I'm looking for recommendations for a broadband-only provider.

GravityCorp

Currently, I have a 2Gb plan with Virgin Media, but my initial contract year has finished, and the price has gone up to €90 per month. Although I have a 2Gb connection, I realistically only utilize about 1Gb because the internal wiring in my house seems older or not up to spec (which is strange for a house built in 2021, but hey, this is Ireland – anything can happen!).

I've checked availability in my area (Clongriffin), and if I switch, the maximum speed available from providers using the SIRO network (like Vodafone, Eir, Digiweb, Pure Telecom) appears to be 1Gb.

My key requirement is finding out which of these SIRO-based providers (Vodafone, Eir, Digiweb, Pure) might offer a modem that supports Bridge Mode. I need this feature because I have my own TP-Link Deco BE65 BE9300 Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh WiFi 7 system, which I want to use as my primary router instead of the ISP-supplied device.

dam099

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058404944/im-looking-for-recommendations-for-a-broadband-only-provider

Not sure that any of the above providers above do bridge mode but if you don't use their phone and/or TV it doesn't matter, you can connect your Deco's main unit directly to the ONT.

With regard to your internal wiring not being up to spec, are any of the cables exposed enough that you can read the spec printed on the e.g. CAT 5e / CAT 6 etc?

Also do you have equipment on both ends capable of doing 2Gb (the Virgin router should be if provided for a 2Gb connection but what about on the other end)?

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058404944/im-looking-for-recommendations-for-a-broadband-only-provider

I would presume you are using a device that does not have a 2.5Gb NIC, are you sure the device has a 2.5Gb Ethernet port that you are connecting?

You've mentioned eir is available so that wouldn't be SIRO, it could be that you're on the older GPON OpenEir network and that's why you are seeing only 1Gb options.

All the providers you've mentioned (Vodafone, eir, Digiweb, Pure Telecom), their router can be removed and you can plug your own directly into the ONT, so no need for a bridge mode at all. You just need to enter the PPPoE Username and Password for the ISP, which are all over the forums here. Then just head over to VLAN/IPTV settings and set the Internet VLAN ID to 10, also tick the "802.1Q Tag for Internet" if shown.

GravityCorp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123323749#Comment_123323749

Thanks for the information. Yes, all the in-wall cabling throughout the house is CAT 5e. My Virgin Media router has three 2.5Gb ports and one 10Gb port. My computer can receive the full 2Gb speed when connected directly to the router, bypassing the house's internal wiring. However, the rest of the house doesn't receive those speeds due to the CAT 5e limitations.

Regarding connecting the Deco directly to the ONT, that's not feasible. The Deco doesn't have a direct fiber optic input; it requires an Ethernet connection from a modem or router

I'm new to this and apologize if I'm saying anything that doesn't make sense. I hope I've made myself understood, as English is not my native language.

dam099

The ONT is the device that converts the fibre signal to Ethernet. Instead of plugging the ISP router into it plug in your Deco.

I don’t use it myself but my understanding is Virgin do FTTH a little differently to the other ISPs. They plug the fibre directly into their router bypassing the need for an ONT. If you switch ISP you will be getting an ONT installed.

dam099

In theory CAT 5e can do 2.5gb. If using 10gb ports have you tried limiting to 2.5gb?

It may be that you have low quality 5e in which case probably can’t do much about it other than rewire (if feasible).

NotShero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123326825#Comment_123326825

As @dam099 has said with Virgin Media’s FTTP network they don’t install a separate ONT, they have it built in to their Hub 5x instead. But both OpenEir and SIRO would install a separate ONT on the wall where you can connect any router with an Ethernet cable as long as you have the PPPoE details.

KildareP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123327302#Comment_123327302

Yup, Virgin is very convuluted alright!

Virgin DO install an ONT if the retail provider is not also Virgin. If you sign up to Sky through Virgin FTTP where they haven't yet installed their cable, you get an ONT and Sky's modem plugs into it. If you switch to Virgin as retailer down the road, you plug their modem into the existing ONT and away you go.

If you sign up to Virgin fibre through Virgin on a new fibre install, then you get their modem connected directly into the fibre patch cable. If you then switch to someone like Sky down the road, a second visit is needed to install an ONT and their modem then connects into it until switch day when you swap out with the new provider modem.

(OpenEir does allow for the same ONT-less install but to date no provider has used it)

GravityCorp

In the end I decided to go with DIGIWEB, I don't know if it will be the best option, time will tell, but it comes with a Fritz 7530 router.





I bought 50 metres of CAT8 cable but when I tried to change the cables they were very hard, I don't know if they were caught somewhere inside the wall, I don't really know much about this, it would be nice to rewire everything but I have no idea and I think it's very expensive to do it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123326888#Comment_123326888

Thanks to all fore helping me anyway