How do you get your Internet (UK)?

[Gary Sayers]

I've already mentioned how I get my Internet within another thread but thought it may be worth creating a new thread in case anyone wishing to ditch the landline was interested.

Basically, I use a mobile sim modem. And as it's name suggests, it's a modem that uses a mobile phone sim card to connect to the Internet.

It is simple to set up. Just put sim card in the slot and switch on the modem (which runs off mains power). Put the password in your tablet, laptop, etc and you are away. Prior to this, we had sky fibre broadband and in terms of performance, I can't see much difference. We have several devices in use at the same time, as well as streaming YouTube, Netflix, iplayer, etc with no problem.

For the sim card, I use the company called smarty (they use the 3 network) and get unlimited data for £16 per month (this was a uswitch offer, as it is normally £20 per month). You are not tied into any ridiculous 18 or 24 month contract, with it just being 1 month. They are a great company to deal with and very easy to contact on live chat.

Smarty have now gone to 5g (at no extra cost) but my modem will only handle 3 and 4g. I've looked for 5g mobile sim modems but there are none below £300 at the moment. Once they come out with cheaper one's, I will get one, as 5g Internet will make superfast fibre look like its steam driven!

Here's the modem I use:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...OKL5A1OLE&th=1

[Rik Jackman]

I think with the switch to 5G it brings the possibility of dumping fixed line connections for our Broadband/Phone/TV another step closer but it's not there for me quite yet.
I get all my Internet/TV/Landline bundled together at the moment because there are distinct benefits for me in my situation

My supplier is Virgin

• Broadband Speed: 200Mbps download (Only 20Mbps Upload)
• Landline calls: Unlimited UK landline/mobile
• TV: Maxit which basically means loads of HD channels a bit of 4K but also includes BT Sport (MotoGP) and Eurosport (BSB & WSBK) so I can get all my two wheeled action.

Currently costs £53 a month. Whenever the price get's hoiked up I just call up and politely indicate my desire to leave. If they won't budge enough then I just go to BT and vice versa. I've paid between £40 to £60 for pretty much the same package for the last 10 years
On the plus side BT let you keep their PVR box when you leave them so I now have 3 of their YouView PVR's distributed about the house

I'm often tempted to bin the landline but we have 5 handsets dotted around the house and it's in use a lot so it's more convenient than sticking to mobiles, plus it's a family phone rather than someone's dedicated number.

When we are away we tether to our phones but your TP-Link TL-MR6400 looks tidy. I'd need prefer Dual band if I was going to take the jump though.

[Gary Sayers]

Hi Rick, we used to be with Virgin over ten years ago but got sick of losing connection several times a day. Found sky to be much more reliable.

To be honest, part of my motivation for dumping the landline Internet was to stop having to go through the whole negotiation thing with sky everyime the contract was due for renewal. They tie everything together with packages for tv, Internet and phone and it gets too complicated for me.

When I 'cut the cord' with sky, I also purchased a manhattan T2R recording box, which, as far as I can tell, is virtually identical to a sky+ box in terms of functions and once purchased, is free to use (sky wanted £10 per month to enable record and other functions if not subscribed to any package).

Have to say, I would balk at £53 per month but I have no idea if that is a good price for what you are getting (I assume it is). Paid £20 for an offer with Eurosport for one year of their streaming service. As for other TV, we find there is more than enough for us without needing a sky or virgin package and we have Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and Apple TV courtesy of our daughter's streaming packages allowing 'second screen' (although we hardly ever use them).

If said daughter was still living at home, she would be nagging me for sky TV and faster Internet, so in the end, it all depends what suits you and other household members.

[Rik Jackman]

I agree the negotiation bit is a pain and to be honest a big chunk of my monthly bill is the BT Sport add on. It makes sense for me though as buying a MotoGP (200€/year) and Eurosport (£70/year) separately would cost me roughly £20 month on their own for both.