Eircom to roll out 1Gb/s FTTH to 66 towns

MichaelR · 18-02-2017 01:45AM

Phones are, I think, notoriously bad at WiFi reception; I suspect the laptop works fine in the same location? Also are you using 2.4 or 5 GHz?

In my case (Eir FTTC), the phone was not getting any speeds literally in the next room. Moving the router within the same room helped. The laptop was not affected.

mcquaim · 18-02-2017 08:58AM

MichaelR wrote: »

Phones are, I think, notoriously bad at WiFi reception; I suspect the laptop works fine in the same location? Also are you using 2.4 or 5 GHz?

In my case (Eir FTTC), the phone was not getting any speeds literally in the next room. Moving the router within the same room helped. The laptop was not affected.

Hi there,

Yeah, a laptop will always have superior wifi range but on my old Netgear D6400 on FTTC it would reach all corners of the house with no issues..

I'm using the 5GHz band, simply for better speeds, when working that is lol..

I suspect the F2000 isn't a great router just, the supplied ones are never great..

I don't mind buying a new one anyway but just wondering peoples thoughts on what to buy!

Some of the Asus models look interesting..

9726_9726 · 18-02-2017 02:02PM

MichaelR wrote: »

Yup, agreed. Apart from high-bandwidth streaming, which is limited by FUP, there should not be a noticeable difference.

But 150 MBps probably is a significant improvement over the 30/8 that I now have. And the 30/8 was a *very* significant improvement over the 17/<1 that I had on ADSL.

Absolutely. They should differentiate on GB/month proportionally. In Australia, retail broadband packages don't even quote speed, they give you say 500GB or 1000GB data per month depending on the tier you buy. Speed is variable on shared networks anyway.

9726_9726 · 18-02-2017 02:08PM

mcquaim wrote: »

So, had FTTH in the house for roughly a month now and I have to say, it's pretty awesome!

There is basically no latency, so much so I stayed on the 150Mb package instead of switching to the 300Mb or 1Gb.. The ping is unreal, consistently around 5ms.

I use Cisco AnyConnect to connect to the head office for work and with FTTC I was getting a lot of connection drops but with this basically none. The upload is the big noticeable difference even though the supposed difference isn't that much.. Docs and files upload in seconds.

I do have one gripe, the wifi range of the HUAWEI F2000 is a bit crap.. I'm by no means in a big house and it's a timber frame house so it should have no problems but in the office at the back of the house I often can't get any speeds on my phone even though it might show 2 bars..

Anyone recommend a decent cable router? I'd ideally like one that could run as a VPN client too if possible but if not it's not end of the world.. Good wifi coverage and I'll be happy!!

Sounds fantastic! Speed aside, the experience is unreal. I haven't used PON FTTH but have used fibre in datacentres, base stations, etc. and it's like that.

Try TP-Link Archer series of routers.

Johnboy1951 · 18-02-2017 02:25PM

mcquaim wrote: »

So, had FTTH in the house for roughly a month now and I have to say, it's pretty awesome!

There is basically no latency, so much so I stayed on the 150Mb package instead of switching to the 300Mb or 1Gb.. The ping is unreal, consistently around 5ms.

I use Cisco AnyConnect to connect to the head office for work and with FTTC I was getting a lot of connection drops but with this basically none. The upload is the big noticeable difference even though the supposed difference isn't that much.. Docs and files upload in seconds.

I do have one gripe, the wifi range of the HUAWEI F2000 is a bit crap.. I'm by no means in a big house and it's a timber frame house so it should have no problems but in the office at the back of the house I often can't get any speeds on my phone even though it might show 2 bars..

Anyone recommend a decent cable router? I'd ideally like one that could run as a VPN client too if possible but if not it's not end of the world.. Good wifi coverage and I'll be happy!!

Is it possible that you have foil back insulation or such interfering with the signal?

mcquaim · 18-02-2017 10:42PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Is it possible that you have foil back insulation or such interfering with the signal?

It's quite possible, it's a rental house so I'm not sure what the build entailed..

It's the furthest point in the house from the router so I'm guessing it's just a range thing..

pegasus1 · 19-02-2017 01:49PM

mcquaim wrote: »

It's the furthest point in the house from the router so I'm guessing it's just a range thing..

Try some tinfoil made into a flat or curved surface on one side of the router to act as a reflector, if you can, without losing reception in other parts of the house..

google it

murphaph · 20-02-2017 09:21AM

mcquaim wrote: »

Hi there,

Yeah, a laptop will always have superior wifi range but on my old Netgear D6400 on FTTC it would reach all corners of the house with no issues..

I'm using the 5GHz band, simply for better speeds, when working that is lol..

I suspect the F2000 isn't a great router just, the supplied ones are never great..

I don't mind buying a new one anyway but just wondering peoples thoughts on what to buy!

Some of the Asus models look interesting..

Did your old router run at 5GHz? I ask because the higher the frequency the poorer the penetration through obstacles.

mcquaim · 20-02-2017 09:32AM

murphaph wrote: »

Did your old router run at 5GHz? I ask because the higher the frequency the poorer the penetration through obstacles.

Yeah, the Netgear D6400 is a dual band router also and by no means a top end one. As the house is pretty small 5GHz on it reached every corner of the house no problem!

Icyseanfitz · 20-02-2017 09:55AM

Out of curiosity I checked eirs website for fifth availability at my address, put my home number and eir code in, came back with "up to 1000mbs available". That's good right

still figure its a mistake but I'll check with them

murphaph · 20-02-2017 11:19AM

mcquaim wrote: »

Yeah, the Netgear D6400 is a dual band router also and by no means a top end one. As the house is pretty small 5GHz on it reached every corner of the house no problem!

In that case you could just bridge the new router to your old one. Or perhaps there really is a defect with the new one if the house is small. If you could try another F2000 from a friend it might help.

mcquaim · 20-02-2017 03:17PM

murphaph wrote: »

In that case you could just bridge the new router to your old one. Or perhaps there really is a defect with the new one if the house is small. If you could try another F2000 from a friend it might help.

I'm thinking now it is defective!

This morning it just wouldn't let me select the 5GHz band, kept asking for the password and when I entered the correct one it would say it was incorrect. Then it seemed like the 5GHz band wasn't transmitting at all, no sign of it on my phone, I even restarted the phone but it was no different..

I logged into the router and checked the settings and it all looked fine, the 5GHz band was enabled etc..

I then restarted the router and everything is back up and running.. Maybe when the phone has no internet even though it has 2 bars signal strength is more to do with an issue on the router and not signal strength at all...

I think I'll buy a different router anyway, just need a bit of research on what to buy!

5starpool · 22-02-2017 04:53PM

With this FTTH, once it is in place are Eir the only provider who can offer these speeds or can Vodafone or Sky resell packages using this infrastructure and not SIRO?

AlmightyCushion · 22-02-2017 05:04PM

5starpool wrote: »

With this FTTH, once it is in place are Eir the only provider who can offer these speeds or can Vodafone or Sky resell packages using this infrastructure and not SIRO?

Eir have made it available to re-sellers. It's up to the re-sellers to offer it to their customers then.

jones · 22-02-2017 05:15PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Out of curiosity I checked eirs website for fifth availability at my address, put my home number and eir code in, came back with "up to 1000mbs available". That's good right still figure its a mistake but I'll check with them

Can you check for FTTH on the website? I just got the normal fibre one where it tells me i can enjoy speeds of us to 7mbs

tsue921i8wljb3 · 22-02-2017 05:39PM

5starpool wrote: »

With this FTTH, once it is in place are Eir the only provider who can offer these speeds or can Vodafone or Sky resell packages using this infrastructure and not SIRO?

At the moment for eir's wholesale product the only resellers that I know of are:

Pure Telecom
Digiweb
Net1 Broadband (May not be nationwide)

Vodafone are deeply involved with Siro so have chosen not to resell the eir product and Sky resell neither eir nor Siro.

Gonzo · 22-02-2017 07:35PM

Bodie Stale Jawbreaker wrote: »

At the moment for eir's wholesale product the only resellers that I know of are:

Pure Telecom
Digiweb
Net1 Broadband (May not be nationwide)

Vodafone are deeply involved with Siro so have chosen not to resell the eir product and Sky resell neither eir nor Siro.

I didnt think Digiweb were reselling Eir's FTTH product? I know they resell Siros and resell Eir's FTTC product.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 22-02-2017 07:41PM

Gonzo wrote: »

I didnt think Digiweb were reselling Eir's FTTH product? I know they resell Siros and resell Eir's FTTC product.

They sell both.

Openeir:
http://www.digiweb.ie/ultrafast-ftth-broadband/

Siro:
http://www.digiweb.ie/siro-powered-broadband/

Gonzo · 22-02-2017 08:59PM

Bodie Stale Jawbreaker wrote: »

They sell both.

Openeir:
http://www.digiweb.ie/ultrafast-ftth-broadband/

Siro:
http://www.digiweb.ie/siro-powered-broadband/

Digiweb seem more expensive than Eir, they have a 199 euros activation fee which Eir does not have and the fibre pricing is the same as Eir's broadband only.

Westnet: Paul · 22-02-2017 09:02PM

Bodie Stale Jawbreaker wrote: »

At the moment for eir's wholesale product the only resellers that I know of are:

Pure Telecom
Digiweb
Net1 Broadband (May not be nationwide)

FYI, we're also reselling eir FTTH and VDSL (not ADSL), but just in the Mayo region for the moment.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 22-02-2017 09:03PM

Westnet: Paul wrote: »

FYI, we're also reselling eir FTTH and VDSL (not ADSL), but just in the Mayo region for the moment.

Apologies Paul!

9726_9726 · 22-02-2017 09:11PM

Westnet: Paul wrote: »

FYI, we're also reselling eir FTTH and VDSL (not ADSL), but just in the Mayo region for the moment.

Hey Paul, how are ye getting over the rise to €270 from Openeir for the install? Are you charging setup fee?

Deagol · 22-02-2017 09:20PM

Gonzo wrote: »

Digiweb seem more expensive than Eir, they have a 199 euros activation fee which Eir does not have and the fibre pricing is the same as Eir's broadband only.

I've had several different BB providers and I must say Digiweb were by far, miles and miles and miles...... you get the idea.... the best to deal with.

Even to the point that they marked me as a 'knowledgeable' user and when I called the tech support line, they immediately escalated me to the level 2 guys.

I'd / I'll be back to them in a heartbeat once / if I can get FTTH from them!

Westnet: Paul · 23-02-2017 12:23AM

9726_9726 wrote: »

Hey Paul, how are ye getting over the rise to €270 from Openeir for the install? Are you charging setup fee?

We haven't, yet. We're going to have to figure something out though, it's just too much to absorb with free installation and a 12-month contract. Something will have to give.

9726_9726 · 23-02-2017 01:23AM

Westnet: Paul wrote: »

We haven't, yet. We're going to have to figure something out though, it's just too much to absorb with free installation and a 12-month contract. Something will have to give.

Plus amortising the router. Isn't it galling that wholesale do that but retail give free install?

Westnet: Paul · 23-02-2017 10:46AM

I couldn't possibly comment.

murphaph · 23-02-2017 12:55PM

I think there's a serious problem if people are having difficulty paying a measly €270 for FTTH. I mean, all other utilities cost significantly more than that to get connected.

Kristopherus · 23-02-2017 01:06PM

murphaph wrote: »

I think there's a serious problem if people are having difficulty paying a measly €270 for FTTH. I mean, all other utilities cost significantly more than that to get connected.

What ?????? That's €270 on top of the normal monthly sub, is it not? I'm not sure too many people will agree with you.

ED E · 23-02-2017 01:38PM

Murph is right. If you build a new house and ask ESB to connect you a bill of €2000 wouldnt be a surprise. But 10% for top tier broadband? "Thats a ripoff". Irish consumers dont value good telcos, the bill is the only thing that matters. People change provider for €24 saving per annum.

I'd be of the opinion that all rural fibre and NBP customers should pay a one time €500 connection fee to help support the build out, Ireland is an expensive place to cover. Lets not bankrupt the W/S firms we need to actually get it done. The problem arises for the smaller line operators like Paul who can't afford a large loss leader that their competition may run with (probably as part of a big quad play deal).

AlmightyCushion · 23-02-2017 02:09PM

ED E wrote: »

Murph is right. If you build a new house and ask ESB to connect you a bill of €2000 wouldnt be a surprise. But 10% for top tier broadband? "Thats a ripoff". Irish consumers dont value good telcos, the bill is the only thing that matters. People change provider for €24 saving per annum.

I'd be of the opinion that all rural fibre and NBP customers should pay a one time €500 connection fee to help support the build out, Ireland is an expensive place to cover. Lets not bankrupt the W/S firms we need to actually get it done. The problem arises for the smaller line operators like Paul who can't afford a large loss leader that their competition may run with (probably as part of a big quad play deal).

In fairness, if you can save €24 with no noticeable drop in quality/performance/speed then you still should. It's better in your pocket than someone else's. Saying that, I do remember quite a few people dropping Eircom/UPC back in the day for those mobile broadband hotspots because they were so much cheaper. Sure's the savings were good but definitely not worth it given the difference in performance and quality. I tried to talk so many people out of it but they still did it and then complained when they couldn't download stuff or it cut out all the time or the speed was shít.

Any way back to the main point. Complaining about paying a once off fee of a couple of hundred euro for access to FTTH is madness. Especially when most people in rural areas have crap or no broadband.

Eircom to roll out 1Gb/s FTTH to 66 towns

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