UPC Free Upgrade to 120MB

Gadgetman496

Was on the 50MB package and was upgraded free to the new 120MB package. Just restarted my router (EPC3925) and am getting 80MB down and 10MB up. I was getting a very consistent 53MB down on the 50MB package but only get 80MB on the new 120MB. Does it take time to stabilise or should I contact them to see what's going on?

ED E

One of two things is happening:
1. You're on wireless, wireless wont do much more than that with current standards
2. You're wired in with ethernet, but its CAT5 cabling and has a lab limit of 100Mbps(Real world efficiency is 70-85%), or the port on the PC is 100Mb only.

The only way you'll really see that speed is with a gigabit(1000Mbps) wired connection or some very expensive wireless kit.

Gadgetman496

Of course Ed E, I wasn't thinking

I'm on wired with CAT5e on a 10\100 NIC.

Mad Mike

Just spotted the upgrade myself yesterday. I use an additional wired router to feed the signal to a few machines and I am getting about 90Mb/s through that. I did an experiment going direct into the UPC Technicolor modem and I got 120Mb/s down and about 10Mb/s up.

I remember UPC doing a sneaky upgrade like this before. it was a very similar situation where they offered a "budget package" that was at a notionally lower speed than their standard package but after a few months everyone on the budget package got quietly bumped up to the standard rate (think it was 20Mb to 25Mb). I wonder if it is easier for them to keep everyone the same for maintenance and whatnot.

ED E

They bump the lowest package for "free", then 2-3 months later they bump the price. Totally unrelated ofc ^^

Telecaster58

I signed up for their new Horizon package and am sorry I did. I'm now getting 3mb download! Their excuse is that I am using wireless! I will not be renewing my contract

Mad Mike

I have found that UPC technical support to be very helpful when you get onto them. I had intermittent internet drop outs last year that were too irregular to pin down. After failing to fix it over the phone they sent two techs out who spent several hours in my house tracking it down. Eventually they traced it to a signal level coming from a repeater at the end of our road and they fixed the problem. I was amazed they spent so much time on problem that was intermittent.

With regard the claim that wireless is your problem you can double check yourself by buying a length of ethernet cable and plugging your laptop directly into the modem. Fire up Speetest.net and see what speed you get when directly plugged in.

I don't think you can ever expect to get 120Mb/s over wireless though unless you have very expensive wifi gear and live a long way from any neighbours or other sources of interference. In my urban neighbourhood I have never managed to get above 30Mb/s on wifi.

fat-tony

gadgetman496 wrote: »

Of course Ed E, I wasn't thinking

I'm on wired with CAT5e on a 10\100 NIC.

CAT5/e cable is ok for gigabit ethernet in a home environment as the runs will not be excessive. The 1000Base-T standard was designed with CAT5 in mind. Your NIC, as you say, may well max out at 100Mbps.

Gadgetman496

fat-tony wrote: »

Your NIC, as you say, may well max out at 100Mbps.

I have the EPC3925 and I'm happy with that but I also have an 8 port switch which is 10\100 so I would need to add a new NIC and change the switch to a 10\100\1000 to get the benefit of 120Mb/s. Even at the 83 down & 10 up I'm getting now and it's very stable to be honest and I don't really need any more. Having come from a unstable 10Mb\s Max on copper with Smart\Digi I'm well pleased with what I have but will not entertain the Horizon.

I too have had to use UPC support when the lightning just before Christmas took out both my Cisco black slim Digi boxes & found them great to deal with I have to say.