Callcosts.ie broadband comparisons

Yorky

Has anyone used this website in an attempt to compare broadband costs?

There are no options options such as fixed line or download limits therefore comparisons can't be made.

cgarvey

If you enter "Don't mind" and don't narrow down the results, you'll get 20 results. 16 of which are either mobile operators (3G technology doesn't really cut it for broadband, nevermind the sparsely deployments of Irish operators) or Imagine WiMax (a simple Google should tell you all you need to know; not a pleasant online experience for many, many users, using a mobile WiMax deployment which, as a technology, has been all but completely abandoned, and not very reliable in a mobile deployment, as against a fixed / external, aerial).

Now, couple that with the fact that you can't narrow it down to your locality, and it quickly becomes irrelevant.

It's just short of useless.

You can sort the results by download limit (for those operator packages that are up to date), but you can't do any meaningful comparisons or filtering (as you've discovered).

Still the best guide, unfortunately, is to ask a few neighbours who they have, and how do they find the service.

I'd recommend (in order, if you can get them)
+ UPC (or any DOCSIS/wired-cable TV provider like CaseyVision)
+ Fibre to the apartment providers (a few newer estates/complexes, with the likes of Smart/Magnet providing service; often done poorly / heavily restricted, so check with neighbours)
+ eircom vDSL/FTTC/"e-Fibre", or one of its resellers (like Magnet or Vodafone)
+ Digiweb Metro (a fixed wireless implementation of DOCSIS / cable-TV broadband; not as fast, but usually quite reliable)
+ A local WISP (RippleCom, Westnet, etc.). There are a lot of smaller WISPs many of who are rubbish (over-contended service, poor support), so check for other users in your area
+ eircom NGB (DSL / phonline broadband), or one of their resellers (Digiweb, Magnet, Vodafone, etc.)
+ Mobile operator / 3G (o2/Vodafone/Three/Meteor) .. very dependant on your location, and how many users are nearby. You can get from rubbish (worse than modem dialup) to consistent >5Mb. Has high pings, and massive jitter/ping variance, so not suitable for lots of things (including online realtime gaming)
+ Satellite provider (can often be heavily contended, and is very expensive, with a low usage cap) like Digiweb, Tooway resellers, etc.

Hopefully you have a provider in your area near the top of that list, because if you're relying on satellite or mobile operators for your broadband, it won't be a pleasant experience.

Yorky

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I've had a look at bonkers.ie in the meantime which seems to be up-to-date and Vodafone at €30/month appears to be the best value.

Would you agree?