UPC Horizon V Eircom - TV & BROADBAND

James Delaney

Hi,
I currently have UPC Horizon (TV Broadband) costing €100 @mth.

Eircom have an offer for same,@€;35 for 6 mths.

Is it worth changing. I know I will have less TV Channels - Not sure what Eircoms Broadband is like - I live in Dublin3.

Also could any1 advise re TV via Satalite.

Thanking You in advance.

bugfreebob

James Delaney wrote: »

Hi,
I currently have UPC Horizon (TV Broadband) costing €100 @mth.

Eircom have an offer for same,@€;35 for 6 mths.

Is it worth changing. I know I will have less TV Channels - Not sure what Eircoms Broadband is like - I live in Dublin3.

Also could any1 advise re TV via Satalite.

Thanking You in advance.

Eircom's Broadband is very very reliable. It is also uncontended and hence you get the same speed at different times of day irrespective of how many others are using the network. While UPC may offer higher headline speeds, their network is contended and can drop off substantially at peak times. UPC is also way overpriced, and they force you to take their phone service, which surprisingly eircom don't even do!

There is no reason to pay those crazy prices for TV. I get free-to-air Saorview + free Satellite for UK channels. Pay once off for a combo box and you won't have to pay a monthly fee for TV ever again. The only downside is that the EPG for UK channels is poor and you have to manually re-tune the box any time channels change. For that reason if I was starting again, I might consider eircom eVision. It has an excellent user interface - way better than UPC Horizon - and it is reasonably priced. It is proper IPTV, so it does need some of the Broadband bandwidth - but all TV will be like this someday.

Another big advantage of eircom is that you can bundle in eMobile - they have excellent packages for eircom customers. You will almost certainly save vs your existing mobile provider. UPC don't have any mobile network.

ED E

bugfreebob wrote: »

Eircom's Broadband is very very reliable. It is also uncontended and hence you get the same speed at different times of day irrespective of how many others are using the network. While UPC may offer higher headline speeds, their network is contended and can drop off substantially at peak times. UPC is also way overpriced, and they force you to take their phone service, which surprisingly eircom don't even do!

Very broad statements there.

UPC in most areas is uncontended. In old areas where the CMTS werent upgraded there can be contention.

Eircom is uncontended in NGA and NGN areas, in other areas its contended as f'ck. See villages of 100+ people sharing 12Mbps between them.


OP if you're close to an eircom exchange or NGA node then their pricing is quite competitive but the TV product doesnt match up IMO. I'd take regular UPC over Horizon, the new set top unit is quite poor, but Id take horizon over eVision.

James Delaney

Yeah my TV has Saorview & its a Smart Tv (wireless)

I'm not familiar with the Combo Box TV facility.

What type of Combo Box do u use ?
Where's the best retailer, 2buy it?
How much does d box cost ?
Is it a Satellite Receiver ?
Do I need a dish?
Is it worked off Broadband.
Can 1 box supply 2 rooms in the house r is a 2nd box req'd.

Perhaps I should ave read up on this, b4 posting but I'm not technically minded.

Cheers.

bk

bugfreebob wrote: »

Eircom's Broadband is very very reliable. It is also uncontended and hence you get the same speed at different times of day irrespective of how many others are using the network. While UPC may offer higher headline speeds, their network is contended and can drop off substantially at peak times.

I'm sorry but you couldn't be more wrong about the above!!

Eircom is only truly uncontended on the copper line between your house and the cab (for VDSL) or the exchange (for Adsl). From the cab/exchange, your connection is absolutely contended with other users on the fibre back haul, exactly the same as UPC.

Now this should largely not matter as both upc and eircom carefully manage this contention so that most users wouldn't notice it.

According to net index speed tests, upc is the fastest ISP in Ireland. On average 4 times faster then Eircom!

Also UPC broadband is usually cheaper then Eircom. It is only bundled with TV that it can get expensive.

OP, what package are you on with UPC, you can likely switch to a cheaper package or negotiate a significant reduction by calling UPC sales and threatening to leave for Eircom.

bugfreebob

James Delaney wrote: »

Yeah my TV has Saorview & its a Smart Tv (wireless)

I'm not familiar with the Combo Box TV facility.

What type of Combo Box do u use ?
Where's the best retailer, 2buy it?
How much does d box cost ?
Is it a Satellite Receiver ?
Do I need a dish?
Is it worked off Broadband.
Can 1 box supply 2 rooms in the house r is a 2nd box req'd.

Perhaps I should ave read up on this, b4 posting but I'm not technically minded.

Cheers.

I have a couple of Combo boxes - Ferguson Ariva, and ClarkeTech. I got them a few years ago - so you should look for latest models now. Power City have Walker Combo boxes which are Saorview approved and should do Aertel. http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23-WP645TS. Probably worth looking at. Lots of info on the "Terrestrial" boards.ie forum. The boxes are typically around €100.

The Combo box receives Satellite and Terrestrial and combines them so you only use one remote, minimizing the key clicks between channels. You can also usually add a USB hard drive for pause/record/playback functions. You will need a dish for UK channels over satellite. These combo boxes can have a broadband connection for downloading updates - but the TV signal is taken off air - either Terrestrial or Satellite.

One box can supply two rooms - providing you are happy to watch the same content on both screens. This can work for a bedroom/living room scenario. Just use a HDMI splitter cable to feed both screens, and get an IR remote control extender so that you can use the remote in both rooms. However, if you want to be able to watch different programmes on each screen - then you will need additional tuner boxes.

If all of this seems a bit too technical, you might be better to consider eircom's eVision service!

James Delaney

@bugfreebob.
Many thks.
It is a bit technical alright but I'm slowly getting aquainted with it.

I thought there was a new system / combo box that received ALL Station via Broadband but judging by what you posted, I need a Dish.

I will also need 2 Combo boxes - 2 dauters, tennager + early 20's _ would not ave d same taste as me.

So the cost stacks up but then again if its a once off payment, it wud b worth it.

I reckon Cable TV days are numbered.