Digiweb Fibre

byte

Just wondering if anyone here uses Digiweb Fibre for their broadband needs?

My contract is near an end with Vodafone, so was contemplating Digiweb for a spell. Vodafone were insisting I needed a new 12m contract to continue with their service, which I think is iffy, but I have just over a week to call and cancel that.

Is there anything I'd need to worry about with Digiweb, with regards sites they might block, or poor with sites like Netflix etc? Maybe poor linking to international websites or something.

The Fritzbox is supposed to be a good router, which is partly why I'm tempted.

editorsean

My brother has their service in Letterkenny (FTTC), synced at a constant 47Mbps down and 20Mbps up. The speed over the connection is very consistent, e.g. speed tests consistently return 44-46Mbps any time of day (going by testmy.net) and the line is very stable. He does a fair amount of streaming and so far has not had any buffering issue even with two kids watching YouTube on phones/tablets at the same time.

They run their telephone service over VoIP, so your telephone would need to plug into the Fritz Box's telephone port. If you have a cordless phone or a corded phone next to your existing router, this shouldn't be an issue and you can even register some DECT phone models directly with the router as it has DECT built-in. On the other hand, if you have corded telephones located around the house, these extensions will not work.

There are a few things to note:

1. Their 'Unlimited' plans have a 350GB fair usage allowance in any 30 day period. Vodafone has a 1000GB fair usage allowance.
2. As their telephone service is VoIP based, the telephone line goes down during power outages. A small UPS can get around this for short outages.
3. Their contract is 18 months.

loyatemu

editorsean wrote: »

1. Their 'Unlimited' plans have a 350GB fair usage allowance in any 30 day period. Vodafone has a 1000GB fair usage allowance.

this is one to be wary of - when I had their service I went over the FUP a couple of times and they throttled my connection back to 128Kb/s until my 30 day usage had dropped back to 80% of the FUP. This took days and I effectively had no internet during this time (128K is literally unusable for anything).

350GB is not a huge amount of data if you have a lot of people in the house using the internet or do a lot of streaming.

byte

editorsean wrote: »

My brother has their service in Letterkenny (FTTC), synced at a constant 47Mbps down and 20Mbps up. The speed over the connection is very consistent, e.g. speed tests consistently return 44-46Mbps any time of day (going by testmy.net) and the line is very stable. He does a fair amount of streaming and so far has not had any buffering issue even with two kids watching YouTube on phones/tablets at the same time.

They run their telephone service over VoIP, so your telephone would need to plug into the Fritz Box's telephone port. If you have a cordless phone or a corded phone next to your existing router, this shouldn't be an issue and you can even register some DECT phone models directly with the router as it has DECT built-in. On the other hand, if you have corded telephones located around the house, these extensions will not work.

There are a few things to note:

1. Their 'Unlimited' plans have a 350GB fair usage allowance in any 30 day period. Vodafone has a 1000GB fair usage allowance.
2. As their telephone service is VoIP based, the telephone line goes down during power outages. A small UPS can get around this for short outages.
3. Their contract is 18 months.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

It's FTTC in Donegal Town I use with Vodafone (and of course, whoever I switch to). It's a stable 50/20.

Vodafone had wanted me to change from PSTN to VOIP phone recently, but I declined. I don't think it'll make much odds as the DECT phone is not used often. I did note that Digiweb offer free calls to UK mobile which might be handy on occasion.

The 350GB cap is probably my main concern so. I've checked back over my past 5 months Vodafone usage, though the highest I've downloaded was around 175GB in May. That's not to say I wouldn't end up downloading more in the 18m contract period. I noticed that Digiweb say that they'll cut the service if you go over the FUP twice in 90 day period. A 128K connection is useless though.

I saw that Digiweb have two price tiers for the fibre - €40 and €50. Only difference I noticed though is with added free calls, the 350GB cap is constant, which seems a bit stupid. Also, the lower tier also has a €49 connection charge.

Decisions, decisions.

AnimalRights

I only got Digiweb (€39.95 package) on Thursday so it's to early to tell but I'm also only using it for wifi...
My Desktop get's on average 30+ down and peak times maybe 20-30.
All my devices get between 60-80+ down.

I'll reply again after a few more days.

byte

AnimalRights wrote: »

I only got Digiweb (€39.95 package) on Thursday so it's to early to tell but I'm also only using it for wifi...
My Desktop get's on average 30+ down and peak times maybe 20-30.
All my devices get between 60-80+ down.

I'll reply again after a few more days.

Did it take long to port over to Digiweb, or is it a totally new connection?

I was told that, like Vodafone, an IP refresh will happen every night but it can be disabled in the Fritzbox.

Do you know if it's possible to wallmount the Fritzbox? My vodafone router/modem is wallmounted due to location of phonesocket.

I think I'll need to contact Vodafone first to cancel my service, before then contacting Digiweb to join their service.

editorsean

The IP refresh occurs with Digiweb also as mine usually changes every 24 hour cycle. It's not something that can be disabled in the router. When I was previously with Digiweb a few years ago, I asked for a static IP address which was free at the time, so it's worth asking them if they still provide a static IP address free of charge. Alternatively you can use a Dynamic DNS service such as no-ip.com that keeps track of your IP address. The Fritz!Box supports a variety of Dynamic DNS services.

The Fritz!Box can be wall mounted. There are two wall-mount slots on the base of the router.

Don't cancel your existing service. Once you order the new service, whether it is Digiweb, Eir, Sky, etc. the existing service will be cancelled automatically once the new provider activates the new service. If you try to cancel your existing service, you may lose your landline #.

byte

Hmm... Vodafone told me I needed to give them 30 days cancellation notice. Hard to know what's the right thing to do. Don't really want to lose my phone number.

I was told that the 24h refresh for Digiweb was a router setting and not done remotely, unless it's a hidden menu or something.

editorsean

I think the advance cancellation notice is for if you plan cancelling the landline completely. My previous DSL provider was Vodafone also and I didn't contact them at all when switching to Digiweb. I just received the final bill from Vodafone and nothing further after that.

The closest setting I could find in my router is the option to delay the disconnection cycle to a specific time of day:



On the other hand, the DSL settings and information is very impressive for a consumer router. For example, I can sacrifice bandwidth for improved signal to noise ratio, Impulse Noise Protection or to identify RFI:



... and view the spectrum graph in real-time:

ED E

Thats the Fritzbox? Niiiiiice.

Nollog

ED E wrote: »

Thats the Fritzbox? Niiiiiice.

I looked it up when digiweb started advertising siro. they're really impressive. I had a little IT-excitement reading up on the newer ones (which their twitter implied would come with siro connections).

Kristopherus

byte wrote: »

Hmm... Vodafone told me I needed to give them 30 days cancellation notice. Hard to know what's the right thing to do. Don't really want to lose my phone number./QUOTE]

Vodafone were telling you fibs. If you have completed your initial contract and have not committed to another term, you can port away without penalty. The provider that you are porting to will look after all the details.

Cork981

Woo

Can I buy a fritz box ? Even an unbranded one....

Will it work with vectoring

ED E

Cork981 wrote: »

Woo

Can I buy a fritz box ? Even an unbranded one....

Will it work with vectoring

Yep

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=100620618

Check amazon/Ebay

editorsean

The Fritz!Boxes supplied by Digiweb are unbranded. I received the 7360 and my brother received the 7430.

The one they shipped me was completely blank. Their activation e-mail included the configuration settings, so I was able to configure the DSL settings to get online. However, I had to call their support for VoIP settings for their phone service.

byte

Just to update on my thread...

I signed up to Digiweb some weeks ago, and as of about 10 days ago, my internet was finally switched over.

I got my Fritzbox rigged up, which I have to say, has a superb UI! Even downloaded Fritz Fon app so my mobile can accept calls to landline. Sadly, mine seems to have a flaw, in that vectoring isn't working. My speed with Vodafone was 50/20, but with the Fritz, it's 41/10. In the Fritzbox menu, I noticed that G.vector was OFF.

I couldn't see any option to turn on G.vector (presumably that's done at exchange end?) so I rang Digiweb again. They said there was an issue with the router and sent me out a replacement on Friday. Sadly, the replacement is not a nice Fritz, it's a Technicolor TG789vac

They've sent me a returns post bag for the Fritz, but I'm wondering if there's something I could do to enable G.vector on the box before I return it as I'd prefer the Fritz to the Technicolor! One advantage the Technicolor has is that it has ac wifi.

Internet speed is higher on the Technicolor so vectoring must be working, however the speed is not quite as fast as VF, running at 50/15 so not far out!

Suggestions welcome

ED E

Which Fritz were you issued? This has come up before and I'm not sure of the exact answer we arrived at.

Known Good:
F1000 (Zyxel VMG8324-B10A)
F2000 (Huawei HG659b)
Huawei HG658c
Netgear D7000 - Thanks to Tea Drinker
AVM FRITZ!Box 7360 - Thanks to Karsini

The 7360 was added to the "good list" because DW issued it, but if thats what you have it may not be Huawei compliant.

It'll stay off unless the DSLAM(Cabinet) can successfully negotiate with the modem to enable it during sync up. Compatibility is really ropey (Modems that do it with ECI may not do it with Huawei and vice versa etc).

50_15 is a profile as is 52_20 so its likely your line was revised down slightly during a monthly prequalification test. If you were early to get VDSL(eFibre) in your area your initial test could have been slightly high. Even if you're heavy on peer to peer you shouldnt notice the difference often so not worth worrying about.


If you could email digiweb and get a hard answer as if to they intentionally sent you the Technicolor to be vectoring compliant I could update the list.

byte

Thanks for your quick reply.

The Fritz I have is a 7430, not a 7360.

ED E

No go so.

Karsini wrote: »

I tried the AVM FRITZ!Box 7390 and 7490. I don't know if vectoring works but I found that the sync speed was somewhat lower than the F2000; between 90-95Mb/s on a 9dB margin whereas the F2000 gets the full 100 with a comfortable margin.

The Fritzs are lovely (they give a huge amount of diagnostic info that the rest hide) but it'll be slower for your and degrade you neighbours so shouldnt be used.

byte

ED E wrote: »

No go so.



The Fritzs are lovely (they give a huge amount of diagnostic info that the rest hide) but it'll be slower for your and degrade you neighbours so shouldnt be used.

Ah balls.

Karsini didn't try the 7430 I have though. Annoying that G.vector is in the menu but not working

I wonder if Digiweb could send me a 7360, though I'd say they can't since they sent me a Technicolor...

byte

Spoke to a guy in Digiweb Tech Support earlier today and he said that none of the Fritz! boxes support the vectoring properly which is why I was sent the Technicolor.

The Technicolor seems to be running OK for now anyway. I wonder will my speed increase to what was normal levels on VF when the monthly prequal test comes round again.

Sneachta

Anyone know how to get the phone to ring more than six times please? Can't find it in settings.

editorsean

I had this same issue also - I had to contact Digiweb technical support to get it increased.

The maximum they can increase it to is 45 seconds, which is what I went with.

byrnefm

byte wrote: »

Spoke to a guy in Digiweb Tech Support earlier today and he said that none of the Fritz! boxes support the vectoring properly which is why I was sent the Technicolor.

The Technicolor seems to be running OK for now anyway. I wonder will my speed increase to what was normal levels on VF when the monthly prequal test comes round again.

I called up Digiweb today and was told the same :-(. He said that Eir blocked the boxes from vectoring as they were causing too many problems. Strange how they keep sending them out to people then! I have the 7430. Also Digiweb advertises how great the FritzBox is and that it is supplied with all connections, including FttH!

I was hoping that I was misinformed on the phone as I like the FritzBix too. Did you send back the FritzBox in the end?

byte

byrnefm wrote: »

I called up Digiweb today and was told the same :-(. He said that Eir blocked the boxes from vectoring as they were causing too many problems. Strange how they keep sending them out to people then! I have the 7430. Also Digiweb advertises how great the FritzBox is and that it is supplied with all connections, including FttH!

I was hoping that I was misinformed on the phone as I like the FritzBix too. Did you send back the FritzBox in the end?

Yeah, I returned the Fritz! in the end, even though I would have preferred to keep it!

The Technicolor, despite not having the nice UI that Fritz!Box had, has been pretty stable, no downtime. Only issue is that I'm still on the lower speed tier than what I was used to with VF. Technicolor has ac wifi too, which I don't think was on the Fritz!box.

byrnefm

I sent back my FritzBox in the end also. It synch'd at 61Mbps (G.vector Off, it said in its interface) while with the Technicolor, it got 81Mbps (max my line will support). I asked tech support about this. Some lines exchanges work with the FritzBox, others don't, I was told.

Overall, the new box seems to be fine, if a bit on the large side! No manual of any sort with it. Even weirder, the dial tone 'purrs' and the ring tone is French unless dialling a mobile number. Must call them to ask about that oddity. The 802.11a band support is nice, though!

byte

Heh, it's quite big alright! It's still going rock solid for me though, long may it continue.

It does have an odd ringtone alright, though my biggest gripe is that if somebody rings, it doesn't ring for very long, so I guess I'll have to do what editorsean did and ring Digiweb to max it to 45s.

PAKNET

Conscious of dragging up an old thread but as it's somewhat related...

Did Digiweb ever replace the Fritz boxes you returned or are you both still on the Technicolor?

I got sent the 7430 last week as a new sign up but like yourselves it's reporting G.Vector = Off despite the cab I'm on being vectored over the Christmas/New Year break.

Half-considering bridging it to a spare F1000 I have lying about rather than raising a case with them and ending up having to send it back - it's an otherwise fantastic piece of kit apart from the apparent non-existent vectoring support!

byte

Yeah, I still have the Technicolor. It has remained reliable and the ac wifi is nice. Not too bothered now, even though the functionality and UI was much superior on the Fritz!Box.

PAKNET

byte wrote: »

Yeah, I still have the Technicolor. It has remained reliable and the ac wifi is nice. Not too bothered now, even though the functionality and UI was much superior on the Fritz!Box.

Just to update, spoke with support...

Seemingly it is a known issue but they are working with OpenEir on it and there are plans to have a fix in place in the coming months.


How does OpenEir vectoring work - do OpenEir have to individually "certify" or approve a given make/model of modem before the system will accept it operating in vectored mode?

Or is it a case any modem will do unless it doesn't meet a particular criteria and OpenEir will then block vectored mode?

PAKNET

Looks like the vectoring issue has finally been resolved.

Using a Fritz 7430 here, now showing "G.Vector = Full" in both directions.

Currently synced at 81920 / 20480 (with attainable 90535 / 25614).

byte

PAKNET wrote: »

Looks like the vectoring issue has finally been resolved.

Using a Fritz 7430 here, now showing "G.Vector = Full" in both directions.

Currently synced at 81920 / 20480 (with attainable 90535 / 25614).

Oh, good to know.

I wonder if I should ring them tomorrow and ask about swapping out again with a Fritz! They probably won't now that I have a functioning modem/router.

PAKNET

byte wrote: »

Oh, good to know.

I wonder if I should ring them tomorrow and ask about swapping out again with a Fritz! They probably won't now that I have a functioning modem/router.

It's advertised as a feature of the fibre product so why not!

Been a rock solid piece of kit and the features and information it gives you is incredible (at least for a techgeek like me anyway! )

byte

PAKNET wrote: »

It's advertised as a feature of the fibre product so why not!

Been a rock solid piece of kit and the features and information it gives you is incredible (at least for a techgeek like me anyway! )

Rang them and to be fair to them, they're sending me out a Fritz! Box again.

Credit to Digiweb, their customer support is superb any time I've rang them so far.

byte

Having received and plugged in the Fritzbox, the speed is about 5mbit slower than with either the Technicolor or the old Vodafone Huawei modem.

Not sure whether to return the Fritz or the Technicolor, though really do like the Fritz UI, which even logs missed calls.

G.Vector now says Full instead of Off, so at least the vectoring is now working.

Sneachta

Does anyone know how to get the phone to ring more times, it cuts off fairly quickly, can't find how to change In settings

byte

Sneachta wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get the phone to ring more times, it cuts off fairly quickly, can't find how to change In settings

You'll have to ring Digiweb and get them to change it from their end.

Silver Serpent

Hi Guys,

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but is an engineer visit required from Digiweb if you already have fibre broadband and are thinking of making the switch, or is the Fritz just a self install and everything else happens remotely?




Thanks.

byte

Silver Serpent wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but is an engineer visit required from Digiweb if you already have fibre broadband and are thinking of making the switch, or is the Fritz just a self install and everything else happens remotely?




Thanks.

No visit required, the Fritz!Box is preconfigured for self-installation.