I've just renewed my internet provider

[Serial_Apologist]

Vodafone - who I've had for the past year - their renewal offer seems not that much more expensive than the one I have. But why oh why do they have to send me a completely new router, etc? It seems such an unncessary waste of a product which is working perfectly but will presumably now go to landfill, and I have to go through all the stress of waiting in for delivery and having to go through the hassle of connecting up.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Vodafone - who I've had for the past year - their renewal offer seems not that much more expensive than the one I have. But why oh why do they have to send me a completely new router, etc? It seems such an unncessary waste of a product which is working perfectly but will presumably now go to landfill, and I have to go through all the stress of waiting in for delivery and having to go through the hassle of connecting up.

Yes at one stage I had 5 talktalk routers all still in their packaging....

[cloughie]

Vodafone - who I've had for the past year - their renewal offer seems not that much more expensive than the one I have. But why oh why do they have to send me a completely new router, etc? It seems such an unncessary waste of a product which is working perfectly but will presumably now go to landfill, and I have to go through all the stress of waiting in for delivery and having to go through the hassle of connecting up.

If you are happy with what your current router does then continue to use it. The new one probably will not improve on it.

[Ein Heldenleben]

If you are happy with what your current router does then continue to use it. The new one probably will not improve on it.

Thing is when I eventually replaced my 20 year old net gear router with a cheap talktalk Huawei router it improved dramatically.

[cloughie]

Thing is when I eventually replaced my 20 year old net gear router with a cheap talktalk Huawei router it improved dramatically.

Yes but 20 years is infinity in IT. Unless I misread S_A is changing after a year. I have been with BT for a number of years and updated the router a couple of times, notably when I upgraded to superfast broadband fibre but the last new router is still in the box. I think at the time they were offering a free visit from an engineer get the best throughout your house, but then Covid struck. My broadband is still excellent on my existing router, so I’ll leave well alone.

[Dave2002]

Yes at one stage I had 5 talktalk routers all still in their packaging....

Wow - I've only got one still unpacked.

The new EE router we now have does seem better than the earlier BT one, so sometimes the newer ones are better.

[Padraig]

Vodafone - who I've had for the past year - their renewal offer seems not that much more expensive than the one I have. But why oh why do they have to send me a completely new router, etc? It seems such an unncessary waste of a product which is working perfectly but will presumably now go to landfill, and I have to go through all the stress of waiting in for delivery and having to go through the hassle of connecting up.

I haven't a clue what mystical technology you are talking about, S_A, but I'm routing for you anyway.

[gradus]

I've held off changing ISP as I want to retain my email address as it seems too much of a bother to have to tell everyone about a new address.

[cloughie]

Some years ago I wondered why it was necessary to have a woodworking tool to operate broadband!

https://youtu.be/_1NNk8p8ca4

[Lordgeous]

I've held off changing ISP as I want to retain my email address as it seems too much of a bother to have to tell everyone about a new address.

Many years ago I registered a domain name - me@mydomain - so my email adr always stays the same, I just rerout it when I change providers. (Been with Plusmet for many years now. Alwats excellent service).

[teamsaint]

Many years ago I registered a domain name - me@mydomain - so my email adr always stays the same, I just rerout it when I change providers. (Been with Plusmet for many years now. Alwats excellent service).

Ah, that sounds a good tip.
I use John Lewis, which really a branded Plusnet I think, which I use primarily because of their good service, though I have to say that it hasn’t improved over the years.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes but 20 years is infinity in IT. Unless I misread S_A is changing after a year. I have been with BT for a number of years and updated the router a couple of times, notably when I upgraded to superfast broadband fibre but the last new router is still in the box. I think at the time they were offering a free visit from an engineer get the best throughout your house, but then Covid struck. My broadband is still excellent on my existing router, so I’ll leave well alone.

When I switched to Vodafone a year ago, they informed me that I had to accept the new router they were about to send me, otherwise I would not be connected. Previous to that, an earlier provider had also insisted on a new router even though, like now, I was continuing with the existing arrangements. Infuriatingly Vodafone unilaterally changed my landline phone number when I joined them. I eventually managed to get a human being on their problems service who told me she would see to my getting my old number back, but nothing transpired, even after three attempts and three promises; it took ages to inform all my connections - a year on I may still have missed a few of them.

[Lordgeous]

Why do some IPs insist you use their own routers? I've always declined when offered a free router and bought my own, more powerful model. (My house is on 3 floors.)

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, thanks to all respondees for your advice: the new gear has just been delivered, and unless my computer whizz advises otherwise, will stay in its box. The preliminary digits on my cited land lne number seem to have altered through this might just be for calls from abroad.

PS - Just tried dialling my own number and it was engaged - so all's well.

[Old Grumpy]

Well, thanks to all respondees for your advice: the new gear has just been delivered, and unless my computer whizz advises otherwise, will stay in its box. The preliminary digits on my cited land lne number seem to have altered through this might just be for calls from abroad.

PS - Just tried dialling my own number and it was engaged - so all's well.

Same dialling code, I hope - otherwise you may find people you ring who have caller display do not answer! :whistle: OG