Mazan

http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435 will be of interest. I recommend never using a CD installation disk except for AOL. Tiscali do a 10E package that allows unlimited daytime use and this is very suitable for most people who are at home during the day. It is absurdly cheap. All webpages will be in the original language regardless of where you live or which ISP you use.

I'm surprised that you have had trouble finding an online dealer to use: I know of none who restrict use to UK residents. NatWest online dealers certainly don't and nor do StockTrade. Most companies have arrangements for sale via the registrar.

>The surveyor is due to see >the house tomorrow, at noon, >but we had an urgent >"text" from the agency in >france saying "Please call me >urgently, we can not allow >your surveyor to look at >the property without you putting >in a formal offer". This is rubbish. >When I >spoke to this man, he >also said that it wouldn't >be possible for us to >put in a clause in >the Compromis de Vente saying >we won't buy unless the >survey is OK. This is more rubbish. These people are trying to pull a fast one on you. If they won't do exactly what you want just walk away and buy something else.

This is too complex to diagnose at a distance, especially with AOL, but I will say that assuming you installed the modem in precisely the correct way you first need to look for synchro on the line. The modem usually has an LED to indicate this. If there is no synchro then nothing will work. But why on earth did you go with AOL for this? They are the second most expensive ADSL provider. You could have done so much better.

Blood tests are easily done, as mentioned. Be aware though that using Warfarin is not very common in France: French doctors tend to prescribe another similar drug. Warfarin is commercialised in France but it will probably have to be ordered by most chemists, unless you happen on one who has a regular customer for it. Delivery should take under 24 hours to any chemist in France. It is very cheap medecine. I spent several hours hunting for Warfarin one Saturday night for a visitor who had forgotten to bring her supply.

Who installed your dish? It has probably been done incorrectly.

All this info can be found in the "parametres" section of the Tiscali "selfcare" website. Log in for access.

You can download Messenger 6 from the Microsoft site and your local Hypermarket should have a decent webcam for well under 30. Mine cost 20 and works fine.

I use the same forfait with no trouble on ISDN. I suspect that you may have modem or phone line problems.

This article describes the whole thing: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435

Look at the Network ID at the bottom of the signal test box. If it doesn't say "0002" you are probably looking at Hotbird and so you need to point the dish to Astra 2. If that isn't the problem then you need to check that all the menu options, including the hidden ones, are at the default setting.

You should find C4 on 184. This is where S4C is for viewers who aren't in Wales. The non-Welsh BBC channels are on 941 and up.

It all depends on what you are altering it to. But more to the point, why are you changing it anyway? The setting should be left well alone in France.

See this link http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435 for a description of French internet access and how to set it up. Yes, you can get a connector for some mobile phones that will allow you to use them as a modem, with the right ISP. This is very expensive and slow though. A simple PAYG dial-up connection will be very cheap and cheerful.

AOL uninstalls very cleanly these days and so should cause no problem. Depending on the way you use the internet you may find the Tiscali unlimited daytime package at 10 to be good, or the unlimited day and night packages from both Tiscali and 9Online for 25. Free do 50 hours for 15 and Tele2 do 35 hours for 10. Links to comparison engines in this article: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435

I know nothing about this company but what I do know is that you would be far better off just getting your card yourself. All you need is the use of a UK address.

Tiscali tripled the rate to 75 for unlimited ISDN use several months ago. At the moment there are only two options: 9Online for 25 (20 with preselection) and Tiscali for 75. If you can make do with daytime use then Tiscali have an unbeatable rate of just 10 for unlimited use from 5am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, plus 15 hours at all other times.

>What ISPs are there for ADSL Many. See the links in this article: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435 > and what sort of >monthly charges can I expect The best offers are currently 512k for 20 and 1024 for 25.

This was originally supposed to end by Jan 1 but has already been extended once. There are rumours that it may be extended again. We shall see. It normally isn't possible to order a new card without giving the serial number of your digibox so those without a box may have difficulty getting in before the deadline.

The typically French republican notion of "service universal" means that the standard phone connection charge (about 45 the last time I heard) applies no matter how easy or hard the installation is. In practice if you really live up a mountain miles from the nearest phone line then FT may just give you a wireless phone for the same price. Sometimes FT try and wriggle out of the legal "service universal" obligations but as far as I know they still apply.

As Jean says you have probably tuned to Astra1 where there are few UK channels. There are some French ones there but they are nearly all pay channels. The main UK ones are on Astra2 and most of them are pay too. See this link http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=434 If you don't want to pay for French channels in digital you can get them for free in analogue, from yet another satellite.

See this link for unbiased information: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=434

Go here: http://www.free2view.tv to order a new card to replace the existing one which will not work. Go here for more info: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=434

This article explains everything: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-techcorner/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=435

Use AOL for the connection but once connected just minimize the AOL browser and use Internet Explorer instead.