Kitz Forum
Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: parkdale on July 04, 2020, 01:16:51 PM
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Is it me or am I missing something in all ISP's approach to installing broadband......
My friend is visually impaired (he has very limited vision in one eye only) and he lives on his own in a flat in London. His mother asked me to look into upgrading his phone line so he can connect an "Alexa"
device.
Nobody (ISP's) seems to have any policy regarding how this can be achieved!, for the rest of us it's put the filter in - plug the router in - turn on - with any luck! you may get a signal lock straight away :fingers:
If not connect our laptop/computer to check connection details- - have another go etc. :fingers: then setup the wireless part!
EE with whom he has a mobile contract with is by far the cheapest (36Mb Broadband not ADSL) at £24 including anytime phone calls, has no "Managed install" :(
Has anybody got any thoughts on this conundrum .......
Robin
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i assume you mean they need a manned install?
i don't think any ISP offers this apart from Virgin (for obvious reasons).
wouldn't a friend being there at the point where the kit is delivered be a desirable outcome? afterall they will need that for the alexa setup anyway?
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Ok so Virgin can install everything and get it working on the spot but at a price... £28 +add unlimited calls +install fee....... only for 12 months :(
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well you wouldn't expect a manned install to be free?
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Yes a manned install.... his sister lives on the other side of London, but I was referring to the state of broadband for people with his disability in general. I found this article posted in 2013!!!
https://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/news/2013/01/87-percent-of-visually-impaired-elderly-never-been-online-290113
My friend used to work on IT security for a major bank in London.
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I can't find any references in any ISP for paid installation, but he would be happy to pay.
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OpenReach still do "managed installs" (not manned installs).
It's up to the ISP if they wish to sell this service.
I believe it can be ordered through BT but it isn't free, far from it. Certainly cost more than the £28 quoted above.
Edit: the OpenReach price for an FTTC managed install is £99 exc vat and a self install is £46.84 exc vat.
https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/pricing/loadProductPriceDetails.do?data=0RIviN9gWGKtCdDGaQ8IFObCjmFDJOVDZEidKC%2F1wh1Z6rNZujnCs99NbIKJZPD9hXYmiijxH6wrCQm97GZMyQ%3D%3D
I believe the likes of Zen can also arrange a managed install.
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I can't find any references in any ISP for paid installation, but he would be happy to pay.
apart from the one i already mentioned?
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Seems that for ISP's policy to be all inclusive of people with disabilities, it's a bit much they are asked to pony up £100+ for connecting to the internet..... :( :( :(
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inclusive doesn't equal free.
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Traditionally this sort of thing was done by the local computer bod/geek.. eg from the local PC shop.
Going back ~15yrs, I'm sure several of us here made a bit of beer money setting up routers and LANs for people getting adsl.
ISPs provide a connection to the internet and never have had any interest in the LAN side. I suppose there are that many different types of devices and machines that can be attached to the LAN/WLAN that it would be nigh on impossible to be knowledgeable in them all. Its why some ISPs are even averse to customers using their own routers.
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OpenReach still do "managed installs" (not manned installs).
iirc even the managed install is only to connect the modem/router and one single PC or laptop. They won't attach any other devices.
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Is the situation all that different to buying a bookcase, or a wardrobe? Most people will gravitate towards the likes of IKEA, but fat lot of help it’ll be to the visually impaired when they get it home and are faced with self assembly. :(
A quick web search reveals that IKEA will put you in touch with a third party ‘assembly service’, but no signs that the IKEA company are going to take any real responsibility for the underlying issue. Just as ISPs will decline responsibilty.
Apols for picking on IKEA. Cited just as an example. I’d have said ‘MFI’, but that would be showing my age. ::)
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BT Retail now offer their Halo service which includes visits from "Home Tech Experts" to help install equipment etc. though it comes at a higher fee than their cheapest FTTC packages. Otherwise, they still offer the option of managed installs when ordering FTTC from them (I think this costs £30)
Alternatively, your friend may be able to get some assistance from one of the local Covid support groups that have popped up everywhere?
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Looking at the EE site for any sort of support, mostly leads to many dead ends (page not found) :(
I will try to get his sister/or nieces to go over and setup the wireless parts, which could prove to be the most problematic!
He has no computer at all in his flat.
Is the situation all that different to buying a bookcase, or a wardrobe? Most people will gravitate towards the likes of IKEA, but fat lot of help it’ll be to the visually impaired when they get it home and are faced with self assembly. :(
A quick web search reveals that IKEA will put you in touch with a third party ‘assembly service’, but no signs that the IKEA company are going to take any real responsibility for the underlying issue. Just as ISPs will decline responsibilty.
Apols for picking on IKEA. Cited just as an example. I’d have said ‘MFI’, but that would be showing my age. ::)
:-\ esp setting up an Echo dot ???
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BT Retail now offer their Halo service which includes visits from "Home Tech Experts" to help install equipment etc. though it comes at a higher fee than their cheapest FTTC packages. Otherwise, they still offer the option of managed installs when ordering FTTC from them (I think this costs £30)
Alternatively, your friend may be able to get some assistance from one of the local Covid support groups that have popped up everywhere?
This sounds promising:-
BT’s Home Tech Experts can be booked to come to a customer’s home, with 2-hour appointment slots, 7 days a week. They are trained on a wide range of issues, including helping vulnerable customers where access to technology is more important than ever.
Not sure if even Halo would install 3rd party devices such as Alexa though. Halo seems to be the new name for their older BTPlus service which was a fttc and 4g package. the blurb for tech experts seems to just mention setting up broadband, hub and also TV and mobile if applicable. It too seems to be geared to installation of new broadband service. :/
Help from our Home Tech Experts
More than simply engineers, our Home Tech Experts bring you brilliant technical knowhow within a two-hour appointment slot, 7 days a week.
To keep everyone safe at the moment, our experts will bring your new kit to your door, then phone or video call from outside to help you set it up. We’ll call you before the visit so you’re ready for us. If there’s a problem, our experts will do their best to fix it without coming into your home.
TBH the actual Echos are a doddle to install as amazon usually ship configured to the user account and its simply a case of entering info into the app... which would obviously not be anywhere near as simple for someone visually impaired. This may be a case where a teenage neighbour may come in handy.. or perhaps try contacting local college to see if they have IT/computing students willing to help.
caveat - Whilst the Echos themselves are easy, I've had fun and games with some smart home devices which are supposed to work with it. Even Hive can be temperamental on the odd occasion.
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The t&c (https://www.bt.com/halo/terms) includes:
13. What is a Home Tech Expert? Working in partnership with Enjoy and Qube, our Home Tech Experts are trained to install, repair and optimise BT products and services (e.g. Smart Hub 2, BT TV, My BT app, Complete Wi-Fi, BT master phone socket) whilst visiting you at home. Our Home Tech Experts can also connect non-BT devices to the BT Smart Hub over Wi-Fi.
So I presume it covers things like connecting things like Echos but as you say it is largely BT Plus rebranded and it will be cheaper in the long run just to get someone local to assist and/or just use the standard managed install option instead of Halo.
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Our Home Tech Experts can also connect non-BT devices to the BT Smart Hub over Wi-Fi.
Excellent. So yes they should be able to set up Echos. Thanks for the additional info :)
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Ou need me 15 years ago. So just invent time travel; this is the kind of thing I would do for small businesses and home users, but mostly security configuration - hardening of systems. Is there any chance of finding a local computer consultant with a good reputation ?
I looked around for just such a person down in England where my wife’s mum is when I was researching the idea of setting up an internet connection. I found three promising candidates close by. [Discussed in an earlier thread. In the end though Janet my wife decided that her mum wouldn’t be able to use even supposedly ;) friendly computers such as an ipad.]
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Just to update on this thread.... My friend contacted EE as he already use a "Basic mobile service" - They are doing a managed install on site £25/pm including anytime phone calls & 40Mb broadband.
So...... the next problem was BT have the wrong address for the phone number he uses (for the last 30 years!) although EE can't see that this is going to a problem in porting his number to them :fingers:
I did find out that quite a few buildings in his area do have Hyperoptic broadband service, and his building has planning permission to put this in.... if he can get 15 residents interested.
That would also been around £25/pm 50Mb including anytime phone calls.... but could be months away in coming to him, but would be another managed install service.
He's still trying to work out what to do with the data bundle EE ::) offer for his mobile phone which is only text and call! mostly calls as he can't realistically see much now.
His cousin has an "Alexa" device going spare, so that's sorted.
Updated info 40Mb not 10 :blush: