Imagine launch Midband Ripwave Replacement - WiMAX

deravarra · 02-06-2010 01:10PM

somebody spoke about ping jitter, etc - and how bad it was on wimax... how bad/good do you reckon every other provider is?

Take a look at mine ... just tested now on a UPC connection ...

and my speed ...

and this is from a 30mb connection with UPC ...

ranks as an F, but im happy with it

Kev. · 02-06-2010 01:27PM

To be honest I think Pingtest is a load of rubbish

You have perfect stats there but its just the packet loss that is giving you an F

deravarra · 02-06-2010 01:34PM

Which other company are you going to suggest I work for?

jor el · 02-06-2010 01:47PM

deravarra and warlikedave, take your personal insults and jabs to PM. This crap stops here.

MrVestek · 02-06-2010 01:50PM

Kev. wrote: »

To be honest I think Pingtest is a load of rubbish

You have perfect stats there but its just the packet loss that is giving you an F

Packet loss can be pretty serious but that could still be a false positive. For instance if the router is set up to drop packets or the testing server is acting up then it can look like you're getting packet loss when infact it's fine.

Best way to test this really is try to play an online game... if you get lagged out alot then you have high packet loss.

Kev. · 02-06-2010 01:54PM

Achilles wrote: »

Best way to test this really is try to play an online game... if you get lagged out alot then you have high packet loss.

So true Amigo...

smelly sock · 02-06-2010 02:03PM

deravarra wrote: »

Which other company are you going to suggest I work for?

Have we a pot together? Everyone throws a few quid in!!! Intel? HP?

02-06-2010 02:04PM

jor el wrote: »

deravarra and warlikedave, take your personal insults and jabs to PM. This crap stops here.

i only commented on that matter twice - still Ill leave it at that...

As for speedtest sites: they are not the most accurate since traffic can be given priority for those sites so as to give the appearance of better speeds than in reality...

i find downloading itunes from the apple site tends to give a true reflection on bandwidth. command prompt ping tests are more accurate as well i find - does anyone know how to test packet loss via command prompt or locally on a computer?

smelly sock · 02-06-2010 03:18PM

Wimax in itself is a good idea. The problem is with imagine. They have saturated areas and have provided some shocking customer service. They have most likely entered this venture with very little knowledge of the technology. They throttle torrents for most of the day and it can be near impossible to stream video or online game during so called peak hours. Hence people would be better off going for the cheaper option of a 3g dongle as it would provide the same level of internet use (emailing, news updates etc) at a much lower cost and provide them with better customer service. Imagine also double charged most people for their installation and first bill. Customers themselves had to make them aware of the problem. How can you trust a company with your details who take 5 days to resolve a problem like this. A lot of people on boards have had this experience. I'm not really sure if anyone is getting the service that Imagine claimed to be able to provide. Their marketing campaign with that annoying dude singing is pure lies.

watty · 02-06-2010 04:16PM

True "Fixed" WiMax is a good idea (and many Irish ISPs using it). Mobile /Nomadic indoor aerials on ANY system at 3.5GHz (most of Imagine's Masts) is a stunningly bad idea. But much much cheaper than True Fixed Wireless to install.

In reality it's not broadband unless they limit sales per mast. It shows what LTE will be like, though 2.5GHz is a bit better for indoor aerials.

mfield · 02-06-2010 04:32PM

Lads, I got Imagine (Irish Broadband) in the parents house. It is 2mb and has always worked decent enough, although it is costing 35 quid a month. It was the only option a few years back as they live a few miles from the exchange.

Recently I decided to give Vodafone a try and ordered the DSL off them, I was promised 3.5mb but after doing numerous tests I am only getting 800k.

I am in a dilly of a pickle here and I said there's no point in getting rid of 2mb for such a crap service with Vodafone.

So I rang Imagine today and was asking them what the story is with getting the talk package on top of the 2mb we already have and would it work.
Then the sales guy went off on a mad one telling me about this WiMAX "4th Gen" technology. It all sounded great on the phone but I had my doubts and they wanted 150 quid for the install.

What do you think is the best option for me and will the current 2mb connection that we have with Imagine be ok for the Talk VoIP package that they do?

Any help would be great because at the moment they're paying for both Imagine and Vodafone.

smelly sock · 02-06-2010 04:43PM

mfield wrote: »

Lads, I got Imagine (Irish Broadband) in the parents house. It is 2mb and has always worked decent enough, although it is costing 35 quid a month. It was the only option a few years back as they live a few miles from the exchange.

Recently I decided to give Vodafone a try and ordered the DSL off them, I was promised 3.5mb but after doing numerous tests I am only getting 800k.

I am in a dilly of a pickle here and I said there's no point in getting rid of 2mb for such a crap service with Vodafone.

So I rang Imagine today and was asking them what the story is with getting the talk package on top of the 2mb we already have and would it work.
Then the sales guy went off on a mad one telling me about this WiMAX "4th Gen" technology. It all sounded great on the phone but I had my doubts and they wanted 150 quid for the install.

What do you think is the best option for me and will the current 2mb connection that we have with Imagine be ok for the Talk VoIP package that they do?

Any help would be great because at the moment they're paying for both Imagine and Vodafone.

Wimax would be grand if there checking mails etc and just normal browsing. But during evening peak times it's dreadful. What about a 3g dongle? 20 euro a month. Perfect for browsing etc.

BigMoose · 02-06-2010 04:49PM

If that is IBB's Breeze 2Mb product then keep it and get a blueface account for your VoIP needs. Cheaper than Imagine's phone offering and works great with a good breeze installation.

thebman · 02-06-2010 05:10PM

BigMoose wrote: »

If that is IBB's Breeze 2Mb product then keep it and get a blueface account for your VoIP needs. Cheaper than Imagine's phone offering and works great with a good breeze installation.

This, had Breeze in the past and the connection was always great off it.

mfield · 02-06-2010 05:11PM

smelly sock wrote: »

Wimax would be grand if there checking mails etc and just normal browsing. But during evening peak times it's dreadful. What about a 3g dongle? 20 euro a month. Perfect for browsing etc.

The bro lives at home too and he downloads a bit, so I doubt that would work.

BigMoose wrote: »

If that is IBB's Breeze 2Mb product then keep it and get a blueface account for your VoIP needs. Cheaper than Imagine's phone offering and works great with a good breeze installation.

This is exactly what I was thinking of going for originally BigMoose. It's a done deal now! I'll get onto Blueface and sort it out ASAP.

I was worried that Blueface might not work on the Breeze connection. But feck it I'll take the plunge, cancel Vodafone and steer well clear of WiMAX!

BigMoose · 02-06-2010 05:29PM

I've had Breeze and blueface for ~5 years (both in Dublin and currently in Wicklow) and it works brilliantly - unless you get a crap breeze installation which I had when I first moved to Wicklow, but after a good while on the phone to IBB support they agreed it was badly installed and came and re did it and I've had no problems again. Try pinging sip.blueface.ie to see what your response time is and if you are experiencing any packet loss.

danjo-xx · 02-06-2010 08:47PM

If that is IBB's Breeze 2Mb product then keep it and get a blueface account for your VoIP needs. Cheaper than Imagine's phone offering and works great with a good breeze installation.

IBB's Ripwave worked a treat for my needs so could I keep the modem and use it on one of these accounts or similar for basic internet service.

MrVestek · 02-06-2010 11:42PM

smelly sock wrote: »

They have most likely entered this venture with very little knowledge of the technology.

Seems likely to me. Also as another has stated previously they're implementing mobile WiMax technology for both mobile and fixed WiMax solutions... which it was never really designed for.

It'd be like having an antenna at the side of your house to improve your Ripwave signal.

That said I haven't heard fantastic things about motorola's highsite or customer based hardware either.

MrVestek · 03-06-2010 08:52AM

BigMoose wrote: »

If that is IBB's Breeze 2Mb product then keep it and get a blueface account for your VoIP needs. Cheaper than Imagine's phone offering and works great with a good breeze installation.

I think he's talking about Irish Broadband's (now part of the Imagine group) offering of a VOIP package called 'Talk'.

I doubt they'll accept new sales on this to be honest as they're trying to get rid of the Breeze network altogether it seems.

I'd say stick with Breeze as it's a fantastic technology even performing better than DSL in alot of areas.

mfield · 03-06-2010 09:03AM

Achilles wrote: »

I think he's talking about Irish Broadband's (now part of the Imagine group) offering of a VOIP package called 'Talk'.

I doubt they'll accept new sales on this to be honest as they're trying to get rid of the Breeze network altogether it seems.

I'd say stick with Breeze as it's a fantastic technology even performing better than DSL in alot of areas.

Are you saying that they won't accept new sales on 'Talk' or on Breeze?

Is 'Talk' the same as Blueface's offering or am I better off going with Blueface for the VOIP?

BigMoose · 03-06-2010 09:26AM

When I looked at using "talk" instead of blueface, I found blueface cheaper with an awful lot more free minutes to most of the world. From memory, I think the Imagine offerings only include minutes to Ireland and perhaps the UK. I did look at the WiMAX phone offer recently and concluded for us with family outside of Ireland/UK it was pants compared to bluface.

watty · 03-06-2010 09:29AM

Achilles wrote: »

Seems likely to me. Also as another has stated previously they're implementing mobile WiMax technology for both mobile and fixed WiMax solutions... which it was never really designed for.

It'd be like having an antenna at the side of your house to improve your Ripwave signal.

Well you can use any Mobile tech with fixed aerials. That's not a problem at all. It's the indoor aerials that degrades it,

They are mostly using 3.5GHz. No matter if you use F-OFDM, LTE, 3G/iHSPA, iBurst, WiMax (either kind), IPW/Nextwave, WiBro, WiDox or ERAN/EDGE, above 2GHz is progressively poorer for indoors.

Even 3G/HSPA at 2.1GHz is not great for indoors. (900MHz and 1800MHz GSM better).

The 900 is much preferred to 1800MHz. The forthcoming 800 to 860MHz freed by TV analogue switch off is far better.
450MHz to 1500MHz is best bands for indoor/nomadic

thebman · 03-06-2010 10:19AM

BigMoose wrote: »

When I looked at using "talk" instead of blueface, I found blueface cheaper with an awful lot more free minutes to most of the world. From memory, I think the Imagine offerings only include minutes to Ireland and perhaps the UK. I did look at the WiMAX phone offer recently and concluded for us with family outside of Ireland/UK it was pants compared to bluface.

Probably because they want to be cheaper than eircom and aren't really aiming for the people that know of Blueface market.

smelly sock · 03-06-2010 10:33AM

The main problem is the way Imagine go about their business. Not returning calls. Getting aggressive with people who question the performance of the product etc. Double charging on bills and installs and taking up to 5 days to return the money to accounts. If imagine weren't so difficult to deal with I could just about put up with the service for the money I'm paying for it. ( It's still a poor service)

Kev. · 03-06-2010 11:54AM

smelly sock wrote: »

The main problem is the way Imagine go about their business. Not returning calls. Getting aggressive with people who question the performance of the product etc. Double charging on bills and installs and taking up to 5 days to return the money to accounts. If imagine weren't so difficult to deal with I could just about put up with the service for the money I'm paying for it. ( It's still a poor service)

The main reason for me not wanting it is the poor speeds

DoctorGonzo08 · 03-06-2010 12:10PM

Hey, just stopped in on forum as I was considering getting the WiMax 3Mb. I used to have UPC, but moved house and have no garuntee when it will be up and running again. From what I'm gathering from the forum, is WiMax a glorified dongle? I just want to know will I have problems streaming Movies/Sports on it, and is the connection speed time dependant? Have tried to get information from the sales team, but they didn't have a clue what I was on about and just kept saying yes to an answer.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

smelly sock · 03-06-2010 12:13PM

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

Hey, just stopped in on forum as I was considering getting the WiMax 3Mb. I used to have UPC, but moved house and have no garuntee when it will be up and running again. From what I'm gathering from the forum, is WiMax a glorified dongle? I just want to know will I have problems streaming Movies/Sports on it, and is the connection speed time dependant? Have tried to get information from the sales team, but they didn't have a clue what I was on about and just kept saying yes to an answer.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

You will have major issues when trying to stream video or game online. You will not be able to download torrent files or download via peer to peer. Their support is also shocking. Stay well away pal.

DoctorGonzo08 · 03-06-2010 12:15PM

smelly sock wrote: »

You will have major issues when trying to stream video or game online. You will not be able to download torrent files or download via peer to peer. Their support is also shocking. Stay well away pal.

Thanks a million for that. That's everything I need it for in a nutshell (minus games). Problem is I'm fecked for choice. Can you recommend any that offer just broadband? Prefferably without charging a line rental fee. Eircom are too expensive.

smelly sock · 03-06-2010 12:29PM

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

Thanks a million for that. That's everything I need it for in a nutshell (minus games). Problem is I'm fecked for choice. Can you recommend any that offer just broadband? Prefferably without charging a line rental fee. Eircom are too expensive.

Vodafone are cheaper than eircom (a little) but Iv'e heard bad things about it. I'm waiting on UPC myself. Hopefully another 3 months or so

. Have you tried Magnet? They will charge line rental but they may be able to offer you a package like UPC? (phone,digital tv and broadband). Area coverage is limited though.

Stay away from Imagine.

DoctorGonzo08 · 03-06-2010 12:33PM

smelly sock wrote: »

Vodafone are cheaper than eircom (a little) but Iv'e heard bad things about it. I'm waiting on UPC myself. Hopefully another 3 months or so . Have you tried Magnet? They will charge line rental but they may be able to offer you a package like UPC? (phone,digital tv and broadband). Area coverage is limited though.

Stay away from Imagine.

Wanted to get Sky in, instead of UPC. Problem is UPC were great for braodband, but their support is brutal, so getting an idea of how long I have to wait to get it is anyones guess. One said in the next two weeks, another siad within three months. Ridiculous that there is no competition out there!

Imagine launch Midband Ripwave Replacement - WiMAX

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