Forced onto Sky internet from O2/ d-link and other things
NoWireHangers
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Right...
Firstly I'm not very tech savy so apologies in advance if I ask anything silly.
Recently been forced onto sky internet as O2 sold off the portfolio.
O2 worked like a dream. The switchover wasn't easy, an engineer had to come out and fix the line which took over three hours.
The wifi now is not good. It drops sometimes but is on the most part very slow. I can't update apps on the sky wifi, nor can I watch catchup tv, as it constantly stops and the loading circle comes up.
In desperation I saw something called 'D-Link' as being another available wifi source. It didn't have a lock sign against it (no password) so I clicked onto it just to see and it connected.
When I am on this my iPad performs as it should. I can watch catch up and it runs smoothly.
But is this d-link safe for me to use? I mean essentially am I not getting a free service? Or am I, will a bill come in for using it?
Firstly I'm not very tech savy so apologies in advance if I ask anything silly.
Recently been forced onto sky internet as O2 sold off the portfolio.
O2 worked like a dream. The switchover wasn't easy, an engineer had to come out and fix the line which took over three hours.
The wifi now is not good. It drops sometimes but is on the most part very slow. I can't update apps on the sky wifi, nor can I watch catchup tv, as it constantly stops and the loading circle comes up.
In desperation I saw something called 'D-Link' as being another available wifi source. It didn't have a lock sign against it (no password) so I clicked onto it just to see and it connected.
When I am on this my iPad performs as it should. I can watch catch up and it runs smoothly.
But is this d-link safe for me to use? I mean essentially am I not getting a free service? Or am I, will a bill come in for using it?
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You won't get a bill for it, but if they are tech savvy then they'll know that it's happening, and will perhaps be able to work out who it is, by a process of elimination.
Having said that, if they haven't any security on their router, they're unlikely to be tech savvy.
I take it that when you were migrated to Sky they set up a new router for you (or sent you one for self install?). It is possible that this router is using a WiFi channel that clashes badly with your neighbours whereas your old O2 router didn't. That is one explanation for poor WiFi performance.
Or it could simply be that the Sky router is crap of course
Trouble is most of the ways to solve WiFi problems involve a bit of technical knowledge. In particular you have to be comfortable with going into the configuration of your router and changing the WiFi channel it uses. You would also need to be able to work out which, if any, channel is clearest to use. There is a tool inSSIDer that you can use to find out what WiFi channels are in use and also if interference is really the cause of your problem
http://download.cnet.com/inSSIDer/3000-18508_4-10848357.html
This is an older but free version (current version is paid for). It is a bit geeky though.
There are other simple things you can try. You can often get quite remarkable changes in performance simply by moving the router. Sometimes only a few inches does the trick. Especially if you have the router hidden away behind loads of other junk, if so get it out in the fresh air and let the WiFi waves get out easier
Like chrisjr said above, sorting out wifi does require some technical knowledge.
You weren't 'forced' onto Sky as you could have migrated to another ISP. Using someone's unsecured network could get you into trouble, especially if the person who has the unsecured network gets someone who can find out where the signal's coming from. I've seen a few complaints on here over the past few days about how Sky's connection (for ex-BE/O2 members) is giving them problems. So glad I didn't automatically let Sky transfer me from BE's network to theirs.
The connection hasn't dropped since 11 Feb. and sync is 9800kbps @ 40dB attenuation.
I'm still using the O2 TG582n, the switch was almost seamless, if I hadn't been watching then I doubt that I'd have noticed the disconn and reconn. nothing in the router needed to be changed.
So I think it's just the luck of the draw.
Yes I have been forced. I am a tenant living with a landlord, although I will be making my opinion known to him.
I assume you got the internet in? If so, you could have migrated. I've been in a privately rented house in the past and I was able to get the internet in.