Best wireless internet provider?

rag2gar

Live in Dublin. Just bought a laptop and have wireless internet access with vodafone. At €99 a month with a 1 gig limit, it seems pricey.


Who dyou reckon is the best value?best service?

Appreciate all views thank you

antodeco

Theres 2 main wireless carriers on there.

IBB and Clearwire.

Both operate on the same principal, although clearwire seem to have a better network. They do however throttle p2p, and seem to have some problems with VOIP. I had a few problems with them a few weeks ago, but its all been sorted. I use imesh, and my speeds generally run around 17kbps. I dont do a huge amount of p2p so I dont mind that. Running off a server (itunes eg) I get around 150 - 212kbps, which is just over 1.5mbps. Happy with the service.
In terms of IBB, never used them, so I cant fairly comment on them. If you are interested in Clearwire email alan.ryan@clearwire.ie. Tell him I told you about them. (they have a refer a friend program, so if you sign up, Ill get a month for a euro! (thanks!!))
aNtOdEcO

ghostdancer

well there's also Digiweb Metro which would seem to be by far the choice of anyone who needs to use wireless in here.

whereabout in dublin is it that you can't get dsl? tried ntl/smart/magnet?

sudurban_blues

We're now on our third wireless provider, DigiWeb, and it's too early to say how good/reliable it is. You have a 3-4 week wait for installation, but this is probably testimony to how many dissatisfied customers are migrating to them from their competitors.

Clearwire have a quick install and if all you're interested in is mail and web they're fine. If you like p2p forget about it, in fairness, 17 kbps off iMesh is cack for a supposed broadband service. While were with them they had Bit Torrent blocked, which was initially denied by customer support, and then later admitted.

IBB are schizohphrenics. We had two long-running probolems with them which required protracted hell with their customer support. The amount of time I spent waiting on hold for assistance cost me more than acquiring an additional service provider. On the other hand, when it worked it was excellent, faster than the rest, great symetric upload (excellent for p2p) and you get an individual IP. Good value for money if it works. Recently their customer support has improved, but given the bollocking they were receiving, it was not before time. We left them in the end because of a technical problem outside of their and our control (line of sight to mast).

Digiweb is the only provider which hasn't been reamed here, so draw your won conclusion.

sudurban

Blaster99

rag2gar wrote:

Live in Dublin. Just bought a laptop and have wireless internet access with vodafone. At €99 a month with a 1 gig limit, it seems pricey.


Who dyou reckon is the best value?best service?

Appreciate all views thank you

What exactly are you looking for? A 3G data card? Is that the service you have with Vodafone? That's likely to be the most expensive way to get broadband, if it can even be called broadband.

To be honest with you, I wouldn't go near any of the wireless providers if there's an alternative. It all depends on where you're at and if you have a phone line already.

rag2gar

Manby thanks for help.

Im using broadband to run a garage. I need to take pics of cars, email clients, surf the net, play online poker (don't ask!) I cannot get a basic phone line connection where im based so wireless broadband is the only option unfortunatly. Anto dec i'll pm u if i take up your offer. I prob will! Is it a long wait for installation?

Blaster99

Clearwire usually gets you and up and going in a day, if you have coverage. The good thing with Clearwire is that you can bring the modem home, so you can share the connection between your garage and your home, assuming both are within Clearwire's coverage. They have maps on their site www.clearwire.ie.

Digiweb Metro, who knows how long it'll take to get it installed. Seems to be pretty significant delays in Dublin. I think the jury is still out on that service, but it's worth a shot. They have less high sites than Irish Broadband, so line of sight might be an issue. You need clear air between your building and the nearest mast. This is not a requirement with Clearwire, by the way.

Irish Broadband usually installs in about a week or two, but their service is patchy and it definitely depends on where you're at. It seems most of the northside is diabolical. It's not a service I would want to depend on.

dub45

Is NTL a possiblity for you by any chance? (Just thought I would suggest it before BK does) and beware of Clearwire's draconian renewal terms which they were supposed to adjust ages ago:rolleyes:

23. Termination/Early Termination Fee. You shall maintain Service for the duration of any minimum Initial Term (as set forth on the Order Form). After any Initial Term, Service will automatically renew for additional consecutive one-year periods, unless terminated as provided in these Terms. You may terminate the Service at the end of the Initial Term or at the end of any renewal term, by contacting Clearwire’s Customer Care department as set forth at www.clearwire.ie and giving notice of termination at least sixty (60) days in advance of the next scheduled renewal date. If you terminate your Service for any reason or your Service is terminated by Clearwire for any violation of the Agreement prior to the end of the Initial Term, you will be liable for an early termination fee of $250, or such other early termination fee as may be specified on your Order Form.

I don't belive that any Company with renewal terms such as these deserves support particularly as they claimed ages ago when people challenged them on it that they were waiting on their legal people to give them the go ahead to change them. As can be seen from above they are obviously lifted from the USA T&C's and they cannot be bothered to change them for the Irish Market. You have been warned:mad:

bhickey

dub45 wrote:

Is NTL a possiblity for you by any chance? (Just thought I would suggest it before BK does) and beware of Clearwire's draconian renewal terms which they were supposed to adjust ages ago:

Actually have a read through Irish Broadband's terms & conditions at :

http://www.irishbroadband.ie/terms.php

They seem to have omitted the part about providing & supporting a broadband service?