Joybuy

Who this is for

Households preparing to move

If you need internet soon after moving in, check both broadband and mobile coverage at the new property before relying on your existing set-up. Ofcom advises making those checks before a move.

Homes with an inadequate fixed-line option

A fixed service may be listed for your address without meeting your household's needs. Compare its predicted speeds and orderability with fixed-wireless, mobile and satellite offers; Ofcom cautions that actual availability and speeds can differ at individual premises.

Renters and short-stay households

If permanent installation is difficult or your stay may be brief, compare self-install options and contract terms. Check service eligibility at the property and whether any outdoor equipment or hardware return conditions affect your choice.

What to check before buying

Start with the service that can be ordered at the exact address, then choose hardware that fits its installation requirements and your household's use. Ofcom's coverage results are predictions, so confirm each shortlisted route with its provider.

Fixed-line equipment

Consider it when: An adequate fixed service can be ordered and the router or hub matches the provider's connection type.

Bear in mind: Buying a router cannot make an unavailable fixed connection orderable; BT also says fibre hubs must be designed for that service.

Fixed-wireless home hub

Consider it when: A provider accepts your address for its home 4G/5G service and offers suitable hub equipment.

Bear in mind: A phone's signal does not confirm home-service eligibility. Vodafone says its offer may require an outdoor rather than an indoor hub.

Portable mobile router

Consider it when: You need a connection you can move or a temporary option while a home service is arranged, and the selected network works where you will use it.

Bear in mind: EE distinguishes portable mobile Wi-Fi from its home hubs; check the device's intended use and the plan's data allowance before making it your main connection.

Satellite hardware

Consider it when: Fixed, fixed-wireless and mobile options remain inadequate and the property can accommodate an external dish.

Bear in mind: Confirm siting and property permissions before ordering. Starlink says its stated maximum speeds are not guaranteed and may fall during congestion.

Concern	What to check	Who this matters to
Address eligibility	Check the exact address with Ofcom and each shortlisted provider; distinguish predicted speeds from an orderable service.	If I am moving, I need to know which connection I can actually arrange before choosing equipment. Around 33% of consumers put address certainty first.
Setup and flexibility	Check activation and installation requirements, any outdoor unit, the minimum term and the return sequence.	For a short stay or a delayed fixed installation, I need a workable connection without committing to the wrong set-up. Around 27% of consumers make flexible setup their primary concern.
Household use	Compare the plan's data terms and the device's stated connected-device capability with your usual simultaneous use.	If several people rely on the connection, I need the equipment and plan to fit our normal device and data use. Around 20% of consumers prioritise household capacity and data planning.
Fallback connection	Confirm the satellite address offer, dish siting and property permissions; also check whether you qualify to request an upgraded connection under Ofcom's broadband scheme.	When terrestrial options remain inadequate, I need a feasible alternative before committing to dish installation. For around 20% of consumers, finding that fallback is the primary concern.

Buying pitfalls

Buying from a postcode-level coverage result

Ofcom warns that predicted availability and speeds can differ at an individual property, including where local conditions affect fixed-wireless service.

Check the full address with Ofcom and the provider before buying equipment tied to that route.
Using a portable hotspot as an assumed home-hub substitute

EE markets portable mobile Wi-Fi and home hubs for different uses; the device and its plan both matter when several household devices need a connection.

Decide whether you need portable access or a main home connection, then check the intended use, connected-device capability and data terms.
Assuming a 5G hub will stay indoors

Vodafone says it may offer an indoor or outdoor hub according to where the signal is strongest. An outdoor unit changes what installation is acceptable at the property.

Check the equipment offered for your address and obtain any necessary property permission before accepting an exterior installation.
Treating a satellite kit return as separate from the service

Starlink says returning its kit requires cancelling the subscription; its stated hardware refund eligibility depends on cancellation within its 30-day return period.

Check the current service and return terms, and establish whether the dish can be installed, before ordering.

Brands relevant to these connection routes

BT

A fixed-line provider with home hubs for its services.

Relevant when BT confirms that fixed broadband can be ordered at the property.
BT says a hub must be designed for fibre; check the supported equipment and whether a separate modem is needed for your set-up.

EE

Offers 4G/5G home hubs and portable mobile Wi-Fi devices.

Its range lets consumers assess home and portable equipment for different uses.
Check coverage where the device will be used and the chosen plan's allowance rather than assuming a portable device suits whole-home use.

Three

Offers 4G/5G fixed-wireless home broadband and home-hub options.

Three describes its home service as landline-free, subject to its coverage check.
Confirm home-broadband eligibility at the exact address and read the selected plan's data and return terms.

Vodafone

Offers 5G home broadband with equipment selected according to signal conditions.

Vodafone says an address may be offered an indoor 5G Hub or a self-installed Outdoor Hub.
Check which unit is offered and whether exterior installation is acceptable at your property.

Starlink

Provides satellite service with hardware for homes considering a non-terrestrial route.

Relevant to assess when local fixed and wireless routes remain inadequate and dish installation is feasible.
Starlink says stated maximum speeds are not guaranteed and may slow during congestion; check its service and kit-return conditions.

Joybuy products

Common questions

Does Ofcom's checker confirm that I can order the service shown?

No. Ofcom says actual availability and received speeds can differ from its predictions at a property. Use the result to shortlist connection routes, then check the full address with each relevant provider before ordering hardware.

Why might a home 5G offer differ from the signal on my phone?

A phone signal does not establish eligibility for a provider's home fixed-wireless service. Ofcom says fixed-wireless coverage is modelled and local conditions can prevent service at a premises despite a prediction; use the home-broadband provider's address checker.

Will a fixed-line router need a separate modem?

That depends on the provider's connection type and the equipment already installed or supplied. BT says fibre requires a suitable hub and that certain older hubs need an Openreach modem; confirm your provider's requirements before buying a router.

What should I check before relying on a satellite kit return?

Check both the service cancellation steps and the hardware return terms. Starlink says kit returns require subscription cancellation and that cancellation within its stated 30-day return period can make the hardware eligible for a full refund.

Is there another route to investigate before buying satellite hardware?

Possibly. Ofcom says that if a home cannot obtain at least 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload, it may qualify to request an upgraded connection from BT, or KCOM in the Hull area. The provider must assess eligibility and costs, so this is not an automatic connection offer.