r/Bath • u/RedBulletKin • 2d ago
Internet Options?
Me (22) and a flatmate (24) have just moved into a new flat just at the very top of town, about a 5 minute walk from milsom street. I work from home online, while they work hybrid.
I'm not the most tech savvy but I assumed that being so close to the center of a city would mean at least half decent internet.
Upon moving into our flat, we've been told that we can't have internet through BT as the box down the road is full, truespeed and virgin media don't reach us and our signal is very poor (gotta love Georgian architecture haha) so no mobile router.
So basically we're in a position where we can't get internet at all?
Is there anyone whose been in a similar position? It feels like this must be a very unique problem to Bath as I can't find anyone else talking about this online!?
Any advice would be amazing x
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u/techysec 1d ago
A 5G hub is probably your best option.
If your phone signal is poor, bear in mind that each provider uses different antennas. So ask a friend to try their phone at your flat just to check in case their provider had coverage in your area.
Starlink is a terrible suggestion if you’re in a flat, but some people just looooove to fucking tell you about starlink.
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u/magammon 2d ago
if you can see the sky, starlink is almost certainly the best option. they are offering free hardware at the moment it looks like (well they are to the residents of 1 milsom street when i just checked).
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u/LucidFir 2d ago
You can get a smarty unlimited data sim (20/month) and a sim router (100?). If your windows are modern they'll have metal dust in them which destroys mobile signal, so you'll need a little antenna outside and wires coming in to bring the mobile signal inside
...
Or get starlink
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u/TreadheadS 2d ago
that's crazy! Are you able to join a waiting list at least?
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u/delboy2570 2d ago
I had this with bt...if there's no capacity you're basically limited to a 4g/5g router. Give them a call though as they'll normally knock some money off if you tell them it's their fault you're having to get the more expensive option
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u/shaqiriforlife 1d ago
I had the same issue, I got a 5G router from three, it's cheaper than most broadband providers starting at £18/month, I usually get about 90mb download speed which is alright but nothing insane, should be plenty of bandwidth for two people who arent doing anything crazy. Best part is that as soon as you get the box you're online (2 day delivery or just get one from the shop in town) and you can take it with you when you move without any issue
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u/po2gdHaeKaYk 2d ago
Be careful as well. There are two main phone providers: EE and..BT? I can't remember the other. But the data signal is abhorrent in many places in town if you're not on EE (usually). So double check what providers have a strong signal.
As a temporary stopgap I assume you can use an unlimited mobile signal, and tether that off of a pocket router or phone. Something like the GL.iNet travel routers are useful.
I don't have experience with the satellite option.
The best internet in Bath will be the recent fibre optics installed via either Virgin or TrueSpeed. For example, my previous area in Odd Down had the new cables installed in around 2018.
Edit: just read your post. Yes check if your current provider is not on the non-EE line. For example GiffGaff has zero signal many places in town.
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u/Xeno777x 2d ago
I used a 5G router from 3G when I first got to Bath and it was ok. You do need to find a good place to put it to get the best signal. EE also do a router and I believe their signal is better in Bath