Eir rural FTTH thread

Gwynston · 18-01-2018 10:28AM

Marlow wrote: »

Any provider, that does OpenEIR FTTH and is present there, can offer you a connection.

Thanks for the info. It looks like Digiweb offer the most-rounded FTTH+phone package including free national+UK landline+mobile calls. Some of the others might look cheaper, but are less fully-featured on the phone side.

One thing I'm not 100% clear on is:
If I switch over to Digiweb using their VOIP service (so I don't need my old copper line + wall box for the phone, as with Eir currently) will I keep my old landline phone number? Does that get transferred over to the VOIP network somehow?

And can I still use my old phone? Is there a standard phone socket in the Fritz!Box router? Cos I've seen phones in shops marked as VOIP-enabled, which ours isn't. Or are those for people to plug them straight into an ethernet connection?

fergoc · 18-01-2018 11:14AM

Currently I have a 3mb DSL connection which I am using for working from home! I am contracted with Vodafone thru March. FTTH go live is imminent in this area but does anyone know when I order fibre (with either Eir or Digiweb), will the Vodafone DSL remain active until I cancel it? I am very keen not have any downtime so would like a little overlap between the 2 services.

Marlow · 18-01-2018 12:21PM

Gwynston wrote: »

One thing I'm not 100% clear on is:
If I switch over to Digiweb using their VOIP service (so I don't need my old copper line + wall box for the phone, as with Eir currently) will I keep my old landline phone number? Does that get transferred over to the VOIP network somehow?

And can I still use my old phone? Is there a standard phone socket in the Fritz!Box router? Cos I've seen phones in shops marked as VOIP-enabled, which ours isn't. Or are those for people to plug them straight into an ethernet connection?

VoIP phones plugs straight into ethernet.

The Fritz!Box does better. It has an analogue port for your existing phone and you can also connect a DECT handset to it. It then makes sure, that there is enough bandwidth to make a phone call, when you establish the call and throttles everything else if needed.

As for your phonenumber, the provider you're going with would have to port that. But that shouldn't be an issue.

/M

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 05:20PM

Gwynston wrote: »

Thanks for the info. It looks like Digiweb offer the most-rounded FTTH+phone package including free national+UK landline+mobile calls. Some of the others might look cheaper, but are less fully-featured on the phone side.

One thing I'm not 100% clear on is:
If I switch over to Digiweb using their VOIP service (so I don't need my old copper line + wall box for the phone, as with Eir currently) will I keep my old landline phone number? Does that get transferred over to the VOIP network somehow?

And can I still use my old phone? Is there a standard phone socket in the Fritz!Box router? Cos I've seen phones in shops marked as VOIP-enabled, which ours isn't. Or are those for people to plug them straight into an ethernet connection?

You should clarify this with Digiweb before ordering. The procedure with eir has been that those with an existing landline have been left on POTS (copper line) for the phone part of the product while those, such as myself, who had no traditional landline were put on the VoIP system.

Digiweb should be able to tell you if they will be leaving you on the legacy copper for your phone. Make it clear to them that you have a landline number that you wish to keep.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 05:25PM

fergoc wrote: »

Currently I have a 3mb DSL connection which I am using for working from home! I am contracted with Vodafone thru March. FTTH go live is imminent in this area but does anyone know when I order fibre (with either Eir or Digiweb), will the Vodafone DSL remain active until I cancel it? I am very keen not have any downtime so would like a little overlap between the 2 services.

I'm not positive but as they are separate products with different companies it may be up to yourself to cancel the DSL line. If you are moving a landline number to the FTTH service I am unsure of how that works. You should try to clarify it with whichever company you are ordering from.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 05:43PM

garroff wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why my fibre speed can vary from 95 to 270Mbps on a 300Mb
contract. Same computer/router/cables yet speed can be 95Mb at 5am.

How are you testing? I've a SamKnows box on a 300Mb connection and have noticed some slower speeds in the early hours though it hasn't dipped to 95Mb. This is counterintuitive as the network should be at it's quietest at these times.

Interestingly the SK box also does a Netflix download speed test. Even when the main download test shows slowdowns the Netflix test has generally remained in the high 200's Mb as it is testing off an Open Connect server in the eir core network. This shows that at least in my case that the slowdowns are likely in eir's peering with other networks and not an overloaded OLT in my local exchange.

Shyboy · 18-01-2018 08:33PM

Shyboy wrote: »

Hi All,

I have had FTTH for almost a year now, and apart from a few niggles at the beginning, all has been great.

My brother a few houses away finally got around to ordering FTTH recently and KN turned up today to do the install. My brother bought the house a few years ago and the previous owner did have a landline so all the cabling is still there.

The problem is that the KN installer says that the pipe coming inside that they use to feed the fibre in through seems to be under the wooden floor. Part of the floor would have to be removed to expose the pipe needed. As it turns out, my brother is a carpenter so he can do this, if he knew which part of the floor contains this pipe?

The KN guy says most likely it is just under the main phone socket in the hall, but says that is not 100% certain. So, my brother is worried that he will pull up lots of the floor and still not find it? He did not lay the floor himself, it was already there when he bought the house. Also, we do not know who built the house so cannot speak to the builder, etc.

Is there any way of knowing which part of the floor this pipe might be under?

So with the help of a local builder friend, we managed to locate the end of the duct in my brother's house which was located just under the wooden floor underneath the Eir main telephone socket. He just neatly cut a piece out of the floor which can be stuck back down after the fibre work has been completed.

I was reading the new Eir guidelines on ducts for customers and it mentions that the duct must have a drawstring attached? I cannot see any string coming from this duct unless it is at the street end? All I can see is the phone cable coming out of the duct and that's it...

I am afraid that Eir/KN will call out again to install and there will still be a problem?

Any suggestions?

Cheers!!

Shyboy · 18-01-2018 08:53PM

Shyboy wrote: »

So with the help of a local builder friend, we managed to locate the end of the duct in my brother's house which was located just under the wooden floor underneath the Eir main telephone socket. He just neatly cut a piece out of the floor which can be stuck back down after the fibre work has been completed.

I was reading the new Eir guidelines on ducts for customers and it mentions that the duct must have a drawstring attached? I cannot see any string coming from this duct unless it is at the street end? All I can see is the phone cable coming out of the duct and that's it...

I am afraid that Eir/KN will call out again to install and there will still be a problem?

Any suggestions?

Cheers!!

Ah, I just read in another thread that if there is an existing copper cable at the home, Eir/KN can use that to pull in the fibre? Would that be correct?

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 09:00PM

Shyboy wrote: »

Ah, I just read in another thread that if there is an existing copper cable at the home, Eir/KN can use that to pull in the fibre? Would that be correct?

As far as I know they will not use the existing copper to pull the fibre. The copper cabling must be left in place.

fritzelly · 18-01-2018 09:12PM

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

As far as I know they will not use the existing copper to pull the fibre. The copper cabling must be left in place.

Some EU directive iirc - they can't remove it if its already in place and working
But they should be able to rod it assuming no damage to the ducting or blockage

Shyboy · 18-01-2018 09:15PM

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

As far as I know they will not use the existing copper to pull the fibre. The copper cabling must be left in place.

Ok, thanks Navi.

So, if there is no drawstring, well, none that I can see anyway, will Eir/KN be able to get the fibre cable through the duct any other way?

I just want to have everything ready for them when they call again.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 09:19PM

Shyboy wrote: »

Ok, thanks Navi.

So, if there is no drawstring, well, none that I can see anyway, will Eir/KN be able to get the fibre cable through the duct any other way?

I just want to have everything ready for them when they call again.

As fritzelly says they will try to use their cable rods to push through the duct then pull the fibre in. If you want to try getting a drawstring through before they come here's a video of a technique I've used successfully.

https://youtu.be/wEnRz3CPslo

fritzelly · 18-01-2018 09:23PM

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

As fritzelly says they will try to use their cable rods to push through the duct then pull the fibre in. If you want to try getting a drawstring through before they come here's a video of a technique I've used successfully.

https://youtu.be/wEnRz3CPslo

Wouldn't suggest that on an existing pipe that you don't know the condition of - if there is any kind of blockage you could make it worse.
Grand for ducting you have just laid

tsue921i8wljb3 · 18-01-2018 09:25PM

fritzelly wrote: »

Wouldn't suggest that on an existing pipe that you don't know the condition of - if there is any kind of blockage you could make it worse.
Grand for ducting you have just laid

Yeah that is a good point. It was new ducting I did it on.

banjopeter · 19-01-2018 11:18AM

Gwynston wrote: »

Thanks for the info. It looks like Digiweb offer the most-rounded FTTH+phone package including free national+UK landline+mobile calls. Some of the others might look cheaper, but are less fully-featured on the phone side.

One thing I'm not 100% clear on is:
If I switch over to Digiweb using their VOIP service (so I don't need my old copper line + wall box for the phone, as with Eir currently) will I keep my old landline phone number? Does that get transferred over to the VOIP network somehow?

And can I still use my old phone? Is there a standard phone socket in the Fritz!Box router? Cos I've seen phones in shops marked as VOIP-enabled, which ours isn't. Or are those for people to plug them straight into an ethernet connection?

Here are the ports on the Digiweb Fritzbox

Marlow · 19-01-2018 11:46AM

banjopeter wrote: »

Here are the ports on the Digiweb Fritzbox

Depends a bit on the model, but you may want to explain a bit with that.

The VoIP capable models of the Fritz!Box are capable to be used as DSL or Cable-modem. So with DSL you use the DSL port, with fixed wireless or FTTH you use LAN1 (or WAN).

And yes, that FON1 port is for your old phone. Plug in and be happy.

/M

MBSnr · 19-01-2018 12:01PM

Gwynston wrote: »

Thanks for the info. It looks like Digiweb offer the most-rounded FTTH+phone package including free national+UK landline+mobile calls. Some of the others might look cheaper, but are less fully-featured on the phone side.

One thing I'm not 100% clear on is:
If I switch over to Digiweb using their VOIP service (so I don't need my old copper line + wall box for the phone, as with Eir currently) will I keep my old landline phone number? Does that get transferred over to the VOIP network somehow?

And can I still use my old phone? Is there a standard phone socket in the Fritz!Box router? Cos I've seen phones in shops marked as VOIP-enabled, which ours isn't. Or are those for people to plug them straight into an ethernet connection?

Is there a €199 install fee with Digiweb? Doing the maths, Eir works out much cheaper in the 1st year - €210 less on the 300Mb package with phone. If there's also the install fee, I couldn't justify going with them for €409 extra. I'm unlikely to go over the 1TB limit per month and already have wifi access points to get over the issues with Eir's modem.

I'd possibly jump to Digiweb after the 1st year is up as the pricing levels out considerably once Eir's discounts are over.

Of course I'm still waiting for my area to go live...

tsue921i8wljb3 · 19-01-2018 12:05PM

MBSnr wrote: »

Is there a €199 install fee with Digiweb? Doing the maths, Eir works out much cheaper in the 1st year - €210 less on the 300Mb package with phone. If there's also the install fee, I couldn't justify going with them for €409 extra. I'm unlikely to go over the 1TB limit per month and already have wifi access points to get over the issues with Eir's modem.

I'd possibly jump to Digiweb after the 1st year is up as the pricing levels out considerably once Eir's discounts are over.

Of course I'm still waiting for my area to go live...

There is an install fee with Digiweb. The others can't really compete with eir, who may be selling at a loss in order to gain customers. After the 12 months though it becomes a more level playing field and switching may be advised.

Gonzo · 19-01-2018 03:56PM

more neighbours getting their FTTH installed down the road from me. The number of houses on our road with copper internet is falling fast, at least 1 in every 2 homes here now have FTTH.

I have asked each neighbour who their provider is and they have all switched from either Vodafone or Sky to Eir. Digiweb isn't even an option due to that 199 euros install fee, very few people are prepared to pay that.

As for me, my Eir contract is up in April. I am going to stay on the 300/50 plan as I really like the upload speed and it is great for work. However, I really would like to switch away from Eir to a provider with a better cap or preferably none at all. If Eir weren't so sneaky and penalty focused over their FUP, I would stay with them because their network is superb.

I am going to wait to see what Vodafone offer this year and will wait to see if Sky ever come on board and see what they bring to the table. I want to make sure that If i do switch provider, that the quality of the network, both speeds and pings is a very close match to Eir's Network.

Dr. Nick · 19-01-2018 05:20PM

Tara exchange has increased availability - I just ordered the 300mbps package @ €69/mth for 12 mths. Install next Friday, coming from Ripplecom 4/5mbps with a 100gb cap!

turbbo · 19-01-2018 05:28PM

Gonzo wrote: »

more neighbours getting their FTTH installed down the road from me. The number of houses on our road with copper internet is falling fast, at least 1 in every 2 homes here now have FTTH.

I have asked each neighbour who their provider is and they have all switched from either Vodafone or Sky to Eir. Digiweb isn't even an option due to that 199 euros install fee, very few people are prepared to pay that.

As for me, my Eir contract is up in April. I am going to stay on the 300/50 plan as I really like the upload speed and it is great for work. However, I really would like to switch away from Eir to a provider with a better cap or preferably none at all. If Eir weren't so sneaky and penalty focused over their FUP, I would stay with them because their network is superb.

I am going to wait to see what Vodafone offer this year and will wait to see if Sky ever come on board and see what they bring to the table. I want to make sure that If i do switch provider, that the quality of the network, both speeds and pings is a very close match to Eir's Network.

I've to wait till end of the year for a sniff of fibre - getting quiet comfortable with my 4G connection at the moment wonder will it be worth forking out the extra dosh for what will be a better ping at this stage.

Marlow · 19-01-2018 05:41PM

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

There is an install fee with Digiweb. The others can't really compete with eir, who may be selling at a loss in order to gain customers. After the 12 months though it becomes a more level playing field and switching may be advised.

I've now come across 3 people, that have gotten letters from Eir about increased rental (6 EUR more on a 150 Mbit/s package).

That level playing field is coming earlier, than one might think, thanks to Eir retail looking for more money.

I guess the free installations have started to hit them.

/M

fritzelly · 19-01-2018 05:42PM

turbbo wrote: »

I've to wait till end of the year for a sniff of fibre - getting quiet comfortable with my 4G connection at the moment wonder will it be worth forking out the extra dosh for what will be a better ping at this stage.

Depends what you use it for, if downloading a lot/large files then fibre is gonna be a lot better than 4g ever could

tsue921i8wljb3 · 19-01-2018 06:27PM

Marlow wrote: »

I've now come across 3 people, that have gotten letters from Eir about increased rental (6 EUR more on a 150 Mbit/s package).

That level playing field is coming earlier, than one might think, thanks to Eir retail looking for more money.

I guess the free installations have started to hit them.

/M

It's not just the free installations. They are also buying people out of their contracts with other suppliers for upto €200. I can't see how it can be profitable.

Dr. Nick · 19-01-2018 09:12PM

Dr. Nick wrote: »

Tara exchange has increased availability - I just ordered the 300mbps package @ €69/mth for 12 mths. Install next Friday, coming from Ripplecom 4/5mbps with a 100gb cap!

Why is my eircode coming up now as unavailable?! It said available at lunchtime, and it's ordered!

Edit - my neighbours coming up ok. Must be something to do with already being ordered.

niallb · 20-01-2018 01:13AM

Mine was coming up as available for a few days too, and is unavailable now according to the checker on Eir's site.
Pure Telecom are still willing to give it a go.

We do have splice boxes down this way in the last week anyway, and Derrypatrick is definitely meant to be live on the 24th.

The exchange might be showing up as unavailable because of a mixup in Kilmessan before Christmas marking everyone there as already passed.
Councillor Damien O'Reilly put a pretty plausible description of the mixup on the Kilmessan Kiltale noticeboard on Facebook.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 23-01-2018 02:01AM

Here may be a bit of good news for those at the end of a yellow (blue) line but not shown as covered on the map. In the attached diagram the yellow line ends at the black dot. The aqua blue and red dots represent homes that were not due to be covered. The aqua dot home has now got a FTTH connection and the red dot premises is passing on the eir checker. Interestingly both premises still fail the Eircode check on fibrerollout.ie/

So if you are close to the end of a line but not covered on the map keep checking your Eircode on https://www.eir.ie/broadband/1000mb-fibre/ and you might get a pleasant surprise.

fritzelly · 23-01-2018 02:13AM

The map is only a general guideline and not in any way totally accurate.

Tho a tip for people that may be a in a 'block' of houses that come under the NBP while being a very short distance from where the fibre does end - get some commitments from other households that you want FTTC/FTTH and get on to the local TD
While eir go on a budget per household to decide how far to go, they will if there is enough commitment extend their own rollout if there is a nearby line that has capacity (but don't expect anything like next week, will be likely months but still better than waiting for the NBP)

tsue921i8wljb3 · 23-01-2018 02:18AM

fritzelly wrote: »

The map is only a general guideline and not in any way totally accurate.

Tho a tip for people that may be a in a 'block' of houses that come under the NBP while being a very short distance from where the fibre does end - get some commitments from other households that you want FTTC/FTTH and get on to the local TD
While eir go on a budget per household to decide how far to go, they will if there is enough commitment extend their own rollout if there is a nearby line that has capacity (but don't expect anything like next week, will be likely months but still better than waiting for the NBP)

Is their Eircode database not totally accurate either?

Marlow · 23-01-2018 02:21AM

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

The aqua dot home has now got a FTTH connection and the red dot premises is passing on the eir checker. Interestingly both premises still fail the Eircode check on fibrerollout.ie/

The map is mostly a guideline. The eirchecker is based on a file, that's passed from OpenEIR to the providers every single week, so between the map updates the providers get at least 3 additional updates.

Allison Puny Appetite wrote: »

Is their Eircode database not totally accurate either?

OpenEIRs Eircode (to FTTH) database is a mess. And that's an understatement. They've got some premises on the complete wrong eircodes. All lines (including VDSL) previously to FTTH are not even matched to Eircodes. It's guesswork for the providers. At best.

I'm amazed, how they got that map done in the first place.

/M

Eir rural FTTH thread

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