Broadband

David086

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice when it comes to download speeds in our area. We live in an older estate in Wicklow and we're still on a copper line where the download speed is max 100Mbps. I'm currently with Sky Broadband and while I'm contracted for 70Mbps I'm only getting a miserable 37Mbps. Eir own the line outside the house so Vodafone & Sky just feed off it. I contacted Sky about the slow speeds and queried why and they mentioned it's due to 'latency' and that's the max I'm going to get otherwise it'll be worse than it already is. Our address is listed on the Eir fibre rollout (Siro skipped our estate due to a ducting issue) but there's no timeline and it's unlikely any time soon.

Would anyone advise what my options would be as my contract with Sky is coming to an end and looking to switch. If I switch to Eir could it be possible speeds would increase? An Eir rep mentioned the max speed she could see at the exchange box (?) was 80Mbps. Anything better than 37Mbps is good. Or am I better off looking at Three 4G or Eir 4G. (5G from Eir is only available outdoors). I know I can avail of cooling off periods but seems like a bit of a pain.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058361717/broadband

no real advice, but it sounds like eir are beyond disastrous to deal with

headtheball14

have you looked at starlink? I know a number of people with poor lines for broadband And no fibre in sight that have tried it and overall good feedback. 50 euro a month and you can trial it first.

David086

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122434634#Comment_122434634

Only realised it was a thing looking through Boards this afternoon. Is there a way to find out to see what speeds you could get before ordering? Only downside would be someone would have to install and run a cable from the roof to the house to power the thing.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122434675#Comment_122434675

Speed will generally be in excess of 150 Mbps, users reporting 200+ across various forums

Check out Starlink Ireland over on Facebook, lots of installer and subscriber discussion there

RobiePAX

Is Virgin Media available in your area?

Also what speed ComReg broadband checker says you should be getting on Open Eir line?

https://www.comreg.ie/broadbandchecker

David086

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122438614#Comment_122438614

Virgin Media aren't available. ComReg checker mentions 59.5 and i'm only getting on average 35. What can I do in this scenario?

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122439253#Comment_122439253

Nothing. Down to the distance and quality of the copper line from the cabinet to you.

Copper infrastructure is on the way out so they won't be putting any great effort to improve the line.

David086

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122439419#Comment_122439419

Thanks anyway. Has anyone heard of any solutions regarding the duct issue (or lack of) when it comes to housing estates like ours? Does OpenEir have any sort of plan?

larchielads

https://www.three.ie/broadband.html that be any good to u? Its 5g

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122442145#Comment_122442145

I'm personally in an NBI IA with 2026 rollout. I've heard nothing about OpenEir's urban rollout plan for areas like yours. I'm sure with the decommissioning of copper on the horizon there has to be a plan somewhere in the background.

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058361717/broadband

I was with Sky on a similar old copper connection and max I could get was 18Mbps. It's was due to how far down the line I was and the age of the line. Even though I was on a 100Mbps package.

I'd a friend who worked with Eir at the time and did a few tests on the line and he said about 20Mbps was the best I could expect. Irrelevant of the provider I go with. They all use the same line. So pointless to move provided TBH.

And cooper lines are getting phased out and zero effort to maintain them.

I wouldn't get into a new contract so if other options available. I used a three mobile router for 14 months instead of signing up to a fibre DSL line. The three speeds were solid overall and used it to WFH, IPTV and day to day usage.

kippy

For the moment OP, I'd look at Starlink as the best option available to you if speed and consistency are what you require. At some point fibre will be available to you but no one will give you a timeline.

The existing copper is going to be the existing copper with associated speeds that you currently get no matter the provider.

Starling may require a small bit of work to get up and running but depending on your own ability/view of the sky from various locations it may not have to be on the roof of the house etc.

David086

Delete

David086

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122442385#Comment_122442385

Thanks but only 4G available in my area. Similar with Eir 5G is available but only outdoors.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122444348#Comment_122444348

If there is a good 4G service in your area it my be better than copper. I survived on Three 4G service for several years until FTTH became available. I used Three SIM & a Huawei B593 modem.

David086

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122444507#Comment_122444507

Roughly, what kind of speeds would you have gotten? My phone is with Three at the moment and a speed test gave me 50mbps. If a router was supplied would it be any better?

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445732#Comment_122445732

Your running same APN's so speeds be similar on phone as a router pending below factors.

But , are you running the speed test at a window or in middle of house. Are you at the side of the house nearest the mast? For example, my router got the best speed facing the mobile mast, a direct line to the mast from an upstairs window. Hence why you can attach an antenn to the router which can be placed outside house facing the mast.

Loads of factors in play, also three have a few different APN settings to test. I tried a few and stuck with the one that returned the most solid speed over a test period of a few days. One speed test is pointless, I ended up taking maybe 30/40 tests per day (wired to router) to get understanding of APN's, router placement and congestion times on network.

I had a three router, similar as above and during day/off-peak hours was hitting 80/100mbps. It' dropped to 30/40mbps on peak and in evening time due to network congestion. And that suited me as WFH was done come evening hours.

I moved home and didn't have FTTH yet, so was my only option and 2 people had to WFH or else a 4 hour commute daily so I done plenty of googling and chatting here on boards to get the router as solid as I could. The help here was too class! Got a solid 14 months usage before FTTH installed in March, and by god, it's so hassle free.

Check comreg siteviewer website for mast info.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445732#Comment_122445732

I wasn't getting speeds anywhere near 50 mbps but it was good enough for my daughter to use for working from home & watch Netflix etc. Why don't you use your phone as a hot-spot & see how it performs. Rather than locking into a contract I would suggest buying an unlocked (SIM free) router. I bought mine through Amazon.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445732#Comment_122445732

Your experience might/will be different than anyone else, its mobile and depend on many factors. Testing needed.
Avoid long term contracts where possible.
me on Huawei B818(4G only) right now

Phone currently show 68.68/33.19/35 respectively