[Technology] Have you changed your internet router?

[Bold Seagull]

Yes the Virgin hub thing was diabolical at handling multiple devices streaming at once. Basically during lockdown when the kids were home schooling and wife & I were working from home the wifi was utter pants. So went with a TP-Link Deco mesh (which was on offer at the time) and set my router into "modem" mode. Have had a much better wifi experience ever since.

Same here. The Deco app is also great for settings and monitoring the network.

 

[Bodian]

My friend with BT also received a new one. There's a socket to plug your landline in to, so you can carry on using your phone. Otherwise, soon it won't work, as the landlines are going digital, and the phone now works through the router, rather than in the old BT socket.

And doesn't work when you have a power cut.

 

[Jack Straw]

And doesn't work when you have a power cut.

Ah, that's a thought.

 

[Bodian]

Ah, that's a thought.

But I don't think we're actually going to get a choice. They have some special phones for the elderly who don't have mobiles, but the batteries apparently don't last hugely long.

 

[happypig]

And doesn't work when you have a power cut.

You can buy a small UPS to power the ONT/Router when the power goes off if you're that bothered (https://upscentre.co.uk/onlinestore...48YJXLorEO38ChwsWYKEbUy4J6wJevhf1yjiBQg1AVq9I )

 

[Sea Cider]

Probably better off moving to full fibre if you can. Just moved to Trooli and it is astonishingly quick

 

[Bodian]

You can buy a small UPS to power the ONT/Router when the power goes off if you're that bothered (https://upscentre.co.uk/onlinestore...48YJXLorEO38ChwsWYKEbUy4J6wJevhf1yjiBQg1AVq9I )

Thanks - that looks interesting. However, the ones advertised there only seem to last for an hour or two? I might do some more research for my 85 and 90 year old neighbours who don't currently even have broadband / internet and are indeed a little concerned by the upcoming change.

 

[Blinkers]

My setup is a bit more complicated than your average home user. TLDR version, yes I have.

My VM router is set to ‘modem mode’ and is currently connected to a Ubiquiti UniFi ecosystem. When I moved into my house and had the floorboards up and an electrician in, I took the opportunity to put a couple of network ports into each room leading back to a patching cabinet in the cupboard under the stairs. VM -> UniFi Gateway Lite -> UniFi Standard 16 Port PoE Switch. WiFi provided by UniFi U6 LR access point. All managed by their G2 Plus Cloud Key. A UniFi 8 port switch in my office hanging off the 16 port switch because I work in IT and the 4 network ports that I originally put in my office aren’t enough! Previously, I’ve used high end LinkSys routers and Cisco switches. All have been better for me and my family than VMs consumer router. The UniFi kit can support VPNs.

 

[Han Solo]

My setup is a bit more complicated than your average home user. TLDR version, yes I have.

My VM router is set to ‘modem mode’ and is currently connected to a Ubiquiti UniFi ecosystem. When I moved into my house and had the floorboards up and an electrician in, I took the opportunity to put a couple of network ports into each room leading back to a patching cabinet in the cupboard under the stairs. VM -> UniFi Gateway Lite -> UniFi Standard 16 Port PoE Switch. WiFi provided by UniFi U6 LR access point. All managed by their G2 Plus Cloud Key. A UniFi 8 port switch in my office hanging off the 16 port switch because I work in IT and the 4 network ports that I originally put in my office aren’t enough! Previously, I’ve used high end LinkSys routers and Cisco switches. All have been better for me and my family than VMs consumer router. The UniFi kit can support VPNs.

Ὦ, ναί, πάντα ταῦτα παντάπασι μανθάνω· μεγάλα πράγματα. Καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σοί ἐστιν, ἄνθρωπε, τάχα.

 

[happypig]

Thanks - that looks interesting. However, the ones advertised there only seem to last for an hour or two? I might do some more research for my 85 and 90 year old neighbours who don't currently even have broadband / internet and are indeed a little concerned by the upcoming change.

How often do you get a power cut ? How often do you need to call 999 ? How poor is mobile signal ?
Mash those three together and estimate how much of a risk there is ?

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Ὦ, ναί, πάντα ταῦτα παντάπασι μανθάνω· μεγάλα πράγματα. Καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σοί ἐστιν, ἄνθρωπε, τάχα.

Ahhh that's what he is talking about.

 

[Bodian]

How often do you get a power cut ? How often do you need to call 999 ? How poor is mobile signal ?
Mash those three together and estimate how much of a risk there is ?

1 - in the countryside, most storms bring about a power cut for a short/long time. The next village was cut off for two days in the storm a few months back. We were out for four days a couple of winters ago.

2 - older people are much more likely to need to call 999 because of their naturally increased incidences of falls - which are enhanced by the lack of light during power cuts. And anyway, it's not just about 999 calls.

3 - that's the point though, quite a lot of the older generation don't have mobiles. And of course, they can't be charged up because there is no power. During Storm Arwen, some areas up here had no mobile coverage anyway - as the transmitting pylon was down.

 

[BNthree]

Same here. The Deco app is also great for settings and monitoring the network.

Yeah I've got no complaints at all about it. Set it up once and has worked fine ever since.

 

[happypig]

1 - in the countryside, most storms bring about a power cut for a short/long time. The next village was cut off for two days in the storm a few months back. We were out for four days a couple of winters ago.

2 - older people are much more likely to need to call 999 because of their naturally increased incidences of falls - which are enhanced by the lack of light during power cuts. And anyway, it's not just about 999 calls.

3 - that's the point though, quite a lot of the older generation don't have mobiles. And of course, they can't be charged up because there is no power. During Storm Arwen, some areas up here had no mobile coverage anyway - as the transmitting pylon was down.

Totally get that. It's a PITA when the electricity goes off (we were running of a temporary generator for 3 weeks over Christmas after the substation went screwy. It broke down 3 or 4 times.)
The thing is, you cannot stop the march of technology and removing copper and replacing it with digital voice is coming; people are going to have to deal with it.
All that copper was my bread and butter for 35 years. All gone. Like tears in rain.

 

[Bodian]

Totally get that. It's a PITA when the electricity goes off (we were running of a temporary generator for 3 weeks over Christmas after the substation went screwy. It broke down 3 or 4 times.)
The thing is, you cannot stop the march of technology and removing copper and replacing it with digital voice is coming; people are going to have to deal with it.
All that copper was my bread and butter for 35 years. All gone. Like tears in rain.

We have a substation right across the lane from us. When we were out for four days, we weren't even on the 'postcodes' affected list. Then a guy appeared, went into the substation and the lights came back on immediately. It really felt like they'd forgotton and then popped out and just flicked a switch - bit like you do when the fuses trip at home! (I'm sure there was more involved....)