Computers

French keyboards use AZERTY layout, whereas most other keyboards use the QWERTY layout. This means that many letters and symbols - are placed in different places. However, the French keyboard obviously allows direct typing of French accented letters, whereas for example a UK keyboard makes that impossible without entering the 3 or 4 digit code for the letter. Using Windows, you can plug in a different keyboard, and quite easily change the operating system to be able to use either keyboard.

English language software is rare in France. Fortunately, internet shopping has made it easy to order the language version you want, from other countries. Ordering from Amazon UK or simply downloading from the manufacturer is easy.

French electricity supply, suffers frequent power drops in rural areas, or where your house is at the end of the line. Many of these power drops, last only a few seconds, but that is enough to shut down a computer.

A battery backup power supply, called onduleur  in France, is a good idea, to prevent data loss. It will assure that a power drop lasting only a few minutes, will have no impact on your computer, and it will give you time to shut down your computer correctly and not loose your work.

Internet

You can get ADSL high-speed Internet connections, which also allows unlimited 'free' phone calls to landlines in France and 40 countries and a pack of TV channels for a subscription of  about 30 € a month. There is a high availability of ADSL throughout France, although some rural areas are still not covered. 

In cities, cable operators, also provide a similar service, and if you are lucky enough to live in the Herault Department, soon, a Fibre optic service will be launched throughout the department.
Bi-directional satellite access is available, in case you cannot find any other reasonable access, but at an increased cost.

A few local communities are installing wi-fi for local cover. 
It is a stated government policy, that the entire population should have access to high-speed Internet in one form or another, and work is in progress to assure that it will happen. 

If your geographical area is dégroupé, then you don't need France Telecom for your physical line. You can opt for an alternative operator for phone and Internet.

With your broadband connection, you are usually supplied with a second telephone number, through which, you can make your telephone calls  via the ADSL modem (Freebox, Livebox, Neufbox, Alicebox, Dartybox). These calls are frequently free and worldwide. But beware, if your Internet connection or the mains supply goes, so does your phone - and your TV channels if your subscription includes them.

By retaining an active France Telecom line. you can still use your house phone. Another advantage of retaining your France Telecom line is, your ability to route your calls through a cheaper operator such as OneTel, for mobile calls or international calls to destinations not included in the free call subscription with your ISP.

If you're on high-speed Internet, it may be a good idea. to retain a 56k modem, to use as backup, if your high-speed connection is unavailable. Free provides such an access free of charge. You only pay the dial-up calling charge via your phone bill.

Test your line for eligibility:
Test-ligne-adsl.com

ISP's Internet Service Provider; In French: FAI: Fournisseur d'Accès Internet

Dartybox.

Teleconnect. "Anglopack" offer from Budget Telecom, all in English. They offer landline, mobile and ADSL.

 Orange (France Telecom).

SFR  Neuf  Cegetel  Club-Internet  AOL 
Neuf-Cegetel-SFR-AOL-Club-Internet is the bulky result of mergers.

Broadband

1) As Broadband runs over the telephone line it is essential that the line can support the service. Often there are faults on the line between the local exchange and the user’s home that can affect a broadband service. 

Setting the service up for the first time – you may experience problems with the quality of the line, so choose a supplier who will be able to help you with this. If your technical French is not good you may favour a provider who has an English speaking technical support team. These are few and far between. Calls to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and often require you to call over a premium rate number.

 

Speed and quality depend on the distance between exchange and users residence – Very often an improvement can be arrived at by simply tweaking the connection in the telephone exchange.
Your broadband provider will undertake the resolution of faults with France Telecom, or manage it if you rent the line from them. Repairs are usually completed within a week, but can on occasion take longer. 

2) It is essential that your computer has no internal problems that prevent the service operating. Your broadband provider will not be able to help you fix these problems. However they will take you through any problems with setting up the service. Most often the problem is associated with how the modem or router is connected to the service – so follow the installation instructions carefully, as this will solve many problems. 

3) If the service fails once set up, 90% of the problems can be overcome by just rebooting your modem or router. To do this you simply need to switch off the power supply to it for a minute and then switch on again. After about two minutes the service should be live again. Often a reset button can be found on the router. If these measures fail, be ready to provide details of the lights, and their sequence showing on the front of the modem or router, to your provider’s engineer. 

Choose your provider with care as nearly all of them require you to enter into a minimum time agreements, they will ask for an activation fee and there is likely to be a cancellation fee. The need to research providers carefully before signing up is essential. 



 

Non-degroupage, or degroupage.

Broadband in France is described as non-degroupage, or degroupage. As a general rule you will only be able to receive ‘total degroupage’ if you live in a town or a city. This particular service is fast and not only enables you to put your telephone calls over the broadband service, but will often allow reception of television as well. Your telephone calls are made through a line that is connected independently to your router and provides a second telephone number. Many ISPs will encourage you to take out their telephone service and avoid the bi-monthly line rental billing by France Telecom. This service is called pre selection. If you buy this service, you lose your France Telecom service, and then if you have service problems, you have to rely on your ISP getting them put right.  You may be unable to make calls, and will have to use a public pay phone or a mobile. However if you retain your France Telecom connection, with your original fixed telephone number, that will continue to work even if you lose your ISP service for some technical reason. Once the contract has been signed it cannot be broken without paying penalties even if the service cannot be provided! To make matters worse if you decide to return to France Telecom you will have to pay for a new standard telephone line to be reinstalled, so it is a case of buyer beware!

The non-degroupage service is simply a broadband service where you need to have an active telephone line. The speed will vary depending on the distance between you residence and your local exchange. Subject to the speed available you may be able to make calls over your broadband service, in effect giving you a virtual second telephone line using a different telephone number. However check first before using this service as too slow a speed, and noise on the line, will result in clipping of works, loss of complete words and sometimes calls failing completely.