Barrym

If you live in a new apartment block there is a good chance someone already has broadband and runs a wireless router - find them (either ask around or try a wireless device) and come to an agreement to share the costs - or if you set one up offer to share with your neighbours

Many new houses in France are build for the owners as and when they can get the money (rather than on spec for a quick sale) - ie they buy a plot of land then when they get some money put up the building, and this will stay unfinished until they get some more money to finish it. It may be what you have seen is people not having enough readies to start the next stage.

I've experienced the same at all the 'local' airports (nantes, poitiers and la Rochelle)

There a couple advertised in the vendee: www.inthevendee.com/classifieds/index.php?a=2&b=277

we use www.textmagic.co.uk - about 9p a text, but you can get replies which none of the otehrs I've looked at offer.

try www.msc-vendee.com for a carpenter

when channels get moved around by sky (or astra) the sky decoder automatically changes int programme guide (the epg) to find the new position.  if you have a non sky box you have to do this yourself.  You probably need to do a new programme scan and then look through to see where the channels have been moved to

In my experience you can't email them, but you can fax them - the fax numbers are on the previous link

If your phone is plugged into the router and everything else works then this is a problem with the Teleconnect UK phone line provider - send an email to [email protected] any they will reset the voip line, and may direct the uk number direct to the FT line

I recently looked at the various prices and concluded the following:    Prices per month for ADSL, modem/router, unlimited landline calls to france and uk, zone non-degroup club internet: €34.90 neuf/cegetel: €37.90 free: €29.99 tele2: €41.34 AOL: €34.90 orange: €37.90 also: new to the markey: Darty: €32.90 (available from their shops which gives you hands on support) and: teleconnect: €39.90 (english service, if you don't want unlimited france calls this would be €34.90) phonexpat (new) €29.99 - without telephone calls beware that the market is constantly changing so tomorrow this comparison may be out of date

I agree - visit the area - and visit in all the seasons as the coastal area of the Vendee is very seasonal

You need to be aware of what the hourly rate includes - sometimes (a higher rate) can end up being cheaper because they include all the equipment, other artisans add on equipment 'hire', but saying all that I would expect 30-35 euros a hour about right

try: http://www.inthevendee.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=411 for a sample price comparison for the main providers

I would certainly check the smtp address you are using first - it needs to correspond with your isp - in this case smtp.free.fr To check/change in outlook go to tools>accounts, select mail, then the account you want to change; then on the servers page you shoudl see the smtp listed

don't forget to consider the exchange rate risk in the future which can more than eliminate any interest increases if it goes the wrong way

I've been with teleconnect since they launched the broadband service without problems; what were your other problems - if they are technical with the line then you will not be out of the water by switching to teleconnect as they use exactly the same technology (ie same line, same exchange, etc)

excellent advice - those programs that install themselves in start up and just sit there using resources!  Another good tool is cleaner (from cleaner.com) which as well as clearing away all the c*** has a facility to change what is started at startup

try one of the betamax companies who (can) provide calls to the uk for free - just a 5p connection charge per call then you get 300 minutes a week free; it works by calling your number, and then the other number so you actually use your normal telephone. see: http://www.inthevendee.com/inthevendee.php?inthevendee=voip for details on these options and links to the varioius betamax companies (voipcheap, webcalldirect etc)

The storms last week were a good reminder how important it is to backup the data on your PC - I know several people whose PCs were zapped by the storm and who are now not sure whether they can get back their data - usually the storm doesn't affect the disk so data can be recovered - but the worry about those photographs is real. I recently signed up to an online back up - I'm lucky enough to be on broadband - and they do it all for me! Every day they look round my pc (I'm sure they are trustworthy) and take a copy of anything that has changed. The company is called mozy and you can find them at: https://mozy.com/?ref=TNZ2JB. And what's better they give you 2 gigabytes of space free - and thet will be more than enough for most people. The first time it backs up your pc it takes a couple of days (so thouse of you with laptops that hibernate will have to keep it up while this happens) as it does it in the background, but after that it does it without being noticed.

If you are going to call them regularly pay for them to have a fixed line installed If you have broadband use one of the voip services (www.voipcheap.co.uk charge 10p a minute to uk mobiles) Look at the all inclusive packages - eg from primus ( www.as24telecom.com )

If you are lucky enough to have broadband www.voipcheap.co.uk (or www.webcalldirect.com) will give you FREE calls to landlines from your PC, or at 3p from your phone (upto 5 hours per week, 1ct a minute thereafter)

When I changed insurers the new insurers did it all for me (ie sent the registered letter) - just remember to start the process very early

Circuit implies a ring (as in ring main) which the french don't have - it's all (what we english speakers) call spurs

Your bank will send you a form detailing the (meagre) interest, and this will tell you which box to put it in - it depends how its paid which box it goes in (usually TS or TR)

the same dish and lnb should work for sky