Best option for a broadband connection.

[Carpetman]

Hi, I have just bought a laptop which I need to connect to the internet at my workshop so I can remotely access my main computer at home and also for general light internet use at work. I have been looking at the broadband options and would have been interested in BT package which included a phoneline(which i already have), basic broadband but also 500 free minutes to uk landlines which made the deal worthwhile @ £ 26.95 per month. However this would mean a new line and subsequent connection fees of over a £100 as far as BT are concerned . My real question is would mobile broadband( a dongle) be a viable option - there will really not be much usage on this connection atall.

Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated.

[Leomas]

I would say definitely no. The charges I have seen (and been stuck with) are high compared with a landline connection. Assuming the line you have is active (you talk about BT wanting connection fees so I am guessing it is an old line which has been disconnected) then any of the broadband suppliers would do. If you have to get a connection then there is still some choices, just a case of ringing them up to play them off against each other.

Even if you have to pay a £100 setup (connection etc) that soon is offset compared with mobile broadband where you may see deals down at £10-£15 per month but there is VERY low limits on those with typically 1GB per month data. You also can be stuck in an area where 3G is only theoretical and you are down at little more than old-style modem speeds anyway.

[Carpetman]

Thank you for your reply - that kind of confirms my suspicions. With regard to BT I already have a business phoneline and have had it for 12 years, I now would like to change to their package deal which offers the phoneline, the broadband and the nugget in the deal for me which is the 500 free uk minutes - which would mean I would actually pay less than i do now for just the phoneline. But they want £ 99 'connection fee' despite my line already being 'connected' and because of my location the deal has to go up from £ 26.95 to £ 29.95 per month which seems unfair to me - i guess i need to speak to them.

thanks again

[chocolaterolo]

I've operated mobile broadband using Vodaphone for a number of clients, who find it great for browsing the web. However, remote accessing your pc using "go to my pc" and accessing your files is going to increase the amount of data, its not just browsing the web, you'll be processing files uploading and downloading each time you use. You might be disappointed with the speed of mobile broadband for file access, operable but slow. The pay as you go vodaphone stop you running up huge phone bills and there is no monthly recurring costs. You can get a 3GB from Tesco for about £25 - £30, so you could try it out first.
Hope the information of use for you. Best of luck.