alternatives to broadband (UK)?

dialup is driving me nuts

[Duke_of_Url]

I can't get broadband where I am (rural), and am currently living with a distinctly average dialup connection. Are there any alternatives to broadband that I can look at in order to get a speedy connection (satellite?) for similar ££outlay?

tia

DoU

[Smiley]

Some alternatives:

*Multiple dial ups
*ISDN dual channel
*Leased line
*Satellite broadband
*Move office ;)

But they all cost more than broadband. Has the trigger level been set for your area yet?

[Duke_of_Url]

I can't recall the trigger level offhand, but one has been set. Short of getting every cow and sheep in neighbouring fields to register, I fear the likelihood of gettin to the current trig level is low :(

any idea how much Satellite costs?

ta
DoU

[trillianjedi]

Speak to your local authority and suggest a local community 802.11 broadband wireless network.

A T1 line can easily be contended to 200 users.

Try a google search for "community wireless broadband".

TJ

[Duke_of_Url]

thanks both, will have a hunt around see what I can find on the subject

ta

DoU

[Smiley]

>any idea how much Satellite costs?

No, sorry, but even if it costs 5 times as much as normal broadband I think its worth having.

[Duke_of_Url]

smiley, you could well be right! I've had a nosey at community wireless broadband, as suggested by tj, and that looks like a viable alternative as there is *some* local interest here, just not enough for the usual trigger level.

DoU

[trillianjedi]

just not enough for the usual trigger level.

I have heard of local authorities helping out - worth a phone call to your councillor. If they get involved, you'll find the demand will increase (people see it as a real possibility).

TJ

[HarryM]

I have the same problem - and I suspect it will get worse. I also live in a rural area (just about as far south as you can get in the UK) and am with the biggest independent ISP, with a twenty-four hour connection. The trigger level for my little parish exchange is set by BT at a level it will be impossible to meet (of course).

I used to get very fast dialup connections, presumably because the telephone lines were less frequently used than they are in cities. But recently the daytime service has become extremely poor, I suspect because of user growth not being matched by increases in ISP capacity. My guess is that all the investment capital is going into broadband leaving us poor suckers high and dry.

I too am considering satelite, but haven't started looking yet. But isn't one of the problems that it is receive only, and you still need another connection for uploads, emails, etc? Perhaps an ISDN line would be better?

[Iguana]

I recently moved into a more rural area (my previous place got broadband the day after I left). I added my registration about 6 weeks ago and we had reached about 59% of the 150 required. Now we are on 112% and broadband arrives in February!

I've no idea what made so many people suddenly register an interest - maybe it was a notice in the local shop or BT are just asking people about Broadband when you speak to them about other things (and they add you to the numbers if you say you might be interested). But something seems to have changed in the last few weeks so there is hope!

[Duke_of_Url]

Iguana : similar story here, after 5 years of waiting at the previous house they installed it, 2 weeks before we moved out to our current abode :-/

I found a local website for our village (in Cheshire) that is campaigning for bb, so might suggest this community wireless bb to them also as an alternative.
Ideally I'd like quick upload & download times, but if I had to choose one, it'd be a quick download time.

DoU