Chorus BB rollout plan Limerick

singularity

I'm interested in getting Chorus BB and though I'm connected to the cable and have digital tv, I can't get BB from them.

I've tried to get a more specific date from the Chorus sales people, but all I can get is that it will be either in a few weeks (before the end of summer) or a couple of months. Pretty vague and conflicting information.

Anyone here have better/more reliable information?

Actually, what is it that is left for them todo? Is it a matter of enabling it or do they need to install things?

steveon

In order to enable the broadband in your area, there is currently a subcontractor Sierra Communications, most workers are Czechoslovakian and in white vans, checking the cabling around the city and where needed updating and replacing old and inadequate cable.

At the moment they are working along the Dublin rd near the Castletroy hotel and also in Thomandgate area.

Also in progress is the replacement of the cabling taps, this is where your connection comes from, all taps are being updated to an 8way, a lot are 2 or 4 way at present to ensure a quality service. Once your area is enabled they usually send out leaflets.

Finally to get broadband a new cable will be ran from the tap to the room you specify to the installer, it should not be split or old cabling should not be used, CT100 cabling is usually the required standard.

Hope that helps...

singularity

Thanks steveon, that's exactly the information I wanted.

steveon

No prob glad to be of assistance...hopefully your area will be updated soon, and you should see an improvement on the analog cabling and newer channels are coming again to the digital lineup as analog shutdown is almost complete around the city.

watty

Also all drop / trunk amplifiers have to amplifiy/pass 5MHz to 65MHz upstream from house to Cable node for Broadband return channel. Originally these did a few TV channels downstream on Band I (45Mhz to 70MHz). So even where cable upgraded to Digital a lot of upgrades are needed.

zilog_jones

steveon wrote:

Finally to get broadband a new cable will be ran from the tap to the room you specify to the installer, it should not be split or old cabling should not be used, CT100 cabling is usually the required standard.

When they do this, will they pass it through the attic or just throw the cable over the roof like they seem to do these days?

steveon

I guess the route they take depends on where you decide you want the broadband connection brought to in your house. But if I'm honest as I know all of the USP installers that install the broadband I can tell you none of them will venture into an attic.

Saying that there is nothing stopping you running the cable yourself from the room required to say perhaps an attic then they have no choice but to bring the cable to that point..or you could pay someone to run a fresh cable...

watty

UPC won't touch "proper" CT100/PF100, They use cheaper RG6.

steveon

UPC do indeed Use CT100 cabling as its supplied directly to them from Chorus, however they Use RG6 cabling for any digiweb installs they do...

singularity

Hey steveon, couple of more questions if you don't mind.

I know I'm way too impatient, but, do you know how long it usually takes for Sierra to cover an area (like Thomondgate)?

Any ideas about future plans to offer even faster connections?

Is the contention ratio the same as for NTL (17:1)?

steveon

I'm not too sure how long it takes for a particular area to be fully upgraded, I guess it depends on the area involved and work levels involved, in Thomangate there is both overhead and underground cabling systems and some parts don't have cabling they only have MMDS so they wont for now be able to get broadband for now anyway..

What you should do is ring chorus and ask to be informed of the time that it will be installed or to put you on pending status...they usually inform people as soon as it has become active in your area...

As to the contention ratio, I think its 21/1 as from what I have seen so far I wasn't overally impressed but to be fair I have a 4mb connection myself so anything less than that always seems slow to me...

altered121

contention for upc in Ireland 17:1 for all four b/band 1mb 2mb 3mb 6mb.