Need advice on which ISP etc...

[too_much]

Okay, I have a problem, and I'll try to keept it simple, as I've baffled myself.

Right, me and 4 of my friends are moving into our new house next week when we go back to uni - we've been paying the rent on it for a couple of months now, and as we're about to go back, we want internet access in there, which has fallen on me.

As the house is new, it's "broadband ready" as the landlord put it, in that it has sockets for network cable in each bedroom. There is currently no active phone line, and we don't intend to get one as we can't really afford a phone bill.

My problem is thus: I need to get us set up on broadband, unlimited bandwidth usage, as soon as possible. I can't get telewest there as it's "outside the area". For obvious reasons I don't want to put the post code down here but I can PM it to someone if necessary.

Basically, I'm lost. I've been off the tech scene for a while and I'm not really sure where to start. Any ideas or recommendations? I need a setup that allows us all to have internet access in our rooms, so a router is out of the question (meaning ADSL is a no? I duno...) so am I gona have to get cable?

Any advice at this point would be great... the other problem being that I think we'll end up needing a 12 month contract, and we're only gona be living there until June, but if there's no way out of that then we'll work something out.

So please, field any ideas you can, they'll be greatly appreciated!

regards,
too_much :)

[Sterling_Aug]

Get a wireless router with new wireless NICS for each PC.

Hook one PC up to whatever Internet ISP you can get then share the connection using AnalogX.com proxy program.

[cat5e]

LOL, with all of these restrictions it might be that the “stars” tell you that you should not have Broadband connection.

In any case, these issues are location dependent, as an example in my neighborhood, a Good DSL with basic phone line is less expensive than Cable.

Therefore, head up to http://www.dslreports.com in see what is available in your area.

:cool:

[too_much]

Well I've identified some DSL available to me, but I forgot to mention that 2 of the people in the house have laptops, really **** primitive ones. I'll look into the wireless thing but most of us are next to penniless :p Thanks for the advice from both of you - I'll have a dig around on that site and get back to you.

Many thanks,
too_much :)

[Rocketmech]

I think you need to wait until you can review the wired network structure. Perhaps each room is not independent and there is a switch (or perhaps could be added) that links them all from one location. If so, a router can be setup for cable or DSL and all the rooms can share 1 broadband account. If the laptops want portability then you need to consider a combo router and wireless cards for the laptops.

[too_much]

Ok, here's the situation - each room has an RJ45 connection built into the wall, but no RJ15. My landlord is about as much use as a kick in the face, and responds to every question I ask with "erm... the whole house is broadband ready". (It was only refurbished last year so it's all new.)

He said that we don't have a land line, and if we want one, we'll have to get it soretd ourselves - fair enough, I can cope with that, but we don't want a land line at all.

Basically, what I'm looking for is broadband that I can have activated so once I plug my network cable in, I can detect it, sort my IP settings out etc, and off I go. I'd say my networking knowledge is basic, but higher than your average joe, as when I first got ADSL at home, I had to set up 3 computers through a router with absolutely zero prior knowledge or experience with the hardware or the windows settings.

Is it possible for me to sign up to broadband without having an active BT line already? As in, no phone number? Surely it's possible, there have to be families out there with no phone line, but broadband! I've done various checks on Virgin, OneTel, Toucan, etc etc, and several of them are enabled in my post code area, but beyond that, I'm baffled.

I'm pretty sure that all the RJ45 connection thingiesi n the house are linked, so one broadband account will be fine - on top of that, if I get ADSL, I won't need a router I don't think... but for ADSL you need a landline already don't you, so it can split the frequencies...? ARGH :|

I thought I could just buy broadband from someone, get 5 of their modems, and hook one up into each room nice and simple... sorry to be so unclear and confusing, but I'm confused as hell.

If anyone can recommend my next step, that would be greatly appreciated. Please take into consideration that a wireless connection is pretty much out of the question for various reasons.

Thanks and sorry again,
a rather baffled too_much :)

[Rocketmech]

Yes , ADSL shares the phone line on a different frequency. You'll have to check who provides the line and phone line terminal box to the residence. That may be an additional cost or service. The DSL service can piggyback from there. Best to use a router with the modem . Still you need to survey the residence and determine how the network cables run and what kind of terminations are present to get a better understanding of what needed. There must be some kind of utility room or box where each cat5 cable runs from. Maybe a phoneline terminal box may already exsists somewhere, its just there is no line run to each room ?
If you go cable , the equipment is the same , except no filters are needed.