On 21/11/2025, I reported the failure of my fibre broadband internet connection. The failure knocks out for me e-mail, website maintenance and Zoom meetings. Taking my laptop to Rotherham library allows access to free WiFi internet access in the building provided an initial workable but highly inconvenient solution for e-mail access and website maintenance.

Communication with provider TalkTalk necessitates separate internet access to communicate with TalkTalk’s dysfunctional “chatbot”, so I had to buy a newfangled mobile phone to take things forward, but there were still problems with TalkTalk. They refuse to talk over the landline even though it is not itself on broadband but the old 4-ply copper wiring system.

The original cabling at the top of the pole opposite the house was surrounded by tree branches which had been blown about in strong winds, so, when a new pole was erected a few yards further down the road with a clear treeless view to my house, I thought my problem was being addressed, but fault has not yet been corrected.

I’m looking to find a “solution” involving ditching TalkTalk, but as I was receiving unlimited data no cost extra to the cost of the old-style land line, reconnection of the TalkTalk fibre broadband would be preferable.

Meanwhile, to obtain workable internet access at home, I am trialling (at further cost) the use of a Vodaphone “hotspot” whereby a gadget provides a local WiFi internet signal via the technology used by mobile phones, this signal being picked up by my laptop. (The system enables internet access away from ones usual internet, e.g. while on holiday.) This is working well so far and will last for up to 90 days, but I don’t know whether the data limit involved will make it cut out before 90mdays are up (and whether the data cap will allow it to cope with Zoom meetings is unclear), so this solution is on trial at the moment.

Steve Mann