BT and public WiFi

[jdal]

Re: BT and public WiFi

Your own wi-fi network takes precedence over the FON slice of your bandwidth which is not included in your monthly limit (if you have one). If you opt out you won't be able to use other people's FON signals or BT WiFi. If you haven't already got it there's a BT WiFi app which logs you in automatically if it finds a BT signal. I think it's a great system and enough to keep me with BT (as well as the fiver a month discount on BT Mobile!).

Yes, I'm aware of all that, it was one of the reasons I went with BT. However, for my usage of mobile internet and the improved 4G coverage up north, I'm having a rethink. It's a tough one though, I've got Infinity Plus and I get the contracted speeds - If I switch I may not get those speeds and I don't see you can tell until it's installed. Plus, from what I hear, the customer service from BT's competitors is every bit as awful as BT's.

[Otto]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I have BT Infinity Plus too. I've no experience of BT's customer service as I've never needed it - that in itself is a plus! EE's customer service (sic) however was appalling although their network coverage and reliability were good, so when I found that BT Mobile use the EE network I had no hesitation about changing to BT. I don't regret it for one moment!

[jdal]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I have BT Infinity Plus too. I've no experience of BT's customer service as I've never needed it - that in itself is a plus! EE's customer service (sic) however was appalling although their network coverage and reliability were good, so when I found that BT Mobile use the EE network I had no hesitation about changing to BT. I don't regret it for one moment!

I agree that BT is a reliable service, we've never had an outage.

Except for an appalling series of blunders they made whilst moving house, compounded by totally useless service reps - right up to the alleged customer services manager I was eventually assigned to. In a nutshell we were in the process of a very difficult and stressful house sale negotiation and I had to put an address switch back 6 weeks. BT still cut off our old line and they refused to reconnect for 2 weeks. I was on mobile phones to conduct the whole bloody exercise. They then did it again, twice, after we had moved. So all in all 6 weeks without internet when I most needed it. I eventually got a reduced rate for this year to go with the hundreds of insincere apologies. Apparently I was lucky, I'm told you can't even get through to a rep with other providers.

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: BT and public WiFi

Could be wrong of course but I think jdal meant his mobile phone connects to some blokes router down the street, instead of his own.

John

Mobile phones and tablets will both try to connect to any available network, even if credentials are not valid. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for this. By default my android phone and Apple iPad/iPod will connect to one of our home access points, but there have been occasions were they have tried to connect to a neighbours BT FON access point for no obvious reason. Oddly enough this has usually been a distant neighbour with a weak signal rather than a nearby neighbour with a stronger signal.

There is an option on my iPad/iPod where the device asks permission to change WiFi access point, but I found this created more hassle than it saved so I switched it off.

Android devices are quite good at switching between valid access points without any user input, but IOS does not do this (or does not do it as well) so I often find that I have to intervene manually when moving around the house.

Laptops are little different. In the absence of a home WiFi connection my windows 8.1 laptop will usually try to connect to an alternative WAP, which may well be a neighbours BT FON connection, but it won't do this as long as it has a good connection to one of our home WAP's.

[Otto]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I have a friend who had terrible trouble getting a BT business line to his shop, they took nearly a year to sort it all out. I also experienced a lengthy delay switching service when I moved to this house despite there already being a line connected. They agreed to pay for my mobile calls and redirection fees during that time. It seems to be their "hardware" division which causes the most issues. Perhaps I'm fortunate that I've never had to call them about my broadband service, except to negotiate the price or a renewal. Recently they doubled my free BT Cloud space to 1TB without me asking, "for being a loyal customer". Now that is unusual among utility companies!

[KeithL]

Re: BT and public WiFi

After having our AOL broadband service changed to the new owners, Talk Talk we also had appalling service, and they even changed our land line provider from BT to Talk Talk without our knowledge or permission.

Like jdal we spent ages trying to get the matters resolved. We eventually pulled the plug and went to Sky Broadband. I can't compare or comment about super fast speeds etc. with any other company than Talk Talk, as we do not have access to cable or fibre. What I get from Sky is double the speed from Talk Talk however and perfectly adequate for my needs.

What I can say is that Sky Broadband Service Staff were brilliant throughout the changeover, seem to be all based in the UK, and English being their first language. They were the most helpful efficient people I've had the pleasure to deal with and I can't praise them enough.

Regards,

John

[drmarkf]

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: BT and public WiFi

[drmarkf]

Re: BT and public WiFi

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I like the Three deal because they provide good coverage (better than most I think), with fast data speeds and the ability to roam abroad at no extra cost.

I did have a Vodafone data SIM at one point but found the availability of fast data (even 3G) was very limited.

Most operators are keen to sign users up to monthly payment plans for obvious reasons. Vodafone in particular really don't like PAYG and treat their PAYG customers with contempt.

The Three data SIMS can be bought in shops or online.

[Otto]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I was on EE (Orange) PAYG and they were contemptuous too! For BT Broadband customers the fiver-a-month SIM-only package is fine, I rarely get anywhere near the 500MB and 400 minutes.

[Jim Ford]

Re: BT and public WiFi

I like the Three deal because they provide good coverage (better than most I think), with fast data speeds and the ability to roam abroad at no extra cost.

I tried a Three SIM, but couldn't get a signal in the house, and had to go outside in the road for reception. Same with Virgin. The only providers I'm able to receive are O2 (for Giffgaff) and Vodaphone. I don't know why reception is poor - the house seems to be in a 'dead spot', though here are plenty of masts around.

Jim

[DerekW]

Re: BT and public WiFi

A quick Google (or DuckDuckGo) will give you a range of websites that show a map of the mobile phone masks, which companies are using them and in some cases the coverage.

[OM USer]

Re: BT and public WiFi

There is no commercial incentive to share masts. Masts are erected by the network providers and are used as a monopolistic control to encourage you to use their services over those of other providers. In addition if masts were shared there would be an almighty wrangle over how much each party in the bargain would contribute to the cost of erection and maintenance not to mention the risk of "poaching" customers. I'm not in favour but that is how market forces work.

[DerekW]

Re: BT and public WiFi

See
http://www.phonemastcompany.co.uk/index.php

for a way to share masts.