UPC v Sky

dublinlad79

Hi

This has prob been discussed before but can anyone let me know what is better? Sky or UPC? I am moving in to a new house from an apartment where we just had UPC. Is it worth going with sky for TV and BB or trying to mix it all up with sky / eircom or sky / upc?

Thanks

Utopia Parkway

In general I think many would feel UPC is best for broadband and Sky for TV. Although this may vary depending on where you are.

corroonb

Stay away from UPC if you can. They are cutting costs with cheap and inferior hardware and their new routers are dreadful. Numerous technical issues, poor WiFi signal. If you had asked before I got this new router, I would have said UPC definitely but not now. I have super-fast broadband but can't use a lot of services due to this router. The regular set-top box is diabolical too, it frequently crashes and is extremely unreliable.

shigi

corroonb its prob just a faulty router have them replace it or make sure its the right position in your house,
personally ive had no probs with UPC broadband, currently have sky for tv but thinking about going to UPC for tv had them a few years
ago and the menu was not very responsive a couple of bugs in the box or entire system and lack of decent channels, just wondering has this improved?

ben101

Corroonb you are dead right,its not just a faulty router,if you move more than 20 feet from the router the signal is terrible.I had my own router previously and it was brilliant(D-Link DIR-855 Extreme).This i a previous post i've pasted from another thread for anyone thinking of getting UPC.
"I find the speeds good but the wifi signal is poor.You would probably be better off buying your own router if like me you use your broadband in a different room than the router.I have the 100mb and get about 15mb ,i am only 30-40 ft away but i recon the piss poor signal can't get through a concrete wall into the extention.Also bear in mind that the customer service is terrible.I don't know whats happenned to them in the last year but i have been overcharged every month since may and after spending 2-3 hours each time on the phone i get promised its all sorted.Last time i was talking to a supervisor and he swore it was sorted and would get the next two months free to compensate and i've just noticed they have taken 25 euro's this month,god know what they'll take on my next supposedly free month ,5 euro's? 12 ,15,25,90 ,150 euro's?
Who knows ,it seems they just make up as they go along.I'm taking this as a break in contract and i will be looking elsewhere."
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ben

beauf

Why don't you just use your own router. Wifi problem solved?

ben101

beauf wrote: »

Why don't you just use your own router. Wifi problem solved?

Shouldn't have to,UPC are getting good money and should provide decent equipment.

beauf

ben101 wrote: »

Shouldn't have to,UPC are getting good money and should provide decent equipment.

No doubt. But does it make sense to cancel the best BB you can get over the cost of a router, 30~50 euro. Most people are probably spending 500~1400 a year on UPC. The cost of a router is pittance relative to that.

ben101

beauf wrote: »

No doubt. But doe sit make sense to cancel the best BB you can get over the cost of a router, 30~50 euro. Most people are probably spending 500~1400 a year on UPC. The cost of a router is pittance relative to that.

Its not just about the broadband.Just wait till you have an issue like i have with your bill and you are still fighting to get your money back 5 months and several hours of phone calls later and see if you still think they are great.You can have the best product in the world but it all counts for nowt if your customer services stinks to high heaven :mad:

beauf

The post I was replying to was just about the Wifi.

I can't get BB on my phone. So have to use UPC. If money was no object and you could get both, you'd get UPC BB and Sky for TV. I know a few people who do that. But usually people are looking for a better deal so then it become about what the best compromise for your budget.

I'm thinking of UPC for BB and Saorview/FreeSat for TV. The odl UPC digital boxes seem to all be rubbish and the new Horizon seems to causing just as many problems.

ben101

Yeah,i got a call from UPC asking me would i be interested in horizon but i asked the only two people i know that have it what was it like and they both said they wouldn't recommend it ,especially problematic for Xbox and Wii.

beauf

I assume once again the WiFi is the problem.

This isn't new btw. A lot of providers were only giving out Wireless G routers long after Wireless N was the standard. For a many years they never gave out routers at all, people just bought their own.

Of course if people quit UPC because they don't know how, or don't want to spend €30 on a router, UPC might be forced to actually fix their boxes. I wouldn't hold your breath though. UPC and their digital boxes have probably done more to move people to Saorview and FreeSat than anyone else.

ben101

beauf wrote: »

I assume once again the WiFi is the problem.

This isn't new btw. A lot of providers were only giving out Wireless G routers long after Wireless N was the standard. For a many years they never gave out routers at all, people just bought their own.

Of course if people quit UPC because they don't know how, or don't want to spend €30 on a router, UPC might be forced to actually fix their boxes. I wouldn't hold your breath though. UPC and their digital boxes have probably done more to move people to Saorview and FreeSat than anyone else.

I might be wrong but is it even possible to replace an Horizon box ,are they not both router and tv set top box?

and does anyone have a suggestion for a decent replacement for the thomson router?I would gladly pay 50 euro's or more for decent wifi around the house.

beauf

You can disable the Wifi on the Horizon box and use your own wifi router. Theres load of threads talking about this and bridge mode on the Horizon box. Heres an example.

http://www.boards.ie/ttfthread/2057052711/1#post86829513

Wonda-Boy

I changed from the 30 meg to the 50mb and the new router is an absolute useless piece of brown stuff!!! (Cisco EPC3925) The Wifi is just dreadful, if you open the window the signal drops on it, no aerial nothing the older one was a hell of alot better. I have Sky TV and use the Wifi for on demand and the Sky box is only 15ft away and its barely getting the signal ffs.

Firedance

I'm interested in the answer to this question too, currently have UPC for TV & BB but was considering moving to Sky as TV (on demand in particular) seems much better. Are people saying that Sky BB is not great? I only use BB to surf or watch the player sometimes.