM and never (touches wood) had a major issue with them.

Good point - the rental has a Sky box in it - no idea if he's got phone package as well - I've said I want the TV itself out (it's the most enormous thing in the corner of a very small room and looks ridiculous). But it may be easier to keep a basic Sky subscription going if only to get broadband....

When my new house is finished I might just go for a Virgin bundle (phone/broadband/TV) - I assume you can upgrade packaged mid-contract (eg if QPR were to get promotion I might want Sky Sports 1 for the 2010/11 season....)

 

[davidjpowell]

We havea set of these which seem to do the job eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace