Vodafone or Eir router for best Wifi

DerryRed · 10-02-2016 10:37PM #1

I'm with Virgin and currently out of contract. I have the Cisco EPC3925 router which gives a terribly weak Wifi performance outside of the room the router is located. I was able to resolve this for a few years by using a WiFi Powerline extender. Unfortunately one of my kids broke the extender and I'm back to square one.

I'm seriously thinking of switching away from Virgin as I'm not happy with the issues I've been having on Netflix, which seems to be happening to a lot of people.

I'm considering switching to Eir or Vodafone and I was just wondering what people's experience is with the routers they provide. Do they both generally produce a good WiFi signal, or is one better than the other. Hopefully I can get something better than the Cisco router I have with Virgin.

ED E · 10-02-2016 10:39PM

Eirs old unit was on par with Vodafones, but since they changed to the F2000 they're significantly in front.

But dont pick an ISP for the router you get. Vodafone are cheaper, go with them a buy a decent third party router and get the best of both worlds.

DerryRed · 10-02-2016 10:47PM

ED E wrote: »

Eirs old unit was on par with Vodafones, but since they changed to the F2000 they're significantly in front.

But dont pick an ISP for the router you get. Vodafone are cheaper, go with them a buy a decent third party router and get the best of both worlds.

Thanks for that. I'd tried that for Virgin but I was told they don't allow the use of 3rd party routers. Is that true?

If I switch to Vodafone or Eir are there any recommended third party routers that don't cost big bucks.

ItHurtsWhenIP · 11-02-2016 10:35AM

You'd also want to be sure that eir/Vodafone can deliver you a service that can give you a good Netflix experience. No point in dropping a 240Mbps service for a ~8Mbps that's suffers congestion in the evenings. :eek:

Have you a landline or does a neighbour? If so, bang the number in here and see what speeds it reports back.

DerryRed · 11-02-2016 12:18PM

MMFITWGDV wrote: »

You'd also want to be sure that eir/Vodafone can deliver you a service that can give you a good Netflix experience. No point in dropping a 240Mbps service for a ~8Mbps that's suffers congestion in the evenings. :eek:

Have you a landline or does a neighbour? If so, bang the number in here and see what speeds it reports back.

I have a landline, however when I go to the Business Line Checker link you provided I get the message "Line Check Results For: xxx xxxx xxxx has failed the line check."

When I go to the Vodafone site on this page and enter my landline number, it brings up a results page telling me here are the results, but no results are displayed (I've tried on multiple browsers)

For Eir when I do a check on my landline I get a message saying they can't determine the broadband speed for this number and to search by address. When I search by address I'm told "Your home is eir Fibre enabled"

Any idea why I'm not able to get results when I search by my landline number?

ED E · 11-02-2016 12:22PM

If you're searching a number thats currently with Virgin it will not work. Its not a POTS line, its VOIP.

I forgot to ask, do you want a TV service? If so then you don't want to try changing the modem from eir or Vodafone.

DerryRed · 11-02-2016 12:26PM

ED E wrote: »

If you're searching a number thats currently with Virgin it will not work. Its not a POTS line, its VOIP.

I forgot to ask, do you want a TV service? If so then you don't want to try changing the modem from eir or Vodafone.

I've already got a TV service with Sky. Want to keep this separate as my employer is happy to pay for my phone and broadband, but not TV.

Mint Sauce · 11-02-2016 12:36PM

Does changing the Router make a big difference to speeds. Using a Vodafone router, 90Mbps when directly connected to router or to one of my Tp Link extenders, and up to 35Mbps on Wifi.

No complaint with that so far.

dub45 · 12-02-2016 03:23AM

DerryRed wrote: »

Thanks for that. I'd tried that for Virgin but I was told they don't allow the use of 3rd party routers. Is that true?

If I switch to Vodafone or Eir are there any recommended third party routers that don't cost big bucks.

If the Netflix issue is resolved shortly and you decide to stay with VM don't forget that you can bridge the 3925 (they dont support it) and connect whichever router you wish to. Lots of VM customers would bite your hand off for the 3925.

Also attaching a usb fan to the 3925 apparently improves the performance _ haven't tried it myself.

brimur69 · 15-02-2016 06:30PM

Just wanted to add that Eir and VF, using the phone line are less locked down than VirginM, using cable. You can use any modem or modem-router with Eir and VF but VirginM will only let you use their cable modems/routers. If I was going with Eir/VF I would use a standard modem or the router Eir/VF provided (in modem/bridge mode) with a highly rated and respected wireless router if the provided one was not good enough.

Johnny11 · 13-08-2016 02:09PM

ED E wrote: »

Eirs old unit was on par with Vodafones, but since they changed to the F2000 they're significantly in front.

But dont pick an ISP for the router you get. Vodafone are cheaper, go with them a buy a decent third party router and get the best of both worlds.

Vodafone don't allow third party router!

ED E · 13-08-2016 03:09PM

Johnny11 wrote: »

Vodafone don't allow third party router!

Why are you necroing a load of threads?

Do vodafone support it? No. Can you do it? YES!

mass_debater · 13-08-2016 03:31PM

Johnny11 wrote: »

Vodafone don't allow third party router!

No provider supports third party routers, it's the risk you take of having full control of your own connection.

Johnny11 · 13-08-2016 05:25PM

ED E wrote: »

Why are you necroing a load of threads?

Do vodafone support it? No. Can you do it? YES!

Sorry

Vodafone or Eir router for best Wifi

Comments