imagine comes to clare with WIMAX - what is it?? you try to check line and then they

swoofer

A lot of vans are appearing round Ennis and knocking on doors spouting out claims
about WIMAX, it goes live in 3 weeks, a mast in centre of Ennis BUT when one goes on the Imagine website to use the so called Line Checker you fill in details, stupidly on reflection, the page rolls over and tells you nothing. You then click on a map link and that tells you nothing but then the phone rings and lo and behold its Imagine! I did not ask them to ring me and on the site I am sure it did not say to expect a phone call. Is this legal?

Apparently I need a receiver put on outside of house 150 euro, took a long time to be told that, 7mb this year, 15mb next year and 40mb after that!!

I declined. Is this thing any good and what are the pitfalls?? what are pings like etc

gb--

watty

If they do Fixed Wimax, then it will be quite good.
If they use the same system Mobile/Nomadic Wimax as in Dublin (mix of dongles, boxes indoor/outdoor), then it's only a little better than 3G Mobile.

I'd take claims of future speed increases with a bucket of salt. Speed often goes down rather than up as users added and there is no method other than more spectrum to give more speed. No one is likely to have spectrum to give users 40Mbps on Wireless. That sounds like peak speed for an entire sector.

swoofer

thank you but how does one tell if it is fixed???


gb--

watty

We can't yet.

More info needed. Nothing is secret long in this Country.

The assertion that you need "a receiver put on outside of house 150 euro" is actually a good sign.

Sponge Bob

They moving the Breezemax gear to Ennis are they ??? Good tech but no line checker required

Biggins

I'm a bit confused.
Is the "fixed" version of Wimax the one where they come and put a box on the outside of your home or is it another method where they put a box in your house to pick up the signal?

watty

Mobile/Nomadic: Uses indoor or outdoor box or USB dongle and optionally outdoor aerial.

Fixed: ONLY uses outdoor aerial, usually built into an outdoor radio set. Some Breeze is similar to to Fixed WiMax (Older system). Latest versions of Breeze are Fixed WiMax.

Alvarion are maker that uses the "Breeze" Model name. Confusingly they do also have a Mobile WiMax version of Breeze, but Imagine appears to use mostly Motorola gear for Ripwave replacement with Mobile WiMax, and seemingly Fixed Breeze replacement with Mobile WiMax in the East.

So yes, Fixed WiMax is where they have to install an outdoor box that is a combo Aerial and Radio set, but only if they are not using ANY indoor units, as Mobile WiMax can optionally use an outdoor Unit in very poor signal areas.

A fixed system compared with Mobile/Nomadic generally gives

• + About 16x more capacity in same spectrum
• + Higher minimum speed, close to Package speed.
• + Controlled contention (Contention can get too high on Mobile)
• + Often Better latency/Ping
• + Only sold to you and installed if signal OK
• + Consistent Performance (Mobile can fail or be very slow later)
• - Delay as install is scheduled
• - You have to be there when installer comes
• - Higher install cost

Biggins

I have been talking to Wimax about my problem HERE which some of you I'm sure have read about.
They suggested I use their system that consists of putting a box outside my house and sending it in to a modem in the house.
Is this the "fixed" system and is it any use at all?

Appreciate any help because I am badly stuck.

watty

Probably the erratic Mobile system in a poor signal area since they talk about an indoor Modem. Especally if you are in Eastern half of Ireland.

You can't be talking to Wimax about my problem as WiMax is a couple of families of Technology. Many companies in Ireland use Fixed WiMax. I presume you are talking to Imagine.

If you have DSL you are far better persevering to get that fixed than changing to Imagine's erratic Mobile/Nomadic WiMax, especially in an area that needs an outdoor aerial due to poor signal. Unless it's BreezeMax (Fixed WiMax) with an indoor Router rather than indoor Modem. The "Modem" for BreezeMax Fixed WiMax is in the outdoor box/aerial. BreezeMax Fixed Wimax is a reliable consistent system.


It depends where you are as to best options.

Biggins

watty wrote: »

Probably the erratic Mobile system in a poor signal area since they talk about an indoor Modem. Especally if you are in Eastern half of Ireland.

You can't be talking to Wimax about my problem as WiMax is a couple of families of Technology. Many companies in Ireland use Fixed WiMax. I presume you are talking to Imagine.

If you have DSL you are far better persevering to get that fixed than changing to Imagine's erratic Mobile/Nomadic WiMax, especially in an area that needs an outdoor aerial due to poor signal. Unless it's BreezeMax (Fixed WiMax) with an indoor Router rather than indoor Modem. The "Modem" for BreezeMax Fixed WiMax is in the outdoor box/aerial. BreezeMax Fixed Wimax is a reliable consistent system.


It depends where you are as to best options.

You right - I am talking to Imagine. My misuse of titles/names.
So do I put any faith in their box outside/modem inside system?
I don't want a mobile system. Its for home use I need it for.

I will try to find out exactly what type of system they would go with in the case of myself.

swoofer

they have emailed back to say it will be fixed and mobile!!! I will wait for a bit.

gbcullen

Cantona's Collars

Imagine launched Wimax in Wexford town few months ago-they are using outdoor receivers where signal isn't as strong and indoor receivers nearer to the mast they're using.Talking to people on the ground it's useless,even customers within a stones throw of the mast can't get signal and the customer cancellations are huge,unless Imagine improve drastically their wimax service is dead before it starts.No amount of catchy ads will save it.Theres smaller fixed wireless isp's in the area that are providing a service without the hoopla and fancy ads that works,thats the important bit that Imagine seem to have lost sight of,spending money on ad campaigns instead of decent service won't work.Word of mouth is still important and if it's bad,God help trying to rebuild your reputation.

Cantona's Collars

Imagine are marketing a dongle as an ad-on to the fixed wimax package,as far as I know it's 5 euro extra per month and is aimed for use in "Wimax Hotspots" ie. Areas where wimax have a service such as Ennis,Dublin,Wexford etc. Pretty useless elsewhere so.(And according to what's being said on boards useless even in a 'Wimax' area):(

Sponge Bob

GBCULLEN wrote: »

they have emailed back to say it will be fixed and mobile!!! I will wait for a bit

Eh???? Are they giving you a choice between alvarion(fixed) and motorola(mobile) . if so choose Alvarion.

watty

Then the "Fixed" Wimax is as bad as their Dublin "Mobile/Nomadic" Indoor WiMax.

Any Mobile dongles/modems indoor aerials used on same channel/frequency degrades a Fixed Network by up to x16.

Unless they have enough spectrum to run two systems on separate frequencies. That needs twice the spectrum.

Sponge Bob

I can't tell what they are up to any more and their coverage map is gone too.

Cantona's Collars

Heres the indoor hub http://www.imagine.ie/wimax_broadband.html and the dongle http://www.imagine.ie/wimax_gomobile.html Equally rubbish! Theres no pic of the outdoor receiver but it's pretty much the same as all the rest of the fixed wireless ones.

watty

That's not Breezemax Fixed WiMax. It's the unreliable Mobile/Nomadic WiMax using Motorola kit. The outdoor aerial option is not for a Fixed Network, but just for poor signals.

It's unreliable because ALL mobile systems are. You can't control contention reliably as users can move the stuff and Indoor operation on 3.5GHz is terrible and pulls down performance of the whole network. At 3.5GHz to get consistent operation then EVERYONE should be on a Directional Outdoor aerial/Radio set.

jor el

Since it appears this is not truly fixed Wimax, then it's just another mobile midband service dressed up to look like broadband. Thread moved to Midband forum.

Cantona's Collars

If I had half your knowledge Watty I'd be a dangerous man:D:D I attended an Imagine marketing conference and they touted this service as the best thing since sliced bread,the home hub/and outdoor receiver were for the home/business and the dongle to carry around.After all the promotion the product turned out to be terrible in the real world.

watty

People stopped asking me to Conferences like that long ago as I'd ask the question they didn't want. My last boss insisted on taking me to a few meetings & conferences BECAUSE I would ask the question nobody thought of, and that the answer would be Interesting

omahaid

I've signed up for the mobile wimax (I have ripwave out of necessity, although I'm in the town of Ennis my phone line doesn't support DSL). I currently get the full 2MB on ripwave so will let ye all know how the wimax goes!

swoofer

That would be good, when they rang me they never mentioned about mobile or fixed!! Out of interest what is wrong with your line that wont allow it to support DSL?

GB--

DaNiEl1994

ok i live in ennistymon thats 30 mins east of ennis and i was wondering if i swtiched fromericom 3mb connection its the wireless router to a 7mb wimax one would it be better faster and better for xbox live please help

Cantona's Collars

Not a hope of getting wimax there-in wexford town theres people living 30 metres from where wimax mast is and they can't get a signal-check the threads here about it,general consensus is it's useless.If you intend using it for online gaming forget about it,you might as well connect to a cornflake box.

DaNiEl1994

zerks wrote: »

Not a hope of getting wimax there-in wexford town theres people living 30 metres from where wimax mast is and they can't get a signal-check the threads here about it,general consensus is it's useless.If you intend using it for online gaming forget about it,you might as well connect to a cornflake box.

really???????????????????

watty

There is no point in switching from 3Mbps DSL (stable) to Ripwave replacement Imagine WiMax Wireless. It's unlikely to reach even a 1/4 of distance to Ennistymon anyway.

DaNiEl1994

watty wrote: »

There is no point in switching from 3Mbps DSL (stable) to Ripwave replacement Imagine WiMax Wireless. It's unlikely to reach even a 1/4 of distance to Ennistymon anyway.

ok thanks for the reply what would you reccoment as an upgrade from my present connection

watty

Ennistymon

You are lucky to have Broadband at all!

There isn't anything better. UPC isn't going to cable there. Magnet won't fibre it and Digiweb Metro is unlikely to arrive.

Some day if we ever get a National FTTC/FTTH rollout you might get FTTC in Ennistymon with maybe 20Mbps.

Meanwhile enjoy your rare for West Clare 3Mbps DSL Broadband and lovely scenery

DaNiEl1994

watty wrote: »

Ennistymon

You are lucky to have Broadband at all!

There isn't anything better. UPC isn't going to cable there. Magnet won't fibre it and Digiweb Metro is unlikely to arrive.

Some day if we ever get a National FTTC/FTTH rollout you might get FTTC in Ennistymon with maybe 20Mbps.

Meanwhile enjoy your rare for West Clare 3Mbps DSL Broadband and lovely scenery

so the only thing i can do is upgrade to 7mb eircom ya would it help and yes the scenery is lovely you sound like youve been here before ha have you

cgarvey

DaNiEl1994 wrote: »

ok i live in ennistymon thats 30 mins east of ennis and i was wondering if i swtiched fromericom 3mb connection its the wireless router to a 7mb wimax one would it be better faster and better for xbox live please help

Your only potentially better option is RippleCom, but if you need the phoneline, these boys will appear to be expensive. There are plenty of users in Ennistymon (it was there before DSL was), so you can ask about contention, peak time speeds, etc. If it's still well-managed you should have comparable pings to your DSL, and have the option to pay more for higher speeds.

Are you getting close to your 3Mb with eircom? Do you use/need the landline? If yes, then chances are RippleCom won't be much if an improvement.

DaNiEl1994

cgarvey wrote: »

Your only potentially better option is RippleCom, but if you need the phoneline, these boys will appear to be expensive. There are plenty of users in Ennistymon (it was there before DSL was), so you can ask about contention, peak time speeds, etc. If it's still well-managed you should have comparable pings to your DSL, and have the option to pay more for higher speeds.

Are you getting close to your 3Mb with eircom? Do you use/need the landline? If yes, then chances are RippleCom won't be much if an improvement.

yes i am getting my 3mb conncetion with eircom and yes we need the landline thankks for the reply but do you think the upgrade to 7mb will be worth it and ATM i have a ping of 187 ne chance u no how to lower plz and thanks

watty

If they can upgrade (paste your modem line stats and it should be clear) to 7Mbps or more than 3 and you think you need more speed, then it's worth it.

But for gaming it won't make much difference. Your latency is unusually high for DSL (about x3 to x5 the normal ping) so maybe you should ring eircom support or whoever your ISP is. Sometimes lines are on a "default" Interleaving setting for high crosstalk. It seems unlikely that's needed in Ennistymon unless it's had massive development since I was last there!

your ping should be 35ms to 70ms really.

ping www.heanet.ie
and see.

Maybe 187 is to a UK server thus not so bad.

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.heanet.ie

Pinging samhain.heanet.ie [193.1.219.57] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=59

Ping statistics for 193.1.219.57:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 17ms, Maximum = 24ms, Average = 20ms

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.virginmedia.co.uk

Pinging www.virginmedia.co.uk [212.250.162.12] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 212.250.162.12:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 27ms, Maximum = 35ms, Average = 33ms

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.wanado.fr

Pinging www.wanado.fr [194.206.126.204] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=241

Ping statistics for 194.206.126.204:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 71ms, Maximum = 82ms, Average = 74ms

DaNiEl1994

watty wrote: »

If they can upgrade (paste your modem line stats and it should be clear) to 7Mbps or more than 3 and you think you need more speed, then it's worth it.

But for gaming it won't make much difference. Your latency is unusually high for DSL (about x3 to x5 the normal ping) so maybe you should ring eircom support or whoever your ISP is. Sometimes lines are on a "default" Interleaving setting for high crosstalk. It seems unlikely that's needed in Ennistymon unless it's had massive development since I was last there!

your ping should be 35ms to 70ms really.

ping www.heanet.ie
and see.

Maybe 187 is to a UK server thus not so bad.

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.heanet.ie

Pinging samhain.heanet.ie [193.1.219.57] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=59
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=59

Ping statistics for 193.1.219.57:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 17ms, Maximum = 24ms, Average = 20ms

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.virginmedia.co.uk

Pinging www.virginmedia.co.uk [212.250.162.12] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121
Reply from 212.250.162.12: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 212.250.162.12:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 27ms, Maximum = 35ms, Average = 33ms

C:\WINDOWS>ping www.wanado.fr

Pinging www.wanado.fr [194.206.126.204] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=241
Reply from 194.206.126.204: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=241

Ping statistics for 194.206.126.204:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 71ms, Maximum = 82ms, Average = 74ms

right thanks for the help ill ring eircom and ask actually when i coneect to heanet.ie it says 57 ms and average 18 ms so sorry for timewasting and thank you

watty

18ms is very good

omahaid

Well, I promised to update when I got the auld wimax. Got the box today (my ripwave was cut off Monday :mad:). I get 4 green lights, which is the max and means I have great signal strength.

Plugged in the laptop, got redirected to their setup up page. Got through step 1 and step 2. Between step 2 and 3 I get shown a page about an application error. Get this several times. Ring tech support. Tech support replicated error at their end but have no idea what it mean. Have escalated error now and I'm waiting for a call "before 8". I think I'll ring back before 8, just in case they forget about me

omahaid

Just rang em again, its a problem for all Wimax customers in Ennis. Seriously though, surely the first thing you do when you roll out a product like this is try a fresh install and ensure you can replicate the steps that the customer will be going through, I'm not impressed

MyKeyG

zerks wrote: »

If you intend using it for online gaming forget about it,you might as well connect to a cornflake box.

I actually have a pain in my side from laughing at that. That's one of the best posts I've ever read.

MyKeyG

omahaid wrote: »

Just rang em again, its a problem for all Wimax customers in Ennis. Seriously though, surely the first thing you do when you roll out a product like this is try a fresh install and ensure you can replicate the steps that the customer will be going through, I'm not impressed

I live near what used to be the Texaco garage across from St Flannans College and I've been waiting weeks for my order. Maybe they're working on it.

omahaid

MyKeyG wrote: »

I live near what used to be the Texaco garage across from St Flannans College and I've been waiting weeks for my order. Maybe they're working on it.

They're rolling it out to ripwave customers first to find all the bugs in their system (or so it appears).

watty

Nearly anything is better than Ripwave, which was originally designed as an wireless replacement for ISDN 64kbps and Analogue phone lines (WLL), not as a Internet access Product. I've measure Ripwave at over 1900ms latency (ping) and down to 50kbps. It's S-CDMA based. So this product will be better.

omahaid

Well, have an update. Spent 25 mins holding for tech support, went through all the steps (turning it off and on again), was told I dont have signal (even though I have all lights green) and eventually I was told that there is some work work going on and to try again Monday or Tuesday. So they turned ripwave off and didn't turn Wimax on, what a bunch of eejits :mad: And I have no doubt I will be billed for the last week as well

BEASTERLY

What is breezemax , some on thiss forum are saying it is fixed Wimax , are imagine running this?

watty

Breezemax is good. Or was good.

It's a form of Fixed WiMax. Much more expensive to install. I believe it works well. It's part of the IBB that Imagine took over.

BEASTERLY

watty wrote: »

Breezemax is good. Or was good.

It's a form of Fixed WiMax. Much more expensive to install. I believe it works well. It's part of the IBB that Imagine took over.

Cheers watty,

o2 has gone downhill lately so just sussing out the options , not alot around. Eircom was replacing a peice of cable here recenlty and the guys working said that will be 50 years atleast before eircom upgrade the lines to DSL for rural areas like mine 10 mins outside wexford town! My exchange is upgraded not the line though.

I have a 5m usb cable , so I'm goin to stick the modem outside to see if a better signal will improve things.

Sponge Bob

Try ordering a completely new line Beasterly. Install is free this month and most of next ( "Standard Connection Promotion") ...print that out before you order. They often find clean pairs for new lines.

BEASTERLY

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Try ordering a completely new line Beasterly. Install is free this month and most of next ( "Standard Connection Promotion") ...print that out before you order. They often find clean pairs for new lines.

Cheers sponge , I will give that a try , I'm ony 3km from my exchange which is broadband enabled , so hopefully I might get something.

omahaid

Finally up and running

MyKeyG

omahaid wrote: »

Finally up and running

Hey nothing wrong with that man. Better than the crappy 0.88 I was getting with Eircom. Maybe things are looking up. Where abouts in Ennis are you? Roughly of course.

omahaid

MyKeyG wrote: »

Hey nothing wrong with that man. Better than the crappy 0.88 I was getting with Eircom. Maybe things are looking up. Where abouts in Ennis are you? Roughly of course.

Clonroad. Its a good speed.....for now....:D Just downloaded a 1GB zip file in 30 mins

MyKeyG

omahaid wrote: »

Clonroad. Its a good speed.....for now....:D Just downloaded a 1GB zip file in 30 mins

Ah brilliant I'm just up the road from ya. Now all I need is for em to pull their finger out and deliver the flippin thing:)