can you have two internet providers in same house?

steve66

Hi. Sharing a house with landlord, who pays for vodafone internet. Router downstairs. My room upstairs. I use desktop computer. Get internet through USb. Sometimes connection is okay. Sometimes a lot of buffering, or no connection at all. Also get message when internet starts, that it's not secure and should change to different network.

Previously had virgin at different location under same conditions. That was a lot more solid.

So, thinking at some stage of getting my own wifi internet into my room. Will that interfere with the landlords internet, or hers with mine.

Perhaps a different solution is available?

piplip87

Can you not get a powerline adapter and connect that way ? I have one for work and it has a WIFI booster too so it's taken care of WIFI coverage up stairs too

afatbollix

Is it wired broadband via a landline downstairs?

Vodafone offers a 4g broadband box which you could use.

You wouldn't be able to get another landline in without paying alot of cash.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058206750/can-you-have-two-internet-providers-in-same-house

I dont understand your comment "I get internet through USB", do you mean it's a USB Wifi dongle?

Whats the Internet on your phone like? If it's OK, either use your phone's connection sharing, or get a WiFi hotspot, and a unlimited data SIM card.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058206750/can-you-have-two-internet-providers-in-same-house

What internet provide does your Landlord have?

The best connection to the router would always be a wired one, if you cannot get a line to the router, Power Line adattors are normally the next best alternative.

Atlantic Dawn

First establish where the problem is, your landlord may have a poor internet connection to start with, have you asked them how they find the connection? If they have no issues you should be able to run a network cable directly from their router to your desktop, that would provide a more stable connection.

steve66

"Can you not get a powerline adapter and connect that way"

Never heard of a powerline adapter. Looked it up.

Something to think about that, Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830334#Comment_117830334

I . My phone is only a 2g. It has no internet. I believe it's a wifi adapter.

AllForIt

Not quite sure what the problem is: Could be you need a better wifi adaptor with an aerial on it for your computer because it's too far away from the router. If that is the issue it's a bit extreme to get an internet service of your own to solve that problem. There are also 'repeaters' available that boost the signal in these situations.

The secure thing could mean that your landlord doesn't use a password to access the router. So you could ask them to put one on it if your concerned. Only someone nearby could hack the signal. Could happen I suppose.

If your landlords internet is slow you can't do much about that and then maybe you would need your own service. I lived in a house share once that 2 separate phone lines. This was back in dial-up days where you couldn't I don't think share the internet.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830570#Comment_117830570

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830280#Comment_117830280

Yes, wired. Router, plugged into a socket

1. Are you referring to https://n.vodafone.ie/business/products-and-solutions/fixed-communications/gigabit-broadband.html
2. Ah, yes. I forgot about cost.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830639#Comment_117830639

"A wifi adapter with an arial" Hmm, choice between that, and a powerline adapter. Will try to find out more.

"Repeaters" Never heard of those either. Looks like there are a number of possible solutions.

I Regarding that message . I disconnected and reconnected and message popped up. Basically it's this message

"This Wi-Fi network uses an older security standard that’s being phased out. We recommend connecting to a different network" But I don't know if the landlord who uses a laptop gets the same message.

Windows offers a solution here. https://windowsreport.com/what-to-do-if-your-wi-fi-network-uses-an-older-security-standard/

But it seems a bit complicated to me, and something I shouldn't attempt anyhow if router is not mine.

waynescales1

Get a secondhand 4g router (€50) and a Clear Mobile broadband sim (€13 per month, unlimited data). Job done.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830570#Comment_117830570

It's vodafone. I have a feeling the landlord would not like to have a wire running from my router to my room.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830761#Comment_117830761

Thank you. Something to consider.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830592#Comment_117830592

She says, her internet is fine. Internet is fine. Unfortunately I believe running a network cable would be an issue.

steve66

Thanks to all to responded. I hope to investigate prices of local powerline adapters tomorrow.

beachhead

WiFi adaptor free(mostly,or,maybe e19.99) from a mobile operator and a sim only deal on 30 day roll over contract would be a solution.

beachhead

Get a WiFi modem from a mobile phone operator.Each one offers a sim only deal on a 30 day roll over contract.Sometimes the modem is free,otherwise e19.99 upwards.Worth considering.

dam099

Seems to be lots of advice here to go for 4G/Mobile data options. Given landlord has no issues suggesting the connection into the house is fine, I would strongly advise against those until you have exhausted all other options to improve the internal distribution such as Powerline adaptors (or a better USB Wi-Fi adaptor with antenna and/or a Wi-Fi extender).

Also you assume the landlord wont like Ethernet, have you asked? Slim or flat cables can sometimes be fitted discreetly to skirting board. Also these days if renting out a room more solid internet via ethernet could be a selling point and worth installing for you and future tenants.

As someone who regularly visits my parents house who rely on a 3g/4g connection, I would strongly advise exhausting all other options, before going down the route of mobile internet.

There is a reason the government has chosen to roll out fibre optic connections in the national broadband plan. Wired connections will always be better then a signal from a mobile phone company.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117830699#Comment_117830699

Okay. just to be clear. There is a router downstairs which is connected into a phone socket. But the landlord has not got her laptop hard connected to it. She is using built in wireless, I guess.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831022#Comment_117831022

No, I haven't asked. I would be inclined to take that advise. Thank you.

> Get internet through USb

What are you using to do this? Many of these devices are not very good. If it is just a small USB dongle them get a better one with at least one antenna.

You need to check how many bars of signal you are currently getting.

Also need go to speedtest.com and post what download and upload speed you are getting.

You will then need to bring the computer downstairs and physically connect with ethernet cable and run the speedtest.com again and post the download/upload results. You could also ask the landlord to do this from their laptop which would be handier.

Those are the first steps and Post the results here. It's impossible to advise otherwise until this is done.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831469#Comment_117831469

Okay, Is a dongle and a wifi adapter the same thing? Before I moved to my current address, I was using this item at my previous address. There I was using virgin, here it's vodafone. It was the same situation, router downstairs, my desktop computer upstairs. But my internet was fine. Now this is a much older house, built in the 30's, and an extension in the 60's. I don't think I will be able to buy anything yet, because of financial issues.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831505#Comment_117831505

Well, download 1.13. upload 5.14. I have used speedtest before. Is it not unusual for the upload to be faster than the download.

I tried a second time. download 0.25. upload 3.53. So it is an an issue that my upload is faster than my download.

dam099

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831622#Comment_117831622

Could be a sign of an antenna problem, weak antenna in your WiFi adapter struggles to receive the download signal but the better antenna in the router receives the upload from your computer a bit better.

Different houses, routers and router placement could make a massive difference to WiFi quality so just because it worked before is no guarantee it will now. A speedtest wired to the router (or even on WiFi beside it if your PC is a laptop and you dont have even a short ethernet cable to hand) would give a better indication of what's possible.

steve66

Thank you. Good information. It's a desktop.

steve66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831671#Comment_117831671

download speed increased to 4.89. and upload to 7.51.

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117831996#Comment_117831996

Are those the wired speeds? Vodafone fibre broadband is supposed to be up to 1000mbps.

dam099

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117832710#Comment_117832710

I am not sure OP is clear what package the landlord has but wired into "phone socket" (per post at 8.58) would suggest DSL while upload of 7.5 would have to mean VDSL of a medium decent speed which does make the download speed odd looking (either wired or close on Wi-Fi) based on the usual ratios of DL/UL on VDSL.

waynescales1

One advantage the 4G option would give the OP is very simple installation and total control over their setup. They can customise/troubleshoot without ever having to even speak to their landlord. The landlord may not troubleshoot/solve the issue as promptly as the OP would like, especially if the issue is not affecting the landlord.

Regarding 4G signal, have the landlord or a friend bring their 4G enabled phone to your room and do a speed test before going with the 4G option.