NTL phone service

PauloMN

Hope this is the right forum for this. I have NTL broadband and got a leaflet and phone call from NTL telling me about their new phone service. Free line rental for 3 months and then €4 per month thereafter.

Is this just a VoIP service? I am (kind-of) trying Freespeech at the moment as I had intended to drop Eircom completely, but haven't been overwhelmed with the quality of the service. The main problem is the delay which doesn't hugely annoy me but can seem to annoy others I've spoken to using that connection.

If the NTL service is not going to be as reliable as a standard phone line in terms of quality and availability, then I don't see the point in getting it.

Anyone on here used it?

jimmycrackcorm

It is VOIP with QOS implemented so it might be slightly better. But if you have QOS on yoiur router then I don't think you will benefit much.

It might not do any hamr to trial broadtalk and blueface also. I'm happy with Freespeech now that they seem to provide caller-id.

RangeR

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

It is VOIP with QOS implemented so it might be slightly better. But if you have QOS on yoiur router then I don't think you will benefit much.

It might not do any hamr to trial broadtalk and blueface also. I'm happy with Freespeech now that they seem to provide caller-id.

QOS on your router is totally different from QOS on the NTL network. It's apples and oranges. Your router can only QOS what goes through it. After the VoIP leaves your router, it doesn't get priority over the internet.

With NTL QOS [in theory, anyway], the VoIP call gets priority until it leaves the NTL network. For most local calls the "leaving the network" part is probably to a phone line.

Not even blueface or "broadtalk" can compete with that QOS.

Then again, NO QOS can work miracles with a ****e broadband package :P

jimmycrackcorm

IrishTLR wrote:

QOS on your router is totally different from QOS on the NTL network. It's apples and oranges. Your router can only QOS what goes through it. After the VoIP leaves your router, it doesn't get priority over the internet.

With NTL QOS [in theory, anyway], the VoIP call gets priority until it leaves the NTL network. For most local calls the "leaving the network" part is probably to a phone line.

Not even blueface or "broadtalk" can compete with that QOS.

Then again, NO QOS can work miracles with a ****e broadband package :P

Due to the nature of a cable modem broadband delivery, your BB has no chance of doing any QOS as all other cable modems on your block are sharing the same range of frequencies. All the NTL ATA does is apply the same QOS as any decent router does.

while they do have an advantage in their own network for QOS, it is generally not the ISP network that has the voip issues as most ISPs have adequate bandwith. You only have to set up an unrestricted P2P download to see the negative effects in your own LAN without QOS.

My NTL 6mb connection shows consistent top speeds and low latencies so I'd doubt that paying NTL an extra tenner would get better results.

sirlinux

I would guess the ntl router tags the traffic so it get's priority at edge routers (maybe something as simple as dscp with an ef tag), and i would say they have strict routing policy to drop other traffic in favour of there own voip traffic, the qos on ntl's voip product is always going to be better than your own qos as it's end to end.

BostonB

I asked about it here too
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055097232

I could never get consistent call quality with Blueface + NTL. It varied from ok to unusable. The main problem with it was the latency on NTL. Skype seemed better, but I never made extensive use of it. I was wondering, and haven't checked it out yet. Regarding the NTL offer can you cancel without penalty during the 3 month free trial?

Cabaal

Got a call from NTL yesterday trying to sell me their VoIP setup, I was happy to tell them that I already have such a service, I don't pay line rental as its pay as you go

Thanks blueface
Though I should use it more...

jimmycrackcorm

BostonB wrote:

I asked about it here too
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055097232

I could never get consistent call quality with Blueface + NTL. It varied from ok to unusable. The main problem with it was the latency on NTL. Skype seemed better, but I never made extensive use of it. I was wondering, and haven't checked it out yet. Regarding the NTL offer can you cancel without penalty during the 3 month free trial?

I seriously doubt that NTL's own service woudl be any better. I've got consistent latency and so my freespeech is fine. In fact I was trying to talk to someone the other night on my mobile phone but the connection was bad so I used fring on the phone to call him back using my voip and that worked much better.

MHP

I had the UPC phone service installed yesterday. It's very good. I tried three other VoIP providers and had problems with quality and CallerID on all of them. No problems (so far) with UPC.
The modem is a Scientific Atlanta (Cisco) EPC2203.
Looks like I'll be porting my Eircom number to UPC soon

dubadubdub

MHP wrote:

I had the UPC phone service installed yesterday. It's very good. I tried three other VoIP providers and had problems with quality and CallerID on all of them. No problems (so far) with UPC.
The modem is a Scientific Atlanta (Cisco) EPC2203.
Looks like I'll be porting my Eircom number to UPC soon

Now that you've had this a few days I'd be interested to hear how consistent the call quality has been for you. Thinking about making the move myself.

Also which NTL BB package are you on?

Thanks in advance.

MHP

dubadubdub wrote:

Now that you've had this a few days I'd be interested to hear how consistent the call quality has been for you. Thinking about making the move myself.

Also which NTL BB package are you on?

Totally consistent - no difference between it and the Eircom line even with simultaneous heavy internet usage. I've sent off my number porting form.

I have the 3Mb package.

dubadubdub

MHP wrote:

Totally consistent - no difference between it and the Eircom line even with simultaneous heavy internet usage. I've sent off my number porting form.

I have the 3Mb package.

Thanks for the reply.

Do you use a wireless DECT phone with it? When I tested Blueface there was a real drop in call quality when I connected a wireless phone.

They just replace the modem?

No more questions after this I promise!

MHP

I've used a DECT phone and a wired phone with it - both good.

They take away the old modem and replace it with a Scientific Atlanta (Cisco) EPC2203. This has Ethernet or USB connections (I use Ethernet) and two phone sockets. The only complaint I have with it is that the green LEDs are too bright, but that was easily cured by sticking some red masking film over them.

Something I didn't mention is that this is not a SIP system but MGCP/NCS. There are no user-configurable settings so you can't, for example, set up call forwarding.

koloughlin

One comment on using you ISP's phone service, it's one more way they lock you in and make it difficult to ever change to another provider. It's similar I suppose to the ISP specific email addresses that they provide. My opinion (for what it's worth ) is to get an email provider to provide email, a VoIP provider to provide VoIP and ISP to provide access. That way you can pick the ones that meet your needs best, and you can change with minimum fuss if you find that the service isn't as you expected.

unkel

Finally the first triple play in Ireland then!

Cabaal wrote:

Got a call from NTL yesterday trying to sell me their VoIP setup, I was happy to tell them that I already have such a service, I don't pay line rental as its pay as you go

Blueface have a €10 per month line rental (unless you don't need a geographic number), so €4 is a lot cheaper

Edit: just looked at the ntl website and the call charges are very high compared to VOIP providers like blueface. I'll stay put for the moment

koloughlin

unkel wrote:

Blueface have a €10 per month line rental (unless you don't need a geographic number), so €4 is a lot cheaper

Doesn't the €10 per month from Blueface also include 300 minutes of calling, so it's not really equivalent to line rental.

Cabaal

koloughlin wrote:

Doesn't the €10 per month from Blueface also include 300 minutes of calling, so it's not really equivalent to line rental.

It does your right,
I used to use the blueface 9.99 service but really didn't need the 051 number anymore and wasn't using it enough (hardly ever used all the 300 free min) so I was happy to change to a PAYG a/c and get a 076 number.

Recently I've given up using my ATA and phone and instead find it easier to use my macbook and a USB headset

The only real advantage NTL have over Blueface is they can assign better QOS to their service so it won't be affected as much by heavy downloading which might be useful for heavy downloaders

BostonB

Cabaal wrote:

...
The only real advantage NTL have over Blueface is they can assign better QOS to their service so it won't be affected as much by heavy downloading which might be useful for heavy downloaders

Or contention effected by the same downloaders...I'm guessing?

Rosser

Does anyone know if you can run a centrally monitored house alarm if you use something like NTL phone. I've got a phonewatch system so presumably that's out but if I switched the monitoring to someone else can VOIP do this? Cheers

mwrf

Rosser wrote:

Does anyone know if you can run a centrally monitored house alarm if you use something like NTL phone. I've got a phonewatch system so presumably that's out but if I switched the monitoring to someone else can VOIP do this? Cheers

there could be problems, data doesnt travel well on voip.

dubadubdub

Rosser wrote:

Does anyone know if you can run a centrally monitored house alarm if you use something like NTL phone. I've got a phonewatch system so presumably that's out but if I switched the monitoring to someone else can VOIP do this? Cheers

You could get your Eircom Phonewatch alarm fitted with Eirlink. This enables them to monitor your alarm via GSM, like a mobile phone. Last time I checked with Phonewatch they charged around €270 to install it and the monthly monitoring fee remained the same.

Rosser

Thanks - I'll look into that

Aquos76

Got Ntl phones service installed today and I must admit, so far the quality has been fantastic. No difference from an eircom line. I have taken the anytime package from them also, So €14 a month for unlimited land line calls and line rental on a line as good a quality as a land line is excellent value. I didn't bother with porting my number over as I had already cancelled with my current provider.

The only flaw I can find is only one of the telephone sockets on the back of the modem actually works. The one closest to the power socket. Is this the same with others?

Also, did anyone else have any problems with their email passwords since the change over. My mail settings were spot on before I got the new modem installed, but now its giving me incorrect details error.

One final thing, at this moment in time, Ntl cannot facilitate customers who want their number to show up as a private number when a call is being made. They say its a software related problem and should be sorted in the near future. In the mean time, I must use the 141 prefix.

BostonB

Those you of you finding the phone service good quality. Have you had any problems with your NTL before?

MHP

Yes, only line 1 works.

No problems here with email passwords.

I got my first bill since installing the phone service. It's supposed to be free for the first six months and €4.02 per month thereafter. Guess what! They charged me €15!

Aquos76

MHP wrote:

Yes, only line 1 works.

No problems here with email passwords.

I got my first bill since installing the phone service. It's supposed to be free for the first six months and €4.02 per month thereafter. Guess what! They charged me €15!

€15, I take it that you also took the €10 package for unlimited calls too. Did you check to see if there are any credits on your bill. i think the way they do it is charge yo for all services and then credit you back whatever promotion you are on.

Aquos76

BostonB wrote:

Those you of you finding the phone service good quality. Have you had any problems with your NTL before?

Generally I find their BB service very consistent.

MHP

Aquos76 wrote:

€15, I take it that you also took the €10 package for unlimited calls too. Did you check to see if there are any credits on your bill. i think the way they do it is charge yo for all services and then credit you back whatever promotion you are on.

No, I took the basic package. The bill reads as follows:

Digital Telephony - Basic......15.00
6 Mth Promo: TV/Broadband/Phone......-2.73

NTL's billing department couldn't figure it out either. They said they'll credit me with €15 on my next bill and hope it doesn't happen next time.

stoneroses

Aquos76 wrote:

Also, did anyone else have any problems with their email passwords since the change over. My mail settings were spot on before I got the new modem installed, but now its giving me incorrect details error.

.

With the mail change your user name format has changed and must be as follow Fname.Sname@upcmail.ie YOU MUST INCLUDE THE @UPCMAIL.IE as part of the username.

Aquos76

I got my email sorted out. They had reset my password at their end for some unknown reason.

MHP

Got a call from NTL this morning, telling me that my Eircom number has been ported. I sent the form to them only two weeks ago - not bad!

Cabaal

MHP wrote:

Got a call from NTL this morning, telling me that my Eircom number has been ported. I sent the form to them only two weeks ago - not bad!

Thats pretty impressive alright, shame the **** over other providers like blueface...who funnily enough afaik use NTL for the number porting setup

solas

I

Aquos76 wrote:

€15, I take it that you also took the €10 package for unlimited calls too. Did you check to see if there are any credits on your bill. i think the way they do it is charge yo for all services and then credit you back whatever promotion you are on.

signed up this week and I don't remember anyone offering me that package. sounds like a good deal if i could get it.
I'm curious though if any of you can use sms with the ntl line, do they have to activate it on their end?

MHP

solas wrote:

I

I'm curious though if any of you can use sms with the ntl line, do they have to activate it on their end?

That's a coincidence. I was trying to get text messaging to work today without success, so I sent an email to support asking how to set it up. It may not be possible.

solas

let me know how you get on. haven't the will to fone ntl to find out.

Aquos76

Actually its €14 per month after the initial 6 month offer. €10 for unlimited land line calls and €4 for line rental. to avail of the €4 line rental charge you must have atleast 3 ntl services, ie.. TV, BB, and Phone or TV, Digital, and Phone.

With regards to sms, I cant answer you on that one, sorry.

PauloMN

Got the phone service installed on Friday. First impressions are that it is much more solid/stable than the Freespeech account I had tried. People can hear me on this one without breakups, the sound is louder, clearer and noise free (unlike my Freespeech was). It's on a par with an Eircom line in terms of sound quality so far.

They replaced my BB modem (think I had a 250 - the small blue one) with a larger unit as described above.

I had been having some problems with DTMF via Freespeech, none at all with the NTL service.

Going to trial it for another few weeks just to make sure I'm satisfied with it and then port my Eircom number.

I suppose it depends how often you use the phone. Our phone use is limited, we were finding that our Eircom bills were around €5 per month of calls, and the €24 or whatever a month line rental - just not worth keeping the Eircom line at that cost.

MHP

Got a response from NTL support re SMS:

"Unfortunately we do not support this with our Telephone line."

BostonB

I'm wondering how the call charges work out in relation to other BB/telephony bundles

brian_rbk

Is there a setup or installation charge for ntl's telephone service? At the moment im on blueface using ntl broadband. Sound quality is great with them I bought my own ATA router and get 300 mins to landlines in about 20 countries (irl uk usa canada oz etc... )for 10euro a month. NTL seem a little more expensive.

mrblack

PauloMN wrote:

Going to trial it for another few weeks just to make sure I'm satisfied with it and then port my Eircom number.

I got our number ported last Wednesday and am very happy with the quality and price.

We had one minor problem in that our number showed up on peoples callerid screens with an extra 0 at the start. NTL quickly fixed it in a day or so and even called back many times to confirm the fault has been satisfactorily fixed.
I was surprised at the level of customer service to be honest given their poor history in that area.
Also on a call last night I purposefully downloaded a lot of data and both phone call quality & d/l speed seemed not to affect eachother at all. When I trialled freespeech last year this was a constant problem
I am on the 2MB package.

Mrblack

claw14

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but those of you that have the NTL phone service installed, have you only one phone working off the router ? Obviously most houses would have a few phones arount the house. Have any of ye hooked more than one phone to the router ? Can you use the existing cabelling ?
I have NTL broadband in one room (Study/Computer room) and would need phones in Hall, Kitchen, living room, etc.

IrlJidel

I just bought a twin set philips cordless DECT phone in argos.

Only the 'base station' needs to be plugged into the NTL MTA. . All the handsets communicate with the base station

The other stations just need access to a power plug to recharge your handsets.

MickyJoe

Claw14:

In theory there should be no problem connecting into your existing wiring but make sure that you disconnect your internal wiring from the incoming Eircom cable first. Then connect between an existing phone socket and your VoIP ATA port. Is the port cabable of supporting more than one device connected to it and associated cabling - thats another matter !

mrblack

MickyJoe wrote:

Claw14:

In theory there should be no problem connecting into your existing wiring but make sure that you disconnect your internal wiring from the incoming Eircom cable first. Then connect between an existing phone socket and your VoIP ATA port. Is the port cabable of supporting more than one device connected to it and associated cabling - thats another matter !

Claw14,
I have connected my ntl voip router to my houses internal telephone wiring so as to have two phones working now, as I had when eircom provided our phone service. But I can only get one phone to work properly. The other phone just gives an engaged tone all the time and will not either ring or dial out. I have disconnected eircoms incoming cable alright -now I am at a loss as to the cause of the problem.

Aquos76

Are you using a splitter in the back on the router, as only one of the two telephone sockets actually work

mrblack

Aquos76 wrote:

Are you using a splitter in the back on the router, as only one of the two telephone sockets actually work

I had plugged a phone cable from the ntl router into a pre-existing bedroom wallphone socket-after disconnecting the eircom incoming cable firstly downstairs. The socket I have plugged the router into is in the box bedroom. The only other telephone socket that would work is in the main bedroom next door. The downstairs wallphone socket will not work for some reason.

Now based on Aquos76's reply I have slightly changed my setup and used a splitter directly at the router to connect a Dect cordless phone, then connected the other side of the splitter into the existing phone socket and the main bedroom phone is still working. So I have two phones at present, a wired & a cordless. This is an improvement.
But my main problem though is that I need a third line downstairs to work so as my sky box can be permanently connected to a phone line. Since my switch to NTL phone service the skybox is disconnected and I have had an onscreen box pop up asking for the telephone to be reconnected recently.

mrblack

Tanabe

I got the call from UPC (as they are now known) yesterday about their digital phone service. The girl assured me that text messaging is now available through this system. Is this correct?

Aquos76

Tanabe wrote: »

I got the call from UPC (as they are now known) yesterday about their digital phone service. The girl assured me that text messaging is now available through this system. Is this correct?

Well I tried sending one from home phone to mobile and vice versa and none of them were delivered. So I guess its not working.

Tanabe

Sales talkin' b**ch! Thanks for the reply Aquos, besides the texting side of it being a non runner then, what's the digital phone quality/service like anyway?

Cheers.

Aquos76

I find their service works perfect 95% of the time. There are occasions when I sometimes pick up the phone and I get a double tone which indicates a fault. When this happens its not usally for too long. However, this is fairly rare that it happens.

The way I look at it, I make more calls that what I receive, My main phone is my mobile, so I prefer to pay €4 pm instead of €25 pm for line rental.