Broadband in Drogheda Dublin Rd area.

lucernarian · 08-04-2012 01:33PM

Oceans12 wrote: »

Drogheda will have FTTC by end of this year, from Eircom, as its currently in phase 2 of the fiber project, until then the dublin road area will not have any decent broadband speeds. I have spoken with a senior manager in eircom who tells me work will start soon on this.

i have a few properties around Drogheda, and i was working in one last week in wheaton hall doing some painting, when a chap from UTV called in, a young guy about 20-24 selling utv broadband, and he started off by saying that Wheaton hall was now cabled up to the new exchange, up the road, ( i assume that he was talking about CLXA grange rath exchange)

i told him that that was a crock, as wheaton hall was built around 1993, and the phone cables are old and not so good quality wise, and too far from local exchange for decent speeds above 4mb.

when i questioned him, and told him the above, he backed off, and said, "i didnt know that", so obviously a sales pitch was being spun to people he called to, you havent a chance in hell of getting 20mb in wheaton hall at the minute, as your line goes back to DBC! on Patrick st.

I figured as much, the cost of deploying FTTC to Wheaton Hall would be less than rerouting to Grange Rath as I mentioned earlier on. Also, age is not always a big factor. Older cables can often use thicker copper than newer cables. (I don't know what's the story with the cable feeding Wheaton Hall's cabinet). But the main cable from the cabinet could be rerouted to Colpe Cross in theory. It was done with the Donore Road area and places like Meadowview which is now served by an exchange up the road from Lidl and Wesco's. http://g.co/maps/k3smg

positron · 10-04-2012 01:07PM

Thanks for confirming my fears guys!

Has anyone heard of a 'carbon fibre' network? According to UTV rep (who was on phone to me just there) this is definitely not FTTC, and there's an existing carbon fiber network (?!!) in all of Drogheda, and they have exclusivity over it, and that I will get 24 mbps etc.

The only 'carbon fibre' that I know of is my camera tripod, monopod etc, or bicycle frames, and carbon-fiber and fiber-optics are different beasts in my mind, so I begged ignorance and asked them not to sign me up to anything for another two weeks, within which I hope to see some update from ferpur and other brave souls..!

Oceans12 · 10-04-2012 01:44PM

positron wrote: »

Thanks for confirming my fears guys!

Has anyone heard of a 'carbon fibre' network? According to UTV rep (who was on phone to me just there) this is definitely not FTTC, and there's an existing carbon fiber network (?!!) in all of Drogheda, and they have exclusivity over it, and that I will get 24 mbps etc.

The only 'carbon fibre' that I know of is my camera tripod, monopod etc, or bicycle frames, and carbon-fiber and fiber-optics are different beasts in my mind, so I begged ignorance and asked them not to sign me up to anything for another two weeks, within which I hope to see some update from ferpur and other brave souls..!

how are they going to get data on your line when the copper runs direct to patrick street exchange? , unless they move some ADSL equipment closer to your house, or FTTC, or FTTH then i cannot see how in wheaton hall, you will get anywhere near 24mb.

i would call them and ask for the precise information, as it looks like a dodgy sales pitch they are spinning.

there is a MAN fiber network around drogheda, have they got some sort of link into this? be careful as if you go with UTV then when FTTC, comes with eircom you will be contracted into utv, and wont be able to avail of the eircom offering..

just put 2 wheaton hall ph numbers into the utv line checker and its saying utv broadband not available ... seems like some sales person doing anything to get a sale!!

positron · 10-04-2012 02:15PM

Oceans12 wrote: »

just put 2 wheaton hall ph numbers into the utv line checker and its saying utv broadband not available ... seems like some sales person doing anything to get a sale!!

I just tried this, and I got this back:

Thank you for submitting your details.

Good news! You can get broadband from UTV Internet!

The maximum speed your line can handle is 3000Mb.

Please note, various factors may affect the actual speed on your telephone line, for example the quality of copper going into your premises, internal wiring and proximity to your local telephone exchange. Speeds quoted are 'up to' and are exchange and distance dependent

This looks like the exact limit that I asked Vodafone guys to set on my account due to connection dropping issues when they upgraded me to 8mb. Sounds like they are just trying to resell what vodafone/eircom is doing, with a bag load of fancy but untrue sales pitch? I am disappointed!

Oceans12 · 10-04-2012 02:30PM

positron wrote: »

I just tried this, and I got this back:

This looks like the exact limit that I asked Vodafone guys to set on my account due to connection dropping issues when they upgraded me to 8mb. Sounds like they are just trying to resell what vodafone/eircom is doing, with a bag load of fancy but untrue sales pitch? I am disappointed!

its a recession, they have to tell even bigger lies now to get people to sign up! I have asked eircom what the story is, and will let ya know what they say, but im sure they will agree with what i said before...

Oceans12 · 10-04-2012 02:34PM

positron wrote: »

I just tried this, and I got this back:

This looks like the exact limit that I asked Vodafone guys to set on my account due to connection dropping issues when they upgraded me to 8mb. Sounds like they are just trying to resell what vodafone/eircom is doing, with a bag load of fancy but untrue sales pitch? I am disappointed!

normally a router will show speed like 5120 kbps which is 5mb for a line syncing at 5MB

are you sure its showing 3000MB?

positron · 10-04-2012 02:42PM

Ah f*ck, I am only noticing that now! Yes, 3000Mb is exactly what the UTV line-checker told me - that entire quote is a copy and paste from UTV line-checker result dialog.

But I think they meant 3000 Kbps though, and it's probably a bug on their website / dialog, probably coded to show 8 or 24 Mb, and whatever database they are looking with my phone and UAN numbers probably gave them back '3000', and the site incorrectly displayed it as 3000 Mb. Although it would be nice to have a 3 Gbps connection.....!

positron · 10-04-2012 02:50PM

Oceans12 wrote: »

there is a MAN fiber network around drogheda, have they got some sort of link into this? be careful as if you go with UTV then when FTTC, comes with eircom you will be contracted into utv, and wont be able to avail of the eircom offering..

There is?

Well, if even if UTV has some sort of access and exclusivity deal to this, it wouldn't make my phone lines any better if they are wired straight to Patrick St exchange (rather than local boxes? Or does this MAN network link up to boxes in the estate? And/or is my twisted pair line wired to Patrick Street, or to a local box?).. etc etc.

Too many questions and so few seems to know the answers! This must be the second best kept secret after the Coke recipe.

Oceans12 · 10-04-2012 03:59PM

positron wrote: »

There is?

Well, if even if UTV has some sort of access and exclusivity deal to this, it wouldn't make my phone lines any better if they are wired straight to Patrick St exchange (rather than local boxes? Or does this MAN network link up to boxes in the estate? And/or is my twisted pair line wired to Patrick Street, or to a local box?).. etc etc.

Too many questions and so few seems to know the answers! This must be the second best kept secret after the Coke recipe.

your line goes to patrick street, you can be sure of that. if it could be done eircom would have done it already! and the technology in drogheda has not changed yet,
all the adsl / dsl gear is still in the exchange!!

UTVRep91 · 16-04-2012 08:44AM

Hello. I have seen some of the comments posted and I want to help clear things up for you to have peace of mind.

1. The Lines:
Ericom, Vodafone etc all use Eircoms copper lines. That's why if you're with Vodafone and there's a problem Eircom is sent out to you.
At UTV we have our own lines (LLU lines).
They were set down 10-12 years ago by BT but never activated. We recently got the rights to use these lines which are stronger than Eircoms, so we can offer 24MB.

2. The reason two people are given different prices is because of Packages.
For 35.77 per month, you are getting off peak free calls and 24MB broadband. Incl. Line rental and VAT.
The second person may have asked for unlimited downloads, Anytime talk, 7c international calls etc.

3. There would have been forms filled out when you were signing up. The terms and conditions should have been filled out with you there since we'd need your details, you should have been left with a copy of them which are a green sheet.

4. No matter what package we sell, we get the same commission. If we sell the off peak package, we get the same commission we would get for selling the anytime package with added unlimited downloads etc.

I hope this helps clear things up for you guys.

positron · 16-04-2012 09:59AM

UTVRep91 wrote: »

Hello. I have seen some of the comments posted and I want to help clear things up for you to have peace of mind.

Just fyi, you may want to contact one of the mods, as there are some procedures / policies to follow when it comes to representing companies on boards.

UTVRep91 wrote: »

1. The Lines:
Ericom, Vodafone etc all use Eircoms copper lines. That's why if you're with Vodafone and there's a problem Eircom is sent out to you.
At UTV we have our own lines (LLU lines).
They were set down 10-12 years ago by BT but never activated. We recently got the rights to use these lines which are stronger than Eircoms, so we can offer 24MB.

This seems to be the core of what UTV sales team is saying and what everyone is questioning. Can you point to any source / link / document / news item etc - to substantiate these claims? When did BT lay this network, and when did UTV get access to it.

Second question: How come UTV line checker is telling me that I can get 3 Gbps connection, when you the maximum you are offering is 24 Mbps?

Sorry for the questions, but thank you for posting here!

Oceans12 · 16-04-2012 10:05AM

UTVRep91 wrote: »

Hello. I have seen some of the comments posted and I want to help clear things up for you to have peace of mind.

1. The Lines:
Ericom, Vodafone etc all use Eircoms copper lines. That's why if you're with Vodafone and there's a problem Eircom is sent out to you.
At UTV we have our own lines (LLU lines).
They were set down 10-12 years ago by BT but never activated. We recently got the rights to use these lines which are stronger than Eircoms, so we can offer 24MB.

2. The reason two people are given different prices is because of Packages.
For 35.77 per month, you are getting off peak free calls and 24MB broadband. Incl. Line rental and VAT.
The second person may have asked for unlimited downloads, Anytime talk, 7c international calls etc.

3. There would have been forms filled out when you were signing up. The terms and conditions should have been filled out with you there since we'd need your details, you should have been left with a copy of them which are a green sheet.

4. No matter what package we sell, we get the same commission. If we sell the off peak package, we get the same commission we would get for selling the anytime package with added unlimited downloads etc.

I hope this helps clear things up for you guys.

hi can you tell me what estates these lines were run to?

ferpur · 16-04-2012 02:24PM

another update still have not had my broadband switched rang utv today they have told me that there was a prob with eircom releasing the line. but my line will be switched by next mon at the latest. not holding my breath though

lucernarian · 16-04-2012 04:10PM

I imagine all the lines that UTV now "own" will still run all the way to Patrick St. from the Dublin Road estates just like they've always done. It would take quite a lot of digging and installing of new cabinets to run their own lines closer to houses (e.g. what UPC did in other towns and cities in last 3 or so years.

positron · 18-04-2012 04:08PM

Thanks for the update ferpur, please keep us posted.

And it looks like we scared off UTVRep91.

Salty Dog · 18-04-2012 04:27PM

Article in the Leader saying that Drogheda is to be include in Eircom's latest fibre roll out to be connected by the end of the year. Talking about speeds of over 40mbps

Fenian Army · 27-04-2012 02:59AM

Salty Dog wrote: »

Article in the Leader saying that Drogheda is to be include in Eircom's latest fibre roll out to be connected by the end of the year. Talking about speeds of over 40mbps

Will Dublin road people get this?

lucernarian · 27-04-2012 02:20PM

Fenian Army wrote: »

Will Dublin road people get this?

Yep, assuming they pay for whatever speed package eircom offer.

Fenian Army · 27-04-2012 02:25PM

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Yep, assuming they pay for whatever speed package eircom offer.

You mean... I might be able to watch a youtube video without waiting an age for it to buffer? :O

Oceans12 · 29-04-2012 08:35PM

i would guess most of the Dublin Rd area will be FTTC, so speeds will vary a bit depending on how far the houses in each estate are from the cabinet..

but speeds will still be a lot faster than the current DSL service, with much better download , and upload speed..

i would guess that the average house in an estate on the dublin road will get around 20-25 mb download with 5 - 7 mb upload, with those within 350M of the cabinet 30-35 mb download and around 5-16mb upload..

eircom would hardly do FTTH to estates such as Wheaton Hall, Bryanstown, Longwood, Beaubec, Roschoill , Stameen, ? or would they?

Declan_M · 30-04-2012 09:51PM

Oceans12 wrote: »

i would guess most of the Dublin Rd area will be FTTC, so speeds will vary a bit depending on how far the houses in each estate are from the cabinet..

but speeds will still be a lot faster than the current DSL service, with much better download , and upload speed..

i would guess that the average house in an estate on the dublin road will get around 20-25 mb download with 5 - 7 mb upload, with those within 350M of the cabinet 30-35 mb download and around 5-16mb upload..

eircom would hardly do FTTH to estates such as Wheaton Hall, Bryanstown, Longwood, Beaubec, Roschoill , Stameen, ? or would they?

Hi
In wheaton hall currently using "3" E585 mifi dongle acceptable speed but need real wifi coverage. Have a dovado router so need a new modem. Anyone using O2 or meteor dongles in wheaton hall? Obviously if we ever get right eircom/upc etc thats the way to go, just looking for satisfactory interim solution

Oceans12 · 05-05-2012 07:27PM

ferpur wrote: »

another update still have not had my broadband switched rang utv today they have told me that there was a prob with eircom releasing the line. but my line will be switched by next mon at the latest. not holding my breath though

hi fepur, any word on your utv broadband, what speeds are you getting with them now?

Fenian Army · 05-05-2012 07:31PM

Im using vodafone/perlico and the last few days speed has been utter crap, anyone else the same?

ferpur · 10-05-2012 11:53AM

Oceans12 wrote: »

hi fepur, any word on your utv broadband, what speeds are you getting with them now?

so utv is c**p same speeds as eircom customer service is useless sales people are liars i would say they are worse then eircom:mad:

Oceans12 · 14-05-2012 11:38PM

i seriously doubt eircom will deliver FTTC / FTTH to Drogheda before end of 2012, they would want to be doing the work now to meet that date, considering the amount of work required...

maybe they will do a portion of a road, with FTTH / FTTC and then say Drogheda is complete. :rolleyes:

kalayil78 · 19-05-2012 11:55AM

Hi all,
we are in Wheaton hall area.
I too agreed to switch to UTV internet on mar 12, as advised by UTV rep.
Nothing happened, except got 2 month’s bill from UTV for April & may 12, and am still using active Vodafone internet with their bill.
I told utv customer care, am not interested in UTV at all & please don’t switch to UTV straight away after this call (as on 18th may 12), then they are asking for compensation. I don’t know what compensation as they didn’t made switching at all.

dear all , don’t be a victim.

Oceans12 · 19-05-2012 08:36PM

kalayil78 wrote: »

Hi all,
we are in Wheaton hall area.
I too agreed to switch to UTV internet on mar 12, as advised by UTV rep.
Nothing happened, except got 2 month’s bill from UTV for April & may 12, and am still using active Vodafone internet with their bill.
I told utv customer care, am not interested in UTV at all & please don’t switch to UTV straight away after this call (as on 18th may 12), then they are asking for compensation. I don’t know what compensation as they didn’t made switching at all.

dear all , don’t be a victim.

what speeds did they promise you,? and did they mention anything about "exclusive use of new lines" ? when they called to your door? also how can they bill you for services not provided?
get onto comreg and lodge a complaint,

people around the dublin road area, should all get together, and as a group, hopefully a large number, will have better bargaining power lets get onto eircom and ask for a date of when Drogheda will have better broadband.
end 2012 is a bit of a wishy washy timescale that will most likely be missed!

ferpur · 20-05-2012 01:44PM

Oceans12 wrote: »

what speeds did they promise you,? and did they mention anything about "exclusive use of new lines" ? when they called to your door? also how can they bill you for services not provided?
get onto comreg and lodge a complaint,/QUOTE]

comreg say you have to write utv a letter of complaint if they do not respond within 10 working days comreg can then take over the complaint
they have my letter 5 working days as of now no response yet:mad:

PollyLouM · 21-05-2012 08:23PM

I moved to UTV too after listening to sales talk. I was very cynical, specially about the LLU or LUA lines or whatever he called them, but sure isn't it cheaper than Eircom. So..... my speeds are around about 2.5mb (!) so when I rang UTV they did some checks on my lines and said line could only take 3mb. I had been sold an 8mb package by Eircom some years ago but was anxious to leave them as bimonthly bill was 120euro. So now I've got the same speed, but I'm paying out less. Gotta think positively...

ferpur · 21-05-2012 09:25PM

PollyLouM wrote: »

I moved to UTV too after listening to sales talk. I was very cynical, specially about the LLU or LUA lines or whatever he called them, but sure isn't it cheaper than Eircom. So..... my speeds are around about 2.5mb (!) so when I rang UTV they did some checks on my lines and said line could only take 3mb. I had been sold an 8mb package by Eircom some years ago but was anxious to leave them as bimonthly bill was 120euro. So now I've got the same speed, but I'm paying out less. Gotta think positively...

but you are tied into a 12 month contract and cannot change if something better comes along

Broadband in Drogheda Dublin Rd area.

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