Fastcom anyone ?

animha

Hi folks - I am doing some marketing consultancy with Fastcom and am running a focus group this evening in IT Sligo to get an understanding from existing Fastcom customers what their experience and perception of Fastcom's service and offerings are.

If you're an existing Fastcom customer (will be running another one in the future for non-Fastcom customers) and would like a free month's broadband plus some nice grub, please PM me or register at http://fastcomfocusgroup.eventbrite.com/.

It's from 6-7.30pm this evening. Sorry for the late notice!

Son Of A Vidic

I am an existing Fastcom broadband customer. I sent an email to Fastcom last October querying one or two things about the telephone service which I was going to sign up to. I'm still waiting for a reply!:mad:

darealtulip

I wanted to go to fastcom but a few people I know have it and they are not very happy with them at all. Very slow connection most of the time and very long waiting times to get anything done (emails answered, visits made).

I am in the lucky posistion to have a land connection to broadband and therefore had the choice to stay well away from them!

tedshredsonfire

no connection to fastcom lads but haven't had any problems with them. Connection speed is fine for what I am using which is standard stuff not much downloading etc.

dardevle

....



same as that Ted.....been with them about 2 years now,in a rural area where nobody else was offering at that time.
like you said its never going to win a race(2+2 mb) but it is reliable and on the rare occasion it does go down they are fairly prompt to advise by text message, the reasons why and for how long the outage....

if i had more notice i would have attended.


...

darealtulip

the main complaint from my friends was that when they bench marked the speed it hardly came above 1 mb but they paid for 2 mb. Now I know they are maximum speeds and not constant, but it would be nice to go over the 1mb if you pay for 2!!

And I'm spoiled with my 7mb!! benchmarks at 6.7mb.

Customer service was another complaint, 2 or 3 weeks to get back at you... I can't handle a day without my internet! (or a hour!)

But as you said the were (or are) the only option for some people. I wanted them to get rid of my landline because I hardly use it due to mobiles and skype.

animha

Folks apologies for not responding here earlier...would firstly really like to clear up any customer service issues, so if you could email aoife@buamarketing.ie with your issues, I'll get them a 24-hour response turnaround.

I would also really like to get your opinions on Fastcom vs other providers and will be running another focus group in March. Those who attended the Jan session got very nice grub from Cafe Fleur + 1 month free broadband (value €40). If you would be willing to attend another focus group, let me know.

Fastcom is a small local company and therefore is always learning how to do things better, the good intention is there but that doesn't always mean the customer sees it so appreciate your opinions here.

There is a number of internal initiatives being undertaken to ensure customer service improves dramatically, hopefully any Fastcom customer will see the benefits of this going forward.

AlmightyCushion

animha wrote: »

Folks apologies for not responding here earlier...would firstly really like to clear up any customer service issues, so if you could email aoife@buamarketing.ie with your issues, I'll get them a 24-hour response turnaround.

I would also really like to get your opinions on Fastcom vs other providers and will be running another focus group in March. Those who attended the Jan session got very nice grub from Cafe Fleur + 1 month free broadband (value €40). If you would be willing to attend another focus group, let me know.

Fastcom is a small local company and therefore is always learning how to do things better, the good intention is there but that doesn't always mean the customer sees it so appreciate your opinions here.

There is a number of internal initiatives being undertaken to ensure customer service improves dramatically, hopefully any Fastcom customer will see the benefits of this going forward.

Well, when I was with them during the summer, they had serious contention issues. At peak times the speed was poor and there was frequent disconnects. This happened on every computer in the house so it wasn't the pcs at fault. I also tried a few different routers so it couldn't be that. Outside of peak times (we're talking after 2 am here) speeds were a bit better and there was rarely any disconnects hence why I believe all that was down to contention. It seemed torrents were throttled as well. I only used torrents a few times though so maybe I had something set up wrong but they always worked fine in my parents house using eircom. I could never download something from usenet either. Speeds would stay at a fraction of a kBps. Once again, when I tried it on another connection that wasn't fastcom it worked fine.

Seeing as they are a local company I wish them well but as a customer I was never happier to have left them. You couldn't pay me to go back.

Radharc na Sleibhte

Have been a Fastcom customer for probably 3 years now i think.
Couldn't say enough good about it to be honest.
Could, probably should, be cheaper and faster.

animha

Mikey, thanks for the feedback...appreciate honesty. Fastcom will continue to try to be competitive on price but will always endeavour to provide the best service and with recent license awards by Comreg can now offer up to 10mbps speeds on the network.

bobcar61

Whats your link with Fastcom?

I moved away from Fastcom, lost count of how long it took for someone to come out and install the dish, had countless number of problems during the first 6 months, if there was any sort of wind or rain the internet wouldn't work. I also experienced the same problems as AlmightyCushion for the next 6 months. I then got so fed up I moved to a different company who were offering me better speeds at a cheaper price

magnumlady

I'm laughing at the up to 10mbps. Sometimes we can't even get 1mbps.
We sent them an email over the weekend of a speedtest we did. I will attach it here. They never replied to the email.
If we had a choice we would use someone else. At times it is so slow we have gone on dial up and it was a lot more reliable.
SPEEDTST.jpg

bobcar61

Whoa ML I feel your pain

I did the speed test and here are my results...
My Speedtest

darealtulip

:D

6.1 mb with....... vodafone and we live in Dromahair.

Radharc na Sleibhte

http://www.speedtest.net/result/730804186.png

Like I say, I can't fault it, at the moment anyway.
Above results are consistently at the 2mb as advertised, here anyway.

I thought about going for the 3MB but E60?

Whats this about 10mb? I'd say they'll be charging handsomely for that...?

Once Eircom get their act together out my way and other areas and provide a decent speed and a decent price, Fastcom will be gone unless they reduce their prices also, but where I am at the moment, they basically are my sole option really.

magnumlady

You are doing well Mikey, strange that the same company has such different results.....and we are almost next to the mast.

Laducar

I get hugely different results depending on the time of day and the weather! Evening from 4pm until about 10 is barely quicker than dial up.

dardevle

magnumlady wrote: »

I'm laughing at the up to 10mbps. Sometimes we can't even get 1mbps.
We sent them an email over the weekend of a speedtest we did. I will attach it here. They never replied to the email.
If we had a choice we would use someone else. At times it is so slow we have gone on dial up and it was a lot more reliable.
SPEEDTST.jpg

in fairness that is chronically bad performance...i would feel hard done by if i had to pay out for that kind of service each month.






^^^^^
my experience is much the same as Mikey.

animha

I work as a marketing consultant and am doing some work with Fastcom. Not trying to plug them, just keen to hear opinions here. Will take the feedback and revert on Monday folks, appreciate you taking the time to respond.

magnumlady

Here's todays test.
SAT27.jpg
It's a week since we sent an email to Fastcom. Still no reply.
We also have cut outs frequently where the internet just goes off. We've told them about that too.

Shadow78

Fastcom's service has improved a hell of alot over the 3 and 1/2 years I've been with them. They used to have major latency issues and running blueface VOIP telephone over the connection was a pain. Ventrillo used to be a problem with them as well donno if they got that sorted.

They are pretty poor at communicating though, both when they have a problem or change some settings. e.g. everyone should be on 3mb/3mb broadband now but they havent actually told their customers they have gotten a free upgrade. The IP address for the mail server changed recently and they didnt bother informing their customers of this either. Gave business my way for sorting out my customers email problems so it was advantagous for me but reflects badly on Fastcom.

Latest speedtest

magnumlady

Looking at all your speedtests. I'm wondering why we are paying as much as you guys for such a poor service.
I've given up putting things on youtube because it's so slow.

JPMONKS

Cant get Fastcom cos a tree is in the way!! (which is located bout 300 meters away!) Came up from Dublin where I was gettin 7mb..now I cant cant even get broadband..is this how far technology has come?!..that an internet provider such as Fastcom arent able to offer broadband and no other alternative because of a Tree!! Its like something out of Father Ted! What were yis expecting in rural Sligo??!..flat treeless landscapes!..its a Joke!!

Shadow78

If it is one tree in the way then get rid of it.

JPMONKS

Shadow78 wrote: »

If it is one tree in the way then get rid of it.

Trust me I would but its not on my land and if I did go near it id be breaking the law! I am in the process of trying to ascertain who owns land..not holding my breath though as there are other people behind me who cant get it either!

darealtulip

Can you not ask the owner if you can put the reciever in the tree?

JPMONKS

darealtulip wrote: »

Can you not ask the owner if you can put the reciever in the tree?

The tree is located across an estate type road..and its a good 300 meters away the install engineer didnt recommend it..would it be possible?

darealtulip

I don't know your situation but I know people who have their reciever a long way from their home. I know e fellow who had it on a pole in the neigbours field to get reception.

You need their consent ofcourse.

JPMONKS

darealtulip wrote: »

I don't know your situation but I know people who have their reciever a long way from their home. I know e fellow who had it on a pole in the neigbours field to get reception.

You need their consent ofcourse.

Cheers for that..I will ring them on Monday and put this forward as a proposal see what they say. Cheers :-)

Radharc na Sleibhte

Shadow78 wrote: »

e.g. everyone should be on 3mb/3mb broadband now but they havent actually told their customers they have gotten a free upgrade.

Is this true?
Do I need a new receiver because like I said above I'm consistenly 2mb.

El Weirdo

MikeySligo wrote: »

Is this true?
Do I need a new receiver because like I said above I'm consistenly 2mb.

I just rang fired off an email and they rang me the next day and told me that I'd been upgraded. No new equipment or anything.

I have no problems with torrents but as was mentioned by someone before, I cannot download anything from newsgroups with fastcom.

rh5555

yeah if u are still on 2/2 give them a call and they can upgrade you to 3/3 within 10min. No changes on your side required.

I think they are feeling the squeeze with NTL/chorus offering cheap 5/15/30Mbit connections and now Imagine also offers faster DL speeds for less money.

I just went to Fastcom's website and found it funny where they used to say our DL speeds are XYZ faster than Eircom etc. now they say our upload speeds are XYZ faster than our competitors which is absolutely true.

Unfortunately they cant compete on DL speed anymore because 3Mbit for 40euros is quite expensive compared to their competitors although NTL is only available in urban areas and IMAGINE jsust started with their WiMAX.

For me Fastcom is very reliable with good speed to what is advertised allthought I wish they would offer it either cheaper or more speed for the same price.

But then again its a small company and they probably cant compete with the speed/price of giants like NTL and Imagine.

guinnessdrinker

Yeah I would agree, while the service is pretty good imo. I think €40 per month for 3mb speed is a bit expensive.

woods83

As a former Fastcom customer from Sligo, living in Seoul for the past year.
Korea puts Ireland to shame when it comes to technology.
I can download a full movie here in about 4 mins and an album in 30secs.
Makes my old broadband at home feel prehistoric.
30mbps download speed on a bad day for about €8 per month

darealtulip

woods83 wrote: »

As a former Fastcom customer from Sligo, living in Seoul for the past year.
Korea puts Ireland to shame when it comes to technology.
I can download a full movie here in about 4 mins and an album in 30secs.
Makes my old broadband at home feel prehistoric.
30mbps download speed on a bad day for about €8 per month

ok you made me jealous there.

Radharc na Sleibhte

woods83 wrote: »

As a former Fastcom customer from Sligo, living in Seoul for the past year.
Korea puts Ireland to shame when it comes to technology.
I can download a full movie here in about 4 mins and an album in 30secs.
Makes my old broadband at home feel prehistoric.
30mbps download speed on a bad day for about €8 per month

Meh, thats too fast imo. :D

Got a pm off fastcom saying to contact them for my upgrade. Shoop Shoop. 3mb here I come. Were catching up with you woods83.....!!!

Kasabian

Folks

How do you do a speed test ? Would appreciate step by step help.

Found this thread on a search . Thanks

El Weirdo

lonad wrote: »

Folks

How do you do a speed test ? Would appreciate step by step help.

Found this thread on a search . Thanks

http://www.speedtest.net/

Shadow78

Open your web browser (i.e. Internet explorer)
Go to www.speedtest.net
(if you get a msg about installing flash you will need to follow the instructions on screen to do that)
Click on a pyramid and the test should start

Kasabian

Shadow78 wrote: »

Open your web browser (i.e. Internet explorer)
Go to www.speedtest.net
(if you get a msg about installing flash you will need to follow the instructions on screen to do that)
Click on a pyramid and the test should start

Is the pyramid a star by any chance?

AlmightyCushion

woods83 wrote: »

As a former Fastcom customer from Sligo, living in Seoul for the past year.
Korea puts Ireland to shame when it comes to technology.
I can download a full movie here in about 4 mins and an album in 30secs.
Makes my old broadband at home feel prehistoric.
30mbps download speed on a bad day for about €8 per month

My 30Mb down, 3Mb up isn't far off yours. Considering I'm in Sligo town which has a population of about 20,000 (could be miles off there) and you're in a capital city with a population of 10 million. Saying that it costs me €40ish a month. Still though Ireland aren't doing too bad especially considering we should be getting speeds up to 120Mb later this year.

El Weirdo

lonad wrote: »

Is the pyramid a star by any chance?

Yes. It is a star now.

rh5555

Btw whats up with that 151ms Ping? Thats not great at all.

woods83

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

My 30Mb down, 3Mb up isn't far off yours. Considering I'm in Sligo town which has a population of about 20,000 (could be miles off there) and you're in a capital city with a population of 10 million. Saying that it costs me €40ish a month. Still though Ireland aren't doing too bad especially considering we should be getting speeds up to 120Mb later this year.

yeah true enough, for size location Fastcom isn't too bad.
120mb?!...i'll take some of that when i'm home!!

Radharc na Sleibhte

http://www.speedtest.net/result/735405509.png

.....and done......

Thanks guys.
Can't argue with that.

AlmightyCushion

woods83 wrote: »

120mb?!...i'll take some of that when i'm home!!

I probably won't. The 30Mb customers are rumoured to be getting upgraded to 60Mb for free I'd probably stay at that. 120Mb would mean having to upgrade all my networking kit in the house as most is just fast ethernet which tops out at 100Mbps and even then that's just a theoretical maximum. Real world will be a lot lower. I never thought I'd see the day where my router/network card would be slowing down my broadband though.

MikeySligo wrote: »

http://www.speedtest.net/result/735405509.png

.....and done......

Thanks guys.
Can't argue with that.

Eh, there is something weird about that speedtest result. Your ping is showing up as 0ms which is impossible

bennyc

Lads anyone gaming on fastcom is it still pretty laggy , I have poor DSL where I am getting 1.5MB DL on a good day.
If I knew XBLive was ok I would make the switch for 3MB.

Radharc na Sleibhte

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Eh, there is something weird about that speedtest result. Your ping is showing up as 0ms which is impossible

Huh, same again.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/736857554.png

AlmightyCushion

MikeySligo wrote: »

Huh, same again.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/736857554.png

Ping is the latency between your computer and the site you are connected to. It's how long a single piece of information will take to get their from your pc. Less than a millisecond is impossible with current technology at least. If it's reporting this wrong it could be reporting other things wrong as well. You should try a different server.

Radharc na Sleibhte

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Ping is the latency between your computer and the site you are connected to. It's how long a single piece of information will take to get their from your pc. Less than a millisecond is impossible with current technology at least. If it's reporting this wrong it could be reporting other things wrong as well. You should try a different server.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/737330229.png

http://www.speedtest.net/result/737333037.png

Yeah, you were right.

AlmightyCushion

MikeySligo wrote: »

http://www.speedtest.net/result/737330229.png

http://www.speedtest.net/result/737333037.png

Yeah, you were right.

I was thinking it was a bit off. Fastcom host the Sligo server so that probably has something do to with your latency being reported a bit weird. Nothing wrong with your latency either by the way, looks quite good.