Seemingly trivial things that elicit an emotional response of some kind

[PurplePenguin]

Fark me those eero mesh systems are expensive. The seem to be about £300 for a three node system, compared to about £70 for a TP Link deco.

I'm going to try the latter and see whether 2 node hops via wireless actually gives any useful speed.

I need to be able to stream the world cup next year to a projector down by the swimming pool, you see. 🧐

You may need more than two unless you live somewhere quite small. One will go through one wall and possibly two, so you need to work out placement based on that.

 

[briantrumpet]

There are annual increases, but, they are "pre-declared". In my searching of alternatives, there were very few without annual increases.

Seems to be an understanding between all the providers that these rises are going to match each other, adding over 10% over two years' contract in most cases.

 

[First Aspect]

You may need more than two unless you live somewhere quite small. One will go through one wall and possibly two, so you need to work out placement based on that.

Possibly. The hub covers the whole house more or less so three of them for the rest is enough to get an idea. Setting it up will pass as excitement in Cornwall.

 

[BoldonLad]

Possibly. The hub covers the whole house more or less so three of them for the rest is enough to get an idea. Setting it up will pass as excitement in Cornwall.

If it helps:

the supplier TalkTalk Router (a Sagem rebadged unit, dont know exact model) covers our whole house (modern, ie 38 year old) 4-bed detached, and, goes out into garden by a couple of metres.

I already had a Tenda MW3 Mesh system, I have connected that to the new router, the "base" unit is wired to router, one Tenda unit upstairs, and one unit downstairs at rear of house (Conservatory/Sunroom) this has extended cover to end of back garden (about 20 metre long).

So far (6 days in) it all appears to be working fine.

The faster TalkTalk products (ie > 150) come with the erro router

 

[First Aspect]

I can get a glimmer of a signal from the current router to an old wireless booster in the garage. Probably about 20m. They aren't exactly srate of the art. That works fine except the devices think they are two different networks, despite having the se name, which is irritating.

 

[AndyRM]

I can get a glimmer of a signal from the current router to an old wireless booster in the garage. Probably about 20m. They aren't exactly srate of the art. That works fine except the devices think they are two different networks, despite having the se name, which is irritating.

Coverage is only guaranteed in the house, not a garage even if it's attached.

As for the booster thing, it's a stupid quirk of the system that we can only send one out at a time. The ordering process is unbelievably stupid and if you've sent out a returns bag for someone them it'll stop you putting a "proper" order through.

As for the whole BT/EE thing, the plan is to have business customers with BT, residential with EE, and put everyone on home essentials/landline only back on to PlusNet... It's a good dream but it's going to be a nightmare to implement given the issues we've got between BT, heritage and new EE accounts. Factor in OpenReach rolling out fibre cables to replace copper as part of the nationwide Digital Voice programme and it's a wild ride.

AI is getting pushed bigly too, particularly in sales, which is going to make things even more fun.

Oh, but hey, there's going to be an EE Christmas advert for the first time in 12 years, so that's something to look forward to!

 

[AndyRM]

There are annual increases, but, they are "pre-declared". In my searching of alternatives, there were very few without annual increases.

That should have been £24/month, not £25, and, it is a 24 month contract.

Everyone does it. If you're canny with your contract they can be avoided, but it's difficult. It's not so bad if you've only got broadband (£3 increase this year), but if you've got TV (£5) and mobiles (£4 per device depending on which one) it can quickly get very expensive.

Oh and the truly mad thing about putting people from BT to EE is that despite being the same company, I've seen a lot of cases where people have been moved without being told. The best part of that is very often they'll be whacked with held to term charges on the BT account...

 

[Pblakeney]

Coverage is only guaranteed in the house, not a garage even if it's attached.

As for the booster thing, it's a stupid quirk of the system that we can only send one out at a time. The ordering process is unbelievably stupid and if you've sent out a returns bag for someone them it'll stop you putting a "proper" order through.

As for the whole BT/EE thing, the plan is to have business customers with BT, residential with EE, and put everyone on home essentials/landline only back on to PlusNet... It's a good dream but it's going to be a nightmare to implement given the issues we've got between BT, heritage and new EE accounts. Factor in OpenReach rolling out fibre cables to replace copper as part of the nationwide Digital Voice programme and it's a wild ride.

AI is getting pushed bigly too, particularly in sales, which is going to make things even more fun.

Oh, but hey, there's going to be an EE Christmas advert for the first time in 12 years, so that's something to look forward to!

I had a look and it’s even more maddening.
EE wanted an extra £10/month for the same service as BT, with the same incoming increases.
Eh, no thanks!

 

[AndyRM]

I had a look and it’s even more maddening.
EE wanted an extra £10/month for the same service as BT, with the same incoming increases.
Eh, no thanks!

That's something of an anomaly, as it's usually the other way around.

The people I feel really bad for are those who have been out of contract and just kept going at their old rate, they are generally elderly and worried about change and it's usually when a family member gets involved and looks at what they're paying for not very much.

I've got less sympathy for people who call up asking for a refund when "I've only just noticed I've been paying an extra £50 a month for a year for a sports package I don't use". First of all, that's on you, and secondly if you've not noticed £600 disappearing out your bank then you're luckier than me.

Of the two scenarios, the former tend to be very apologetic, the latter want you to drop everything and escalate it (which I do even though it won't go anywhere, but hearing it from a Team Leader has more gravitas than a mere floor worker, even though they sit in the same place and get about 5p an hour more...)

 

[First Aspect]

That's something of an anomaly, as it's usually the other way around.

The people I feel really bad for are those who have been out of contract and just kept going at their old rate, they are generally elderly and worried about change and it's usually when a family member gets involved and looks at what they're paying for not very much.

I've got less sympathy for people who call up asking for a refund when "I've only just noticed I've been paying an extra £50 a month for a year for a sports package I don't use". First of all, that's on you, and secondly if you've not noticed £600 disappearing out your bank then you're luckier than me.

Of the two scenarios, the former tend to be very apologetic, the latter want you to drop everything and escalate it (which I do even though it won't go anywhere, but hearing it from a Team Leader has more gravitas than a mere floor worker, even though they sit in the same place and get about 5p an hour more...)

Given that the call centre staff can't explain what the packages include, and can only quote me £80 for what an email told me is £27, and you have things like 3 Halo nodes that you pay for but can't necessarily have, perhaps turn the sympathy up a bit?

Personally I am going to try my own mesh, so I actually own it and don't have to persuade a call centre that I want what I paid for.

 

[First Aspect]

Changing tack: I have a few thousand ladybirds in my house, in 5 or 6 colonies clustered against a few roof beams and curtain folds at the gable end.

What do the talk about all winter?

Intrigued.

 

[AndyRM]

Given that the call centre staff can't explain what the packages include, and can only quote me £80 for what an email told me is £27, and you have things like 3 Halo nodes that you pay for but can't necessarily have, perhaps turn the sympathy up a bit?

Personally I am going to try my own mesh, so I actually own it and don't have to persuade a call centre that I want what I paid for.

My sympathy is limited for people requesting a refund for something entirely avoidable, not equipment provision. I don't know why we can't just send out three Halos/extenders, and I've raised this regularly but it's gone nowhere.

By all means try your own mesh, but be aware that there will be support issues from tech if it doesn't work.

As for the guys in the sales department, the training they get is shockingly poor and there's a massive turnover due to the ridiculous and unfair targets.

 

[First Aspect]

I'll probably cope without BT technical support. That is set up to blame the customer in the fewest steps possible. Plus, I think I already know how to switch it off and on again, etc.

 

[Pblakeney]

That's something of an anomaly, as it's usually the other way around.

The headline figure was pretty much similar, not enough to to be bothered switching (£1-£2). Unless you are struggling financially.
Trouble was once I added on the extras that I use for the landline* and wifi coverage which BT either include or charge less for I ended up with a total package being £10/month more.

*Yes, we are old with old friends and relatives who insist on still using landlines even if we do not. I'm paying for them?

 

[AndyRM]

I'll probably cope without BT technical support. That is set up to blame the customer in the fewest steps possible. Plus, I think I already know how to switch it off and on again, etc.

It's not, but it depends on who you get through to. What we do in tech support tends to be a lot more involved than switching it off and on again, but again it depends on who you get through to.