Help - rural address no broadband

[Ratgirl12]

We are in the later stages of buying a house that is in semi rural area and there is no broadband providers available at all (Annoyingly it's only 3 miles from where we currently live but is surrounded by forest). As two of us sometimes work from home I am starting to panic. I'm thinking of buying something like this. Could I then carry on using Virgin or would they not allow it? I really want to l to stay with Virgin for my email and TV channels. Any idea or can any of you suggest other options? I'm just being told that fibre is not at that postcode but that doesn't help me....

Linksys WiFi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 3,000 Sq. ft Coverage, 25+ Devices, Speeds up to (AC5400) 5.4Gbps - EA9500

[carl_pearce]

I'm not sure how buying a third party router would assist getting an internet connection to your new home?

If there are no providers in your area you need to look into other options:

https://www.starlink.com/

[nodrogd]

If Virgin do not service the address, you can no longer use Virgin. It's as simple as that.

[Tudor]

Looks like your only option is Starlink.

[Roger_Gooner]

Do you have a phone line but only narrowband, or not even a phone line? If the former it's possible that Openreach will upgrade (so check their website), if the latter I'd consider pulling out of the house purchase if possible. I certainly won't have bought my house without availability of broadband.

[Ratgirl12]

Would me getting a modem and an unlimited 4G data sim be the way to go? I have been told that the 4G signal is good. I then need to get a router to enable all of our laptops, tv's etc to access that modem - is that right? As you can tell I have no idea and BT, Virgin and Sky are no help, as soon as they find out my address does not have fibre yet, they are not interested.

[carl_pearce]

Please put your postcode into this site (Top right):

https://bidb.uk/

It will show you on the bottom right the signal strength of each mobile operator:

If you have a good 3 signal they supply a kit that includes a router for £24/month:

https://www.three.co.uk/shop/broadband/home-broadband/5g-hub-with-eero

[Roger_Gooner]

My recomendation is to get a MiFi router with Ethernet ports, like this D-Link EAGLE PRO AI AX1500.

[Ratgirl12]

Thanks Roger

[Rosebush18]

Tell me, are you committed to purchasing this house? Just how important is a fast and reliable internet connection to your family?

When purchasing a house, internet availability, now approaches the importance of ‘school catchment area’ or ‘does this property actually have running water’? Generally something to be checked before putting an offer in!

You say ‘the 4G signal is good’, put which provider, O2, EE, 3 etc? It may have reasonable O2 connection but rubbish EE, so in that case you have to choose your 4G provider accordingly. Are there really no broadband providers available at all in your new address?

OK VM is certainly a complete write off, you absolutely will lose the email addresses - so please do start the process NOW of getting a new email address(es) (gmail, outlook etc), and moving all of your on-line accounts to this new email address, notifying all of your contacts etc.