NTL broadband unavailable in Ranelagh

dunkamania

After a two week wait, NTL finally told us that they cant provide our house in Ranelagh with Broadband, although they can provide their tv packages. This has me really confused, as I thought NTL was in Ranelagh. What reasons are their for NTL being unable to provide broadband, and am I going to have the same issues with others, Eircom etc?

There has never been a fixed line in the house, so I presume I have to get one installed, and then try and get setup. Am I likely to run into similar issues with other providers. Need a relatively fast and stable connection for gaming, so a plug in provider, would not really suitable.

Any thoughts, bearing in mind I am obviously not very tech-savy

Thanks

stanley1

smart, they have online line checker.

http://www.smarttelecom.ie/

dangerousdavid

dunkamania wrote: »

After a two week wait, NTL finally told us that they cant provide our house in Ranelagh with Broadband, although they can provide their tv packages. This has me really confused, as I thought NTL was in Ranelagh. What reasons are their for NTL being unable to provide broadband, and am I going to have the same issues with others, Eircom etc?

There has never been a fixed line in the house, so I presume I have to get one installed, and then try and get setup. Am I likely to run into similar issues with other providers. Need a relatively fast and stable connection for gaming, so a plug in provider, would not really suitable.

Any thoughts, bearing in mind I am obviously not very tech-savy

Thanks

I recently got BT installed in Ranelagh, had to pay €120-ish for the phone line install. Paying about €60 for a good phone package (i get free landline calls to UK) and the top broadband package.

The top BB package is 24mb but only 7.6 is supposedly available in Ranelagh, I regularly test at around 10mb though. Even had one at 26mb?!!

I use the Wii online, while downloading movies and sheeeeeat and the connection is perfect.

runswithascript

Irish Broadband Breeze 3mbps is available in Ranelagh, they've a mast on top of Chartbusters or you could use the one from The Burlington as I do. Eircom is also available. Go go Ranelagh!

As I posted in another thread this afternoon when I first had the fixed line installed it wouldn't pass the test for two months so I had it disconnected and it only passed when I had it reconnected a year later.

lucernarian

NTL's network is sh** in much of Dublin 6 as a whole. There are no residential LLU operators in the Rathmines exchange either, which serves most of Ranelagh. So bye bye to Smart and BT's 24 mbit stuff if you're connected to that exchange.

Wireless seems to be your friend in that area.

Btw I thought eircom had a promotion going on where a new line install was free?

dangerousdavid

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

. There are no residential LLU operators in the Rathmines exchange either, which serves most of Ranelagh. So bye bye to Smart and BT's 24 mbit stuff if you're connected to that exchange.

Does that mean forever, or just at the moment?

kaimera

NTL's network is sh** in much of Dublin 6 as a whole

works pretty damn well just around the corner in Milltown for me

obsydion

Yep, same amount of time for UPC to get back to me saying Digital TV was available but not for broadband....

We don't have a phoneline connected as of yet so can someone tell me if Smart is available in Ranelagh? Otherwise, what are my other options? I'm happy with a 3Mbit for surfing and the odd torrent.

Steffano2002

My sister's in the same boat in Ranelagh too... Not a broadband-friendly area at all!

meepins

Can anyone elaborate on why NTL can provide a digital TV service but not a broadband service to the same house?
The NTL box has a connection on the back of it so I assumed they would both run on the same line.
I'm in Cabra and supposedly broadband is available in most parts except my road.. odd.

yoyo

meepins wrote: »

Can anyone elaborate on why NTL can provide a digital TV service but not a broadband service to the same house?
The NTL box has a connection on the back of it so I assumed they would both run on the same line.
I'm in Cabra and supposedly broadband is available in most parts except my road.. odd.

I was told NTL couldn't get "Planning Permission" to lay new wires which are capable of transfering broadband in Rathmines, maybe its the safe for Renalagh?

Nick

DingDong

yoyo wrote: »

I was told NTL couldn't get "Planning Permission" to lay new wires which are capable of transfering broadband in Rathmines, maybe its the safe for Renalagh?

Nick

LOL Load of crap someone was telling you Nick.
Over the next couple of month all of Rathmines, Ranelagh, Rathgar and the adjoining areas are to be rebuilt.

Steffano2002

DingDong wrote: »

LOL Load of crap someone was telling you Nick.
Over the next couple of month all of Rathmines, Ranelagh, Rathgar and the adjoining areas are to be rebuilt.

that's what they told my sister "a couple of months" ago... I'll believe when I see it!

paddyk

Folks just to add a question to this thread. Is there any way of finding out when/if NTL are going to upgrade an area.

I am in the same boat as the others here, I can get their Digital TV package but no broadband.

Is anyone in the "know" about roll out of NTL BB?

I am in the Jobstown area of Tallaght. Estates around me have BB from them. In fact when the installer came to put in the digital box he said he was surprised we did not have broadband.

DingDong

paddyk wrote: »

Folks just to add a question to this thread. Is there any way of finding out when/if NTL are going to upgrade an area.

I am in the same boat as the others here, I can get their Digital TV package but no broadband.

Is anyone in the "know" about roll out of NTL BB?

I am in the Jobstown area of Tallaght. Estates around me have BB from them. In fact when the installer came to put in the digital box he said he was surprised we did not have broadband.

Doesn't look likely for this year Paddy, it probably will be done next year.

paddyk

Thanks for the reply DingDong. I have signed up with Smart for the higher upload, just waiting for them to do their thing. I'll have to settle for that till next year:D

lucernarian

Steffano2002 wrote: »

that's what they told my sister "a couple of months" ago... I'll believe when I see it!

I'm pleased to say that I'm seeing NTL at work now in parts of rathmines, making crap of foothpaths and the like. Parts of Milltown and of Harold's X are the only places I've seen with the upgraded cabling in Dublin 6 as it stands. It looks indeed like NTL broadband will be widely available during the summer in D6.

Steffano2002

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I'm pleased to say that I'm seeing NTL at work now in parts of rathmines, making crap of foothpaths and the like. Parts of Milltown and of Harold's X are the only places I've seen with the upgraded cabling in Dublin 6 as it stands. It looks indeed like NTL broadband will be widely available during the summer in D6.

w00t w00t!

Facelessman

Another potential ray of light is that per the Magnet sales people the Rathmines exchange will be unbundled in late May/June which will open up 24mb broadband for €65 including line rental.

I currently have Eircom home professional (7.6mb) due to the lack of options. It works out at a painful €80/mth including line rental at the moment.

Anybody know if Smart will move into Ranelagh soon?

spectre

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

There are no residential LLU operators in the Rathmines exchange either, which serves most of Ranelagh. So bye bye to Smart and BT's 24 mbit stuff if you're connected to that exchange.

I'm confused. I've just moved into a place in Ranelagh which has rubbish BT. I just tried the linechecker on smart and apparently, their service isn't available. Is BT not a LLU operator just like Smart?

Steffano2002

spectre wrote: »

I'm confused. I've just moved into a place in Ranelagh which has rubbish BT. I just tried the linechecker on smart and apparently, their service isn't available. Is BT not a LLU operator just like Smart?

Good question. Had an argument with a co-worker this moring about this.

If BT have unbundled some Exchanges recently, does this mean the BT customers on these Exchanges are now on a BT-owned network (like Smart and Magnet)? Or are they still on the Eircom network?

kjansch

Hi

Im about to move into ranelagh myself .and am considering new internet packages..
Im wondering what people think is the best available currently,
Id ideally prefer not to bother with eircom and their line rental charges..
so that leaves me with the likes of Irish Broadbands Breeze Fixed wireless option ..
Anyone have opinions on how this package perfroms ?I remember reading comments about downtime with Irsh Broadband a few years ago..anybody have these issues?anything else to say about it ,other issues ,concerns ?
Issues with torrent files etc ?
What is the general consensus for the best ,most reliable service ,for the home user ,currently available ?

lucernarian

BT are only LLU on a few exchanges "nationwide" (some in the cities). Rathmines is not one of them, not for residential broadband anyhow.

obsydion

I live next to the park behind Superquin. I've been pulling my hair out trying to decide who to go with since NTL/Smart aren't available. I wouldn't use the landline so my options are mobile broadband or one of the wireless packages offered by Irish BB or Digiweb. With all this hesitation maybe NTL will be available by the time I make a decision? Does anyone have any realistic info on the matter or is it just heresay?

lucernarian

I don't know about Ranelagh/Charlemont, but they are making inroads into Dublin 6 as a whole... There's a couple of NTL staff who float about on boards. If anyone reads this, an update would be great!:P

Henry O'Henry

I think it's safe to say that whoever (UPC, Magnet, Smart or even god help us BT!) gets their act together 1st, will pick up a lot of business in the Ranelagh area. I wonder who's winning the race at the moment, I believe it might be Magnet.

DingDong

D6 should be completely rebuilt by the end of October. A number of areas in D6 will be completed before this date (starting from June), so you can take October as worse case

Jev/N

obsydion wrote: »

I live next to the park behind Superquin. I've been pulling my hair out trying to decide who to go with since NTL/Smart aren't available. I wouldn't use the landline so my options are mobile broadband or one of the wireless packages offered by Irish BB or Digiweb. With all this hesitation maybe NTL will be available by the time I make a decision? Does anyone have any realistic info on the matter or is it just heresay?

I've had to deal with Ripwave for the time being as I can't get IBB Breeze or Digiweb Metro due to trees and the luas bridge in the way! You could get them to come out but I wouldn't bank on having a signal

Facelessman

ding dong....where are you getting your info? do you mean NTL, Smart & Magnet? that would be great if it happens!

DingDong

Facelessman wrote: »

ding dong....where are you getting your info? do you mean NTL, Smart & Magnet? that would be great if it happens!

I work for UPC/NTL

lucernarian

DingDong wrote: »

D6 should be completely rebuilt by the end of October. A number of areas in D6 will be completed before this date (starting from June), so you can take October as worse case

Thanks for that! Will there be any meaningful upgrades done to the national UPC network after this?? I can't think of any other areas that don't have their cable network renovated. (Save for the odd housing estate)

Henry O'Henry

Ding Dong just a quick question thats way off topic, but can you tell me if at any stage, UPC intend to pipe HD tv channels through all this lovely new cable network.
I'd get great satisfaction from telling both Sky & BT where to stick their services in the one day.

obsydion

DingDong wrote: »

D6 should be completely rebuilt by the end of October. A number of areas in D6 will be completed before this date (starting from June), so you can take October as worse case

However skeptical I am, I will take that as a a beacon of hope. In Ranelagh I am stuck between a rock and a hard place: Sub-par Digiweb metro or insanely expensive line rental+broadband packages from Eircom/BT etc. Is there some sort of mailing list we can subscribe so we can be informed as soon as UPC broadband is available?

_Sidhe_

Henry O'Henry wrote: »

Ding Dong just a quick question thats way off topic, but can you tell me if at any stage, UPC intend to pipe HD tv channels through all this lovely new cable network.
I'd get great satisfaction from telling both Sky & BT where to stick their services in the one day.

Quarter 2 2009 according to their CEO in an interview in the Irish Times I think, a few months back.
(Not sure if that was buisiness quarter however, which would actually make it autumn)

I'm guessing that they want to get the whole dodgy box thing sorted first.
UPC accross Europe have had HDTV for a few years.

DingDong

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Thanks for that! Will there be any meaningful upgrades done to the national UPC network after this?? I can't think of any other areas that don't have their cable network renovated. (Save for the odd housing estate)

Not too sure what your asking TBC. But all the network is being upgraded

Henry O'Henry wrote: »

Ding Dong just a quick question thats way off topic, but can you tell me if at any stage, UPC intend to pipe HD tv channels through all this lovely new cable network.
I'd get great satisfaction from telling both Sky & BT where to stick their services in the one day.

June was the last date I heard.

obsydion wrote: »

However skeptical I am, I will take that as a a beacon of hope. In Ranelagh I am stuck between a rock and a hard place: Sub-par Digiweb metro or insanely expensive line rental+broadband packages from Eircom/BT etc. Is there some sort of mailing list we can subscribe so we can be informed as soon as UPC broadband is available?

No mailing list but as soon as its available, you will probably here from sales or some sort of literature will arrive in your door.

lucernarian

Sorry if I was vague. Do UPC plan to do any other major upgrades/replacements of its cable infrastructure once they have Dublin 6 done, or is UPC's cable renovations finished by October?

DingDong

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Sorry if I was vague. Do UPC plan to do any other major upgrades/replacements of its cable infrastructure once they have Dublin 6 done, or is UPC's cable renovations finished by October?

D6 is only a small part of the upgrade other areas are being upgraded at the same time. The rebuild project will continue after October.

obsydion

Walked out of my house this morning (Northbrook Avenue) and almost tripped over a sign telling me Chorus/NTL was upgrading the cables in the area!!! Sure enough I saw a couple of guys unfurling cables and waist deep in soil gaining access to the existing infrastructure. The pessimist in me says that even with such an obvious sign, it still may mean that I have to wait a month or so for the lines to be activated? Can someone with more of a clue please let me know if this is the case or can I pretty much ring NTL on Monday to order my broadband?

PCPhoto

just moved into Northbrook Ave......

looking at options for Broadband.... trying to decide, should I wait for NTL ? how long will they be and will it be decent/problem free.

at the moment hearing rumours that Magnet offer fiberoptic broadband in my area (Unconfirmed) .... anyone have any dealings with Magnet ? are they good/reliable ..... are they fast with solving downtime.

jimi_t

NTL can't even manage to cobble together a reasonably solid TV service - Have had NTL/UPC digital for the last 5-6 years in Ranelagh Village and it freezes up badly at least once a week. Eircom broadband has gone to complete **** at the moment as well, on the 3mb package and it it's incredibly inconsistent, it'll be fine some of the time but then you get this kind of **** in the evenings



and thats the best of 7 consecutive tests. What a load of cobblers

Magnet: Rory

PCPhoto wrote: »

just moved into Northbrook Ave......

looking at options for Broadband.... trying to decide, should I wait for NTL ? how long will they be and will it be decent/problem free.

at the moment hearing rumours that Magnet offer fiberoptic broadband in my area (Unconfirmed) .... anyone have any dealings with Magnet ? are they good/reliable ..... are they fast with solving downtime.

I can confirm that we are now offering the up to 24mb service in Dublin 6. This is as a result of unbundling the Rathmines exchange for ADSL2+.

obsydion

I find it highly ironic that I am faced with NTL broadband advertisements while waiting for the Luas at the Ranelagh station.

eirehead

Hi all!

Exactly the same issue here. I moved into Leeson Park about two weeks ago and not too impressed with the options. I asked for the phone line to be disconnected because I assumed I could get my BB on ntl. Silly me.

Any update on the upgrading of the ntl infrastructure locally? The concept of having to rent a phone line from eircom purely to avail of someone else's broadband service is a horrible one, and I have too much experience of eircom's own BB to even consider it.

What a palaver. Any help would be much appreciated!

obsydion

obsydion wrote: »

Walked out of my house this morning (Northbrook Avenue) and almost tripped over a sign telling me Chorus/NTL was upgrading the cables in the area!!! Sure enough I saw a couple of guys unfurling cables and waist deep in soil gaining access to the existing infrastructure. The pessimist in me says that even with such an obvious sign, it still may mean that I have to wait a month or so for the lines to be activated? Can someone with more of a clue please let me know if this is the case or can I pretty much ring NTL on Monday to order my broadband?

The cabling in my area (south end of Drumcondra near Dorset Street) was upgraded at the start of November. I phoned to check availability and was told I could get broadband. I placed the order and they came out but only the downstream signal had been activated, the return path wasn't active yet - the installer suggested I wait a few weeks. However because I had one of the new UPC mediaboxes I could plug an ethernet cable into it and see when the return path channel became live. As soon as it did, around the 20th, I phoned and placed the order again. The installer came out on the 24th and it worked the second time. He didn't even know there was a modem in the "digi" (as he called it) so was quite shocked that I knew it was live.

D'Peoples Voice

paddyk wrote: »

Folks just to add a question to this thread. Is there any way of finding out when/if NTL are going to upgrade an area.

I am in the same boat as the others here, I can get their Digital TV package but no broadband.

Is anyone in the "know" about roll out of NTL BB?

I am in the Jobstown area of Tallaght. Estates around me have BB from them. In fact when the installer came to put in the digital box he said he was surprised we did not have broadband.

I'm in Ranelagh, and all I can get is NTL analogue:mad:

But it looks like NTL digital may be available within the next year or two!

D'Peoples Voice

UPC are refusing to give me an indication as to when they will be able to offer broadband to residents on Sandford Road in Ranelagh.
I guess I can understand that, if they give a date and fail to deliver, it does their reputation no good, but its annoying.
I was hoping that I'd at least be able to get NTL digital TV on Sandford road at this stage, but as of last Thursday even this was still not available in THIS part of Ranelagh!
Looks like it will have to be Digiweb or Ice broadband.

Jev/N

D'Peoples Voice wrote: »

UPC are refusing to give me an indication as to when they will be able to offer broadband to residents on Sandford Road in Ranelagh.
I guess I can understand that, if they give a date and fail to deliver, it does their reputation no good, but its annoying.
I was hoping that I'd at least be able to get NTL digital TV on Sandford road at this stage, but as of last Thursday even this was still not available in THIS part of Ranelagh!
Looks like it will have to be Digiweb or Ice broadband.

Did you get a notice in the door from UPC to explain why they were digging up the roads and that they were upgrading the lines at the moment? We're on Ranelagh Rd and got this about a month ago stating it was due to be completed within 12 weeks, whether this is the same for Sanford it's hard to know!

obsydion

Jev/N wrote: »

Did you get a notice in the door from UPC to explain why they were digging up the roads and that they were upgrading the lines at the moment? We're on Ranelagh Rd and got this about a month ago stating it was due to be completed within 12 weeks, whether this is the same for Sanford it's hard to know!

I received the same letter! I've also seen them digging around Northbrook Avenue near me so that's good sign. They were meant to tell us when work was to start but not when it would be completed (12 weeks seems to be very vague). Until I saw them actually physically working on the lines, I thought it was a ploy to stop losing customers over to other ISPs. I'm still not holding my breath though. Best case scenario is early next year.

D'Peoples Voice

Jev/N wrote: »

Did you get a notice in the door from UPC to explain why they were digging up the roads and that they were upgrading the lines at the moment? We're on Ranelagh Rd and got this about a month ago stating it was due to be completed within 12 weeks, whether this is the same for Sanford it's hard to know!

No, have they started to dig up Ranelagh road yet?
I know obsydion saw them in Northbrook, and I saw someone digging up roads in Beechwood, but maybe that was for the ESB cables as the ESB( or someone on their behalf) are also digging up the road between Rathgar road and Harolds Cross.

Treehouse72

The works are in process near me on Northbrook Avenue and a few weeks ago I asked some of the lads laying the cable how long it would take (I have digital TV, but no broadband). They said it could be as long as several months. This surprised me as I'd imagined that once the road was dug up and the cables laid, then it would be good to go soon after. But the workmen definitely gave the impression it wasn't that quick. I think early in the new year is most probable.

While waiting for that service to be ready, I found Eircom just too expensive and I didn't want to get tied into a 6 month contract in case NTL got it done in 3 months. So I got a mobile broadband unit from 3Mobile. No contract (I think 3 are the only provider who don't require a contract). The unit itself costs €80 and is costing me about €30 per month to "top up". This is basically enough for always-on broadband. The speed isn't great (it's broadband speed for sure, just slowish broadband lol), and you couldn't watch long videos or whatnot, but for surfing and Youube clips and whatnot it's absolutely grand. You could have it on for 12 hours a day and not use up your €30. Versus Eircom's 6 month contract at €65 pm, the mobile works out cheaper plus you get to keep the unit at the end of that period, which could be handy. I've found this a very good solution while I'm waiting a few months for NTL.

Fwiw, I'm not connected to 3 at all, despite sounding like a schill for them.

thebourke

Guys ive used digiweb in ranelagh for the past 3 years and no problems atall bar replacing the power adaptor once...works out at 35 per month..im based on sandford road...