Questions regarding internet speed, FTTH and different ISPs

PenguinForce

Hi experts,

I've been browsing different posts here, but honestly, I feel like it's easier to ask directly as I feel a bit out of the loop.

Recently, I've been considering upgrading to 1Gb from Virgin Media. I'm currently on 500Mb, and it's only a euro or two more to upgrade. Their website also shows that 2Gb broadband is available at my address, but I don’t think I need that much speed.

I've seen a lot of discussions about fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and how ISPs are rolling it out.
Are all 1Gb and 2Gb packages from Virgin Media based on FTTH? Currently, our VM modem/router (Compal CH7465LG-VM) is connected via coaxial from the wall.

If Virgin's 1Gb/2Gb plans use FTTH, would they need to install additional equipment, or is FTTH availability separate from the speed package?

Also, if I switch to another provider, do all ISPs use coaxial? Sky also offers 1Gb speeds at my address. However, a few years back, the landline cable was cut during renovations, so I’m wondering if that might be an issue.

Thanks in advance, and apologies if these questions seem obvious!

NotShero

Virgin can provide up to 1Gb on their coax network so the fact that it says you can get 2Gb means they have the FTTP outside your house ready to be connected inside your house. This will be a new fibre cable drilled into your house. Although it could possibly be Virgin would connect you through SIRO or NBI as they have deals with both wholesale providers, it’s the same process though anyway, a new fibre cable drilled into your house.

If it’s Virgin Media’s own FTTP network, the fibre cable is connected directly to a Virgin Media Hub 5x. If it’s SIRO or NBI, it’s a fibre cable connected to an ONT on the wall and connected to the router with an Ethernet cable.

I’m not sure if you had the cable TV with Virgin Media (Virgin Media 360, Horizon) could you keep it, I think you would have to switch to their streaming TV.

You would have to enquire to see if you would be changed over to FTTP if you were upgrading to 1Gb, they might just upgrade the speed on your current setup with coax as the coax network can still handle 1Gb.

You can look up “Comreg Broadband Checker” to know exactly what connection types and speeds are available at your house.

No other provider uses Virgin Media’s coax network. Coax is on the way out and will be fully replaced with FTTH. Other providers do use Virgin Media’s FTTP network as they have gone wholesale, so you could switch providers with this. Although I think only Sky and Vodafone currently have a deal with Virgin Media at the moment for this. Whereas with SIRO, NBI and OpenEir networks you have a lot more provider choice.

The landline cables that are cut you have mentioned are also on the way out and will fully be replaced by FTTP, you will know if this is being offered on a provider website if the speeds are below 100Mb/s.

it’s all FTTP networks from now on being built from OpenEir, Virgin Media, NBI, SIRO.

PenguinForce

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123265909#Comment_123265909

Thank you for the detailed response.

I used comreg checker there and open eir fibre is available for my address. Virgin media shows as cable and max speed is 1000 so I'm not sure if Comreg is up to date?

I was thinking of going with Digiweb and their FTTH lightning 1000 is available for my address. From what I understand they use open eir.

Do they need to run fiber directly to your house during installation? I guess one of the thing i don't really understand. I don't remember anyone calling to our house or dropping leaflet about it fibre availability like some posts I read.

csirl

Does VM share signals between houses? I.e. like the old days when 2 houses shared a landline phone line. Ive VM and at peak times you get nowhere near the promised bandwidth. Even the TV signal starts to pixelate.

Do other providers give e.g. a dedicated 2Gig? Thinking of changing.

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266156#Comment_123266156

The Comreg Broadband Checker was last updated last September I think, so yeah Virgin Media FTTP could have become available since then.

Yes Digiweb use OpenEir, SIRO and NBI. They wouldn’t say it’s available on their website unless it’s ready to go from outside so it is available in your area. It’s the same process for all, a new fibre cable needs to be run into the house either underground in a duct or overhead from a pole. Sometimes ducts are blocked etc. which could cause delays in the installation. An ONT will be fitted on the wall inside and then any of the providers like Digiweb can connect their own routers to that ONT with an Ethernet cable.

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266174#Comment_123266174

The coax network just isn’t as reliable as FTTP, the coax network is being phased out for FTTP. You would probably see benefits switching, speeds should be very consistent on FTTP.

They are all shared between houses in similar ways - Coax, DSL and FTTP but because the fibre is coming directly into your house on FTTP and not just to the street cabinet, it’s much more reliable.

Virgin Media and Sky are slowly trying to remove both their cable and dish TV products also, which brings its own issues of not being able to record most channels and such on their streaming services.

PenguinForce

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266196#Comment_123266196

Thanks again for clarifying.

I guess you answered what I was wondering about installation. I seen posts where people said they have to dig to run fiber to house. Sometimes it ends up being a big job and cost them.

I was thinking is the work to run fiber to our house was done already since they show that FTTH was available on Digiweb for my address. Since no one came to our house to run any cables, I was a bit confused.

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266378#Comment_123266378

No problem at all.

No unfortunately it doesn’t mean the work is already done to bring the fibre right outside your house, it just means it’s close enough that they can attempt to bring it in.

This is sometimes very straight forward and it’s just underground through the duct and as you said other people have no duct as the original cables in the house were just laid in the ground with no duct so they have to dig up to your house if there’s not a nearby pole. And as you said there could be a lot of cost involved in that but I’ve seen posts saying Digiweb weren’t in the position to pay for it but one of the bigger providers would pay so it mightn’t be a bad choice to pick Eir themselves for your first contract with the connection if your unsure if you have a duct or not.

It wouldn’t be any harm in giving it a go though, when you order the broadband they’ll come up on a random day before the installation date to bring the fibre to right outside the house and then on the installation date is when an engineer comes up to bring it into the house. So you’ll know before the installation date if there’s any issues with bringing it to your house. And with the cooling off period, if you buy it online or over the phone, you can cancel yourself at any point in that process anyway.

Have you asked any of your neighbours what broadband they have? Just so you would know roughly how they got on with installation as it’s most likely it’s the same process for all the houses in your estate or street.

PenguinForce

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266423#Comment_123266423

That's a good idea i think I saw somewhere that some company for installation or up to certain amount.

I'm not too sure if our property use duct or not. The house was built back in early 90's. We have cabinet in exterior side of the house where VM pulled a wire from because we need to change connection point awhile ago. There is a manhole about 10 meters from our front door where I saw them putting down orange cables into it a few months back which I assume is fiber(?). Can fibre be connected from there?

We live in a cul de sac so only a few families and none have fibre.

NotShero

@PenguinForce Yeah that does sound like they were laying the fibre into the manhole and you would be connected from there either through a duct or dig up to your house if one is missing or blocked.

I’m not too sure if the open access providers can use each other’s ducts into your house. Like SIRO will only use the ESB poles and go into ESB ducts up through to your outside electricity meter box. OpenEir wouldn’t be allowed to use that duct for example and I don’t think OpenEir let Virgin Media use their ducts.

You would kind of have to order it and see what the engineers (KN Circet or Actavo) have to say when they look around the house and that manhole before your installation date. You probably won’t get any answers from an ISP whether they can connect you or not until you order it and those engineers come out.

Fann Linn

Hi lads, just looking for some advice please. I currently have some CCTV cameras and they work of the 2.4g band and I've never had an issue with them to date. I run them off the Eir network through their router and it's been working perfectly.

I'm currently in the process of moving from Eir and I'm hoping someone can advise what other provider, if any, operates off or provides the 2.4 band also.

Thanks.

pizzahead77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123273614#Comment_123273614

All routers should have at least the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands as standard at this stage. Some newer ones have 6 GHz too

Nigzcurran

I actually had that problem with eir at the start and had to go into the router setting and create separate 5hz and 2.4hz bands so I presume all routers from isps have that option

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123273614#Comment_123273614

Yep all routers have 2.4Ghz but as @Nigzcurran said some smart home devices have trouble with connecting to 2.4Ghz when both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz have the same name and some providers routers don’t let you separate the bands, eir’s new routers don’t let you. Digiweb, Pure Telecom and I’m pretty sure Sky routers all still let you split the 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz, I’m not sure about other providers