TalkTalk login information

Wise move or otherwise, my Dad has informed me that he has broadband via TalkTalk.

Wouldn't have been my choice, and it was a surprise. I checked his line via
samknows.com, and there is a service active on the line. At least it wasn't
(insert hated-ISP-of-the-month here)

Being the member of the general public that he is, he told TalkTalk that he
didn't need a modem, because he already had one. Yep, a 56k dialup modem.
He also has Windows XP supplied by a local retailler that has failed the WGA
tests, and consequently has one completely insecure system that will get
infected the moment he attaches a broadband modem to the thing, so it's probably
just as well that he has not got any connectivity yet.

So, at the end of the month, I am going around there to connect things up properly.

I will be laying ethernet cabling through the loft and down to the 'office'
(which has no convenient telephone line) and placing an old solwise router in
the loft void (where I can get at the phone line) with a view to upgrading that
to wireless later. Wall-mounted RJ45 connections, the works.

I'll also make a point of visiting the local dodgy retailer and explaining to
them that if they do not sort out the windows license on that system pretty damn
pronto, I will drop them right in it with Microsoft's piracy department.
Suffice it to say that I am aware of their 'back room' software emporium.
(I might just drop them right in it anyway)

Problem is configuring the router. I need a username and password from him,
which at the moment he does not think he has. I am wondering if I have to
somehow connect to some registration system to get a password, or if it is
something that TalkTalk would have sent through the post.

Assuming that they have sent a username and password, what am I looking for in
the way of paperwork (that I can describe down the phone to a 70-year-old)?

The only other information I need is a couple of DNS server addresses (this
router is fairly old, and does not have a DNS proxy, and the command-line
configuration of the DHCP server is hairy enough to make me just set everything
up with static IP's, period.)

Any talktalk users out there able to comment?

Jim

On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:11:04 +0000, Jim Howes wrote:

> Assuming that they have sent a username and password, what am I looking for in
> the way of paperwork (that I can describe down the phone to a 70-year-old)?

> Any talktalk users out there able to comment?

IIRC he should have received a letter that included user name, which I
think is the same as the default email address, and password. It also lists
contact telephone numbers, etc...

When I helped set up one of my customers they received quite a neat free
ethernet modem, so you should really get him to ask TT to send that as
well.

In our case it took TT 2 months to get BT to come along and sort out an
external wiring fault, but once it worked its since been OK.

Good Luck!

--
Regards
Barry

BJH wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:11:04 +0000, Jim Howes wrote:
>
>> Assuming that they have sent a username and password, what am I looking for in
>> the way of paperwork (that I can describe down the phone to a 70-year-old)?
>
>> Any talktalk users out there able to comment?
>
> IIRC he should have received a letter that included user name, which I
> think is the same as the default email address, and password. It also lists
> contact telephone numbers, etc...

Ok, I'll get him to look out for that...

I assume that as it is provisioned with BT kit (the exchange has a CPW/TalkTalk
RFS date set ('Date Unknown') but is not yet LLU, bt_test@startup_domain should
work ok?
>
> When I helped set up one of my customers they received quite a neat free
> ethernet modem, so you should really get him to ask TT to send that as
> well.

I might do, but I won't install it there; such things will be a useful addition
to the bag of many things I carry around on such callouts. The last thing I
want is an unprotected WinXP system in the hands of a 'normal user' connected
directly to the internet; at the very least I will hide it behind NAT while I
get it properly secured. The router I have will do for now, even if it does not
get the full 8128k (assuming TT are provisioning systems using Max); we can
upgrade it later. At the moment, he gets a fairly naff 28k dialup connection,
so even 500k will be a drastic improvement.

"Jim Howes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eol0be$41d$1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Wise move or otherwise, my Dad has informed me that he has broadband via
> TalkTalk.
>
> Wouldn't have been my choice, and it was a surprise. I checked his line
> via
> samknows.com, and there is a service active on the line. At least it
> wasn't
> (insert hated-ISP-of-the-month here)
[snip]

When you get this info, and are considering buying a decent router for him,
why not get a Vigor, set up DDNS and VPN, so that you can help him
remotely?

--
Graham J

Graham wrote:
> When you get this info, and are considering buying a decent router for him,
> why not get a Vigor, set up DDNS and VPN, so that you can help him
> remotely?

Good idea.

Apart from the 'help him remotely' bit.

I've done my time on the helldesk, TYVM, and I now try to avoid offering
assistance in person, because sooner or later I get a call asking where the
'Any' key is, or "I was running this game that fred gave me a copy of and it's
gone all weird".

Jim

phone talk talk from the phone in his house and you can get the username and
password

"Jim Howes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eolae3$ca3$1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Graham wrote:
>> When you get this info, and are considering buying a decent router for
>> him,
>> why not get a Vigor, set up DDNS and VPN, so that you can help him
>> remotely?
>
> Good idea.
>
> Apart from the 'help him remotely' bit.
>
> I've done my time on the helldesk, TYVM, and I now try to avoid offering
> assistance in person, because sooner or later I get a call asking where
> the
> 'Any' key is, or "I was running this game that fred gave me a copy of and
> it's
> gone all weird".
>
> Jim

On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:29:10 +0000, Jim Howes wrote:

> BJH wrote:
>> On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:11:04 +0000, Jim Howes wrote:
>>
>>> Assuming that they have sent a username and password, what am I looking for in
>>> the way of paperwork (that I can describe down the phone to a 70-year-old)?
>>
>>> Any talktalk users out there able to comment?
>>
>> IIRC he should have received a letter that included user name, which I
>> think is the same as the default email address, and password. It also lists
>> contact telephone numbers, etc...
>
> Ok, I'll get him to look out for that...
>
> I assume that as it is provisioned with BT kit (the exchange has a CPW/TalkTalk
> RFS date set ('Date Unknown') but is not yet LLU, bt_test@startup_domain should
> work ok?
>>
>> When I helped set up one of my customers they received quite a neat free
>> ethernet modem, so you should really get him to ask TT to send that as
>> well.
>
> I might do, but I won't install it there; such things will be a useful addition
> to the bag of many things I carry around on such callouts. The last thing I
> want is an unprotected WinXP system in the hands of a 'normal user' connected
> directly to the internet; at the very least I will hide it behind NAT while I
> get it properly secured. The router I have will do for now, even if it does not
> get the full 8128k (assuming TT are provisioning systems using Max); we can
> upgrade it later. At the moment, he gets a fairly naff 28k dialup connection,
> so even 500k will be a drastic improvement.

The connection I helped with was provisioned by BT, NOT LLU, and was quite
straightforward. But it was a specific TalkTalk username and password.

This should help you:

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/talktalk/s...=MODEMSETTINGS

--
Regards
Barry

"Jim Howes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eol0be$41d$1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Wise move or otherwise, my Dad has informed me that he has broadband via
> TalkTalk.
>
> Wouldn't have been my choice, and it was a surprise. I checked his line
> via
> samknows.com, and there is a service active on the line. At least it
> wasn't
> (insert hated-ISP-of-the-month here)
>
>
> Problem is configuring the router. I need a username and password from
> him,
> which at the moment he does not think he has. I am wondering if I have to
> somehow connect to some registration system to get a password, or if it is
> something that TalkTalk would have sent through the post.
>
> snip

Found this on the TalkTalk Broadband help desk website

If you've forgotten your username or password, please call 0870 0875 562
from your TalkTalk landline. (Note: this must be done on the actual TalkTalk
telephone line of your Dad as it is an auto response message based on the
calling line identity).
When you connect to TalkTalk Broadband TalkTalk give you a username based on
your telephone number (E.G: (E-Mail Removed)) and a password, both
of which you should receive in your welcome letter. This is your username
for connecting to broadband, and is not an actual e-mail address. It cannot
be used to send and receive e-mails. This username and password is used to
check your identity when you connect to our broadband server. Your computer
can store them for you so you don't have to enter them every time you
connect.
Your original password is a random combination of letters and numbers which
can be changed later via the My Account website.


abenn

On 17 Jan 2007, Jim Howes wrote:

>I've done my time on the helldesk, TYVM, and I now try to avoid offering
>assistance in person, ...

I would have suggested using the free facility (which doesn't need DDNS
to work) but as you have no plans to offer your dad help...