What data allowance do I need?

Shurwhynot

Due to Eir's utter incompetence (a story for a different day), I've decided to go with Vodafone mobile broadband. I don't have fibre in my area, and have a pay as you go Vodafone dongle for the past few weeks through work, which is getting good coverage so far although €20 credit is lasting me about 3 days :mad:

My question is what allowance to sign up for. Neither me or my partner are home during the day, so would only be using it at nighttime. We would be heavy users at nighttime, between social media, general browsing, I may stream matches if the TV is taken etc, and to be honest I'd look at getting rid of some of my sports channels if I could stream them without a problem on my iPad.

Vodafone go up to 50GB for €50 a month I believe - given the above, would I need the full 50GB a month?

Atlantic Dawn

It's video that eats it up and if it's HD video it really eats it. Full HD video on Youtube or Netflix uses about 3GB per hour.

editorsean

If the €20 (7.5GB) is only lasting about 3 days, this works out at roughly 75GB over a 30 day period. So you would definitely need to get your data usage cut well back before considering the €50 plan.

See if you can reduce the streaming video resolution to standard definition (480p) as it's very likely streaming in 720p if not 1080p as Atlantic Dawn mentioned. Standard definition quality would be no worse than the equivalent of TV3, TG4 and 3E on Saorview, but could cut your data usage down to a half or even a quarter depending on what HD mode it was playing in.

If you really want to stick with HD or can't get the video resolution reduced, I would also suggest giving Meteor prepay broadband a try to see how well it performs in your area. If Meteor performs fine, you could go with their 50GB bill pay plan which is just €30 a month and you can buy 15GB booster add-ons for €15 each. If you go over Vodafone's 50GB limit, they charge 2c/MB (which is a whopping €20 per GB.)

Shurwhynot

With Vodafone, I think they give you a 14 day trial. I assume I'd be able to see what data I got through in that period and could gauge it off that?

And with regard the pay as you go one, I don't think it's the 7.5GB I'm using in 3 days, it's the credit. I called Customer service the other day after topping up and they said I still had 4GB left, even though I was out of credit

drunkmonkey

Can you get DSL, how quick?

HD streaming 3gb per hour x 3hrs a day by 30days

You may need up to 200GB

Either dsl unlimited or 3mbb, Vodafone 50gb won't cut it.

guil

There's only a 14 day cooling off for online purchases. How could you have 4gb left off all your credit was gone? Surely your allowance will be used first and then your credit.

Shurwhynot

guil wrote: »

There's only a 14 day cooling off for online purchases. How could you have 4gb left off all your credit was gone? Surely your allowance will be used first and then your credit.

That's what the guy told me when I rang customer service. 3GB a day? I'm not going to be streaming for 3 hours every day, maybe one match a week and then just streaming the odd YouTube video or video links from Facebook/Twitter etc.

thehouses

editorsean wrote: »

I would also suggest giving Meteor prepay broadband a try to see how well it performs in your area. If Meteor performs fine, you could go with their 50GB bill pay plan which is just €30 a month and you can buy 15GB booster add-ons for €15 each. If you go over Vodafone's 50GB limit, they charge 2c/MB (which is a whopping €20 per GB.)

Meteor are owned by Eir and if the first poster had difficulty with Eir I would suggest avoiding Meteor.

Niemoj

Get a 3 sim, top up by €20 and thether from that.

You get 2TB of 4G which is essentially unlimited.

Although not officially allowed thethering goes unnoticed by 3.

unkel

Shurwhynot wrote: »

would I need the full 50GB a month?

Per month? As a heavy user? I use 50GB per hour sometimes.

I'd hate to go over a limit and pay through the roof over it. Can you not get any unlimited broadband?

Shurwhynot

I need Eir to run a line from the pole outside my house to the nearest exchange. I ordered broadband from them 6 weeks ago, and due to their utterly shocking service, I am still waiting on them to arrive to do the job. They are my only option for unlimited broadband, and even then I'm not guaranteed that I'll have a good signal. I was just looking for alternatives, but the more I think about it, even 50GB won't do and I'm left waiting for those idiots

ED E

Back when they started the waiting list was 3-4 years long! Comparatively the currrwnt wait time ain't so bad.

Really though, you picked the wrong time to order. KNN have been retasked towards FTTH works now going by reports so the crews left working on copper will be limited. They'll do repairs, VDSL, new lines in that order, so you're gonna be the bottom of a slow moving list.

The good news is COMREG can push it now as its getting long in the tooth. If its waiting on the county council then you'll just have to sit tight.

drunkmonkey

Shurwhynot wrote: »

I need Eir to run a line from the pole outside my house to the nearest exchange. I ordered broadband from them 6 weeks ago, and due to their utterly shocking service, I am still waiting on them to arrive to do the job. They are my only option for unlimited broadband, and even then I'm not guaranteed that I'll have a good signal. I was just looking for alternatives, but the more I think about it, even 50GB won't do and I'm left waiting for those idiots

There not your only option, Vodafone, Magnet, Digiweb, 3, Sky and more all resell Eircom lines, I'm paying sky €19 on top of my sky tv bill for unlimited fiber. Eir know exactly how much speed you'll get in your line but they make get the line installed before they surprise you with up to 1mb connection. Try and find out the nearest cabinet and you'll have an idea how quick it'll be or ask your neighbours on either side.

guil

drunkmonkey wrote: »

There not your only option, Vodafone, Magnet, Digiweb, 3, Sky and more all resell Eircom lines, I'm paying sky €19 on top of my sky tv bill for unlimited fiber. Eir know exactly how much speed you'll get in your line but they make get the line installed before they surprise you with up to 1mb connection. Try and find out the nearest cabinet and you'll have an idea how quick it'll be or ask your neighbours on either side.

Do you not have to pay line rental on top of that? I had to laugh every time sky offered me broadband for 'only' €10 extra a month, plus €30 for line rental.

drunkmonkey

Nope that'll all my sky bill went up by when I moved my bb from eir Eircom, they discounted every part of the bill to get the price to match evision price, no way was I was running my tv channels over broadband with eir but wanted them to price match it. Have to go renegotiate again in a few months as they would only lock in the price for 12mts they don't do longer contracts.

ItHurtsWhenIP

drunkmonkey wrote: »

There not your only option, Vodafone, Magnet, Digiweb, 3, Sky and more all resell Eircom lines, I'm paying sky €19 on top of my sky tv bill for unlimited fiber. Eir know exactly how much speed you'll get in your line but they make get the line installed before they surprise you with up to 1mb connection. Try and find out the nearest cabinet and you'll have an idea how quick it'll be or ask your neighbours on either side.

Others on here have mentioned that if you are getting a new line installed, only eir and Vodafone will provide you with the line. Sky will only give you service, if you already have a line in place and active.

ED E

MMFITWGDV wrote: »

Others on here have mentioned that if you are getting a new line installed, only eir and Vodafone will provide you with the line. Sky will only give you service, if you already have a line in place and active.

Recently changed if you order TV too.