A week without broadband

FredOnline · 6 Apr 2019, 04:49 PM

Well, a week and a day, but who's counting?

I am!

A week ago yesterday (Friday), a day off work, and things to do - and that included various things I needed to check out/update etc on the internet.

But alas, there's a red light on my router where normally it's blue. Check out all the connections, reboot etc - nothing.

Sent a tweet from my smartphone to my broadband provider asking if any problems in my post (zip) code area, but nothing reported.

Did some more checking, then picked up the land line 'phone to call the provider - result: nothing, line is dead!

Where would I be without my smartphone!

Using it as a hotspot (my account allows tethering) I logged into my account and reported the problem.

After much to-ing and fro-ing, still no engineer has actually attended to my house to check out the line fault!

Frustrating, or what?

Using mobile data via the hotspot on my smartphone, I have managed the usual day-to-day stuff I use the internet for, but . . .

I have a NOW TV monthly entertainment pass (streaming TV via the internet) that was due for renewal tomorrow, but I've cancelled that - I've lost a week already so not paying out for a service I currently cannot use.

The same applies to catch-up TV (BBC iPlayer, etc) - I'm limited to what's showing on Freeview.

Now my Android smartphone wants to update (March 2019 security update = 205.8 MB), and my new large screen AIO PC keeps wanting to do the dreaded Windows Update!

I see my data allowance rapidly going down (my data plan is not unlimited), so I'm back on my Linux Mint laptop - I can at least control there when and what to update.

I have taken for granted that I have an unlimited and working broadband, and it takes something like this to realise how dependent I have become on something that is usually always available.

Note: I composed this in the text editor on my Linux Mint laptop, then connected to the hotspot and copy/pasted it into my post - hopefully saving data!

janusz · 6 Apr 2019, 05:15 PM

Don't you have a neighbour with an unsecured WiFi?

FredOnline · 6 Apr 2019, 05:21 PM

Nope, checked.

I suppose I could use other free WiFi (Macdonald's, ASDA, etc) but too much hassle = lazy!

TenFour · 6 Apr 2019, 08:20 PM

A few months ago I moved into a temporary residence without broadband and I have been living without data except via my cellphone. I have found it surprisingly enjoyable! Since I have no option of watching television, I don't, and I haven't missed it in the least. I now potter about the kitchen listening to NPR on the radio, or I sometimes read the actual physical newspaper (horrors!). I do have a Pixelbook which tethers very easily to my Pixel phone, and I have an unlimited plan on the phone. Plus I pay a bit extra for additional high-speed tethering. Also, I have wifi at work so that limits my data use during work days and I could download big updates there if I needed to. However, I've found that Android and Chrome updates are modest enough in size to work via the phone tether. All in all, I think it is a glimpse of what the future may be like with broadband everywhere, and hopefully reasonably priced. By the way, it makes going to an occasional movie at the theater an exciting evening out again! All in all, I think it makes my life a bit calmer not having an infinite pipe of media focused on me at all times.

Bamb0 · 7 Apr 2019, 03:42 PM

Wow I hope things get straigtenend out s00n Freddy

alexu2007 · 18 Apr 2019, 06:26 PM

I am now in the same situation. I will have to stay for 2 weeks in a small remote village, in an old house with no cable, no phone and no internet (its my family's house but nobody has lived there in the last 10 years).

I will use my mobile phone as hotspot, I have a plan with unlimited 4G internet from Telekom (it costs me 16 euros every month with unlimited minutes), the only problem is that for video streaming (Netflix, HBO GO, Youtube) the speed is reduced and it works only at 480p SD resolution. For everything else the speed is normal.

I also have a router that can use a mobile sim card and I got a prepay sim from Vodafone, it costs me 10 euros and I get 100 Gb 4G and I can recharge it whenever I need.

For TV I have Horizon Go. this is a streaming service from UPC that allows me to watch the same tv programs I have on cable at home. The streaming is SD quality but thats enough for me, it's ok for my laptop display. Also Netflix, HBO GO and youtube, I should be ok

6 Apr 2019, 04:49 PM	#1
FredOnline The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,616	A week without broadband Well, a week and a day, but who's counting? I am! A week ago yesterday (Friday), a day off work, and things to do - and that included various things I needed to check out/update etc on the internet. But alas, there's a red light on my router where normally it's blue. Check out all the connections, reboot etc - nothing. Sent a tweet from my smartphone to my broadband provider asking if any problems in my post (zip) code area, but nothing reported. Did some more checking, then picked up the land line 'phone to call the provider - result: nothing, line is dead! Where would I be without my smartphone! Using it as a hotspot (my account allows tethering) I logged into my account and reported the problem. After much to-ing and fro-ing, still no engineer has actually attended to my house to check out the line fault! Frustrating, or what? Using mobile data via the hotspot on my smartphone, I have managed the usual day-to-day stuff I use the internet for, but . . . I have a NOW TV monthly entertainment pass (streaming TV via the internet) that was due for renewal tomorrow, but I've cancelled that - I've lost a week already so not paying out for a service I currently cannot use. The same applies to catch-up TV (BBC iPlayer, etc) - I'm limited to what's showing on Freeview. Now my Android smartphone wants to update (March 2019 security update = 205.8 MB), and my new large screen AIO PC keeps wanting to do the dreaded Windows Update! I see my data allowance rapidly going down (my data plan is not unlimited), so I'm back on my Linux Mint laptop - I can at least control there when and what to update. I have taken for granted that I have an unlimited and working broadband, and it takes something like this to realise how dependent I have become on something that is usually always available. Note: I composed this in the text editor on my Linux Mint laptop, then connected to the hotspot and copy/pasted it into my post - hopefully saving data!

6 Apr 2019, 05:15 PM	#2
janusz The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU Posts: 4,943	Don't you have a neighbour with an unsecured WiFi?

6 Apr 2019, 05:21 PM	#3
FredOnline The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,616	Nope, checked. I suppose I could use other free WiFi (Macdonald's, ASDA, etc) but too much hassle = lazy!

6 Apr 2019, 08:20 PM	#4
TenFour Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 1,722	A few months ago I moved into a temporary residence without broadband and I have been living without data except via my cellphone. I have found it surprisingly enjoyable! Since I have no option of watching television, I don't, and I haven't missed it in the least. I now potter about the kitchen listening to NPR on the radio, or I sometimes read the actual physical newspaper (horrors!). I do have a Pixelbook which tethers very easily to my Pixel phone, and I have an unlimited plan on the phone. Plus I pay a bit extra for additional high-speed tethering. Also, I have wifi at work so that limits my data use during work days and I could download big updates there if I needed to. However, I've found that Android and Chrome updates are modest enough in size to work via the phone tether. All in all, I think it is a glimpse of what the future may be like with broadband everywhere, and hopefully reasonably priced. By the way, it makes going to an occasional movie at the theater an exciting evening out again! All in all, I think it makes my life a bit calmer not having an infinite pipe of media focused on me at all times.

7 Apr 2019, 03:42 PM	#5
Bamb0 Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,868	Wow I hope things get straigtenend out s00n Freddy

18 Apr 2019, 06:26 PM	#6
alexu2007 Essential Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	I am now in the same situation. I will have to stay for 2 weeks in a small remote village, in an old house with no cable, no phone and no internet (its my family's house but nobody has lived there in the last 10 years). I will use my mobile phone as hotspot, I have a plan with unlimited 4G internet from Telekom (it costs me 16 euros every month with unlimited minutes), the only problem is that for video streaming (Netflix, HBO GO, Youtube) the speed is reduced and it works only at 480p SD resolution. For everything else the speed is normal. I also have a router that can use a mobile sim card and I got a prepay sim from Vodafone, it costs me 10 euros and I get 100 Gb 4G and I can recharge it whenever I need. For TV I have Horizon Go. this is a streaming service from UPC that allows me to watch the same tv programs I have on cable at home. The streaming is SD quality but thats enough for me, it's ok for my laptop display. Also Netflix, HBO GO and youtube, I should be ok