Choosing Channels

Basicilly

Hi,

i currently have analogue TV with only the terestrial channels as i was sick of the crap in the UPC package i was getting. I also have the mobile broadband with 3 which isn't great for watching things online and teh quality varies depending when you use it.

I have two questions i was hoping someone could help with.

1)I am thinking of changing to a cable provider for the internet (possibly UPC) and was wondering if anyone knows the best provider.

2)Are there any channel providers that allow you to choose the channels in your basic package rather than being lumped with the likes of MTV and sky one etc.

Cheers

djimi

1. UPC is the best internet provider out there in my opinion. None of the others even come close.

2. No I think they all have a set pack as their basic package. If you dont want MTV and Sky One have you considered a free to air dish? You wont get a lot of stuff like Sky One and you wont get RTE (rabbit ears will take care of that tho) but you will get all the BBC channels, ITV, Channel 4 and a lot of other channels (some good, most rubbish!).

It depends on what channels you actually watch when determining the best solution.

icdg

Basicilly wrote: »

2)Are there any channel providers that allow you to choose the channels in your basic package rather than being lumped with the likes of MTV and sky one etc.

Cheers

The only multichannel TV provider in these here parts that ever allowed you to do that was ONdigital, and, well, look what happened to them.

Basic tier broadcasters don't like that model. Their business model involves getting paid for carraige (otherwise they'd be free to air) and since they're usually paid per subscriber, they don't get paid if people don't take the package they're part of. Hence why channels are usually bundled into packages.

whynotdo

I live in an area that is not yet upgraded but work is in progress.
My fear would be relying on one source for TV,Phone ,and Broadband is putting all eggs in one basket.

not so much anymore but Chorus/NTL often suffered a cable cut or some fault that was left unfixed over an entire weekend,at least that was only TV.

So how much disruption have people suffered during the upgrade, and for those who are on Fibre power since it began how often is the service down?

I too have heard great things about UPC Broadband.........but to lose all services at once seems like a risk

Basicilly

Thanks for the input. I have come accross the deal from eircom with NGB and setanta sports whioch i think would cover both my requirements. I've read some of the threads for NGB and there's not too much positive stuff out there although they mostly relate toi download speeds. As i don't download much and use the internet mostly fopr browsing and research i was wondering if this is the best package for me?

djimi

Eircom NGB is going to cost you somewhere in the region of €50 a month for up to 8MB broadband (which means it could be somewhat lower than 8MB).

For €50 with UPC you can get their 8MB broadband (which will be 8MB) and the Value HD+ Pack, which includes Setanta Sports.

When it comes to internet I would recommend UPC, end of story. With that in mind, unless you are going to go down the free to air road for your TV then it makes sense to get their basic TV package as well.

Basicilly

Thanks for the details. I have had a look at eircom and it seems i can get the total package for under €30. My overall issue is not entirely about the cost its more about not wanting to have these channels as i find myself watching a lot of crap. I guess what i'm wondering in relation to eircom is that if i'm not too woirried about download limits is the connection a good one?

djimi

The Eircom connection will massively depend on where you are living; how far you are from the exchange and the quality of the cabling coming into your house. When I was on Eircom I lived in the country and the lines to our house were appalling. This severely hampered the speed we could get, and also made the connection somewhat unreliable (I had no internet for most of the bad weather around new years this year for example).

Since Ive moved to a town and can get UPC its been a lot better. The fibre lines are very reliable in my experience and you will almost always get the speed you pay for, unlike with Eircom where they say "up to" the speed, which often means quite a bit below it (I was lucky if I got 1.5MB from a 3MB connection; with my 15MB UPC connection the lowest Ive ever seen from speedtest is 14.5).

Your mileage may vary of course, but thats my two cents. Where did you see the Eircom NGB for €30? I was on their site earlier and they are advertising 8MB for something like €46. Given that kind of price UPC is a no-brainer (you can get 30MB fibre for €42 with UPC).

Basicilly

Hi djimi, i currently live close to the city centre in Dublin so don't think location will be a problem.

The eircom website is pretty awkward and it took me a while to find but you can get 24.99 broadband with Setanta Sports.
http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/bbpackages/ngb/20/

This would be ideal for what i'm looking for if i though the connection was good but it seems that you had a poor experience. Anyone in Dublin that has had good bad experiences with the broadband connection?

angel01

Basicilly wrote: »

Hi djimi, i currently live close to the city centre in Dublin so don't think location will be a problem.

The eircom website is pretty awkward and it took me a while to find but you can get 24.99 broadband with Setanta Sports.
http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/bbpackages/ngb/20/

This would be ideal for what i'm looking for if i though the connection was good but it seems that you had a poor experience. Anyone in Dublin that has had good bad experiences with the broadband connection?

For broadband, you would be best asking in the broadband forum. In my opinion, for broadband, UPC cannot be beaten.

djimi

Basicilly wrote: »

Hi djimi, i currently live close to the city centre in Dublin so don't think location will be a problem.

The eircom website is pretty awkward and it took me a while to find but you can get 24.99 broadband with Setanta Sports.
http://www.eircom.net/broadband/products/bbpackages/ngb/20/

This would be ideal for what i'm looking for if i though the connection was good but it seems that you had a poor experience. Anyone in Dublin that has had good bad experiences with the broadband connection?

Ah fair enough, didnt see that on their site earlier.

One thing to bear in mind is that that price does not include line rental. UPC does not require a phone line which makes it cheaper again.