Is UPC Broadband any good?

TommyKnocker · 12-10-2013 05:01PM #1

Hi All

Currently with Eircom for broadband. I have a "Up to 25Mbps" package, but router only connects a 12Mbps (12284kbps). Router is a Netgear N300 Dual band ADSL 2+ modem router. I have had this service for years and have never connected at more than 12 Mbps.

I remember querying this years ago and been told that this is all the line into my housr was capable of

I was looking at upgrading my broadband as I am no longer under contract with Eircom and the options appear to be Eircom efibre "Up to 70 Mbps" or UPC who have a 150Mbps offer.

Not seeing the point of going with Eircom and paying for up to 70 Mbps if the line into my house will only run at 12 Mbps. But looking at the UPC FB page and it is full of complaints about UPC's services and customer care. However some folks in work highly recommend UPC for broadband.

So just wondering what the folks here who use UPC broadband have to say? Just to be clear I would be looking for a broadband router from them, the 100 or 150 Mbps option and not the Horizion all in box the are currently pushing.

TIA

Dave147 · 12-10-2013 05:06PM

Best bet is find out if any of your neighbours have UPC, I'm on 100mb and am usually getting 20mb on WiFi and 35-40 hardwired at best. Also it's complete **** for serious gaming, any server outside ie or UK is a waste of time, unless 80ms to France is acceptable. Only good thing about it for me has been upload speed about 15mb so good for streaming from local server.

Eircom fibre would have nothing to do with your 12mb connection BTW, fibre is different entirely.

L1011 · 12-10-2013 05:08PM

Service is generally fantastic anywhere I've used it (personally and multiple customer sites in Dublin/Naas), but their routers are utter heaps of crap. But then again, Eircom's VDSL router is even worse and the new normal ADSL2+ one is almost as bad.

7upfree · 12-10-2013 06:42PM

TommyKnocker wrote: »

Hi All

Currently with Eircom for broadband. I have a "Up to 25Mbps" package, but router only connects a 12Mbps (12284kbps). Router is a Netgear N300 Dual band ADSL 2+ modem router. I have had this service for years and have never connected at more than 12 Mbps.

I remember querying this years ago and been told that this is all the line into my housr was capable of

I was looking at upgrading my broadband as I am no longer under contract with Eircom and the options appear to be Eircom efibre "Up to 70 Mbps" or UPC who have a 150Mbps offer.

Not seeing the point of going with Eircom and paying for up to 70 Mbps if the line into my house will only run at 12 Mbps. But looking at the UPC FB page and it is full of complaints about UPC's services and customer care. However some folks in work highly recommend UPC for broadband.

So just wondering what the folks here who use UPC broadband have to say? Just to be clear I would be looking for a broadband router from them, the 100 or 150 Mbps option and not the Horizion all in box the are currently pushing.

TIA

UPC 100 megs. Hardwired.

Paulw · 12-10-2013 10:40PM

I'm on UPC 100mb package.

Hardwired test gives me -

I find their broadband just brilliant and totally reliable. Better than anything I used previously.

RickyBobby1 · 12-10-2013 10:45PM

I found it excellent

TommyKnocker · 12-10-2013 11:02PM

MYOB wrote: »

Service is generally fantastic anywhere I've used it (personally and multiple customer sites in Dublin/Naas), but their routers are utter heaps of crap. But then again, Eircom's VDSL router is even worse and the new normal ADSL2+ one is almost as bad.

Anybody any recommendations as to what would be a good router to replace the stock UPC one with??

banbhaaifric · 12-10-2013 11:26PM

You might want to have a look at the UPC section before you commit to a new contract - lots of people there not happy, myself included. And a lot of people leaving UPC to go elsewhere too.
Broadband speeds are great but their "business practices" became too much to deal with.
No trouble with Magnet so far.

barrackali · 13-10-2013 11:02AM

I find UPC to be amazing when it comes to bb....eircom will never be able to come close:

TommyKnocker · 13-10-2013 11:15AM

barrackali wrote: »

I find UPC to be amazing when it comes to bb....eircom will never be able to come close:

I am assuming you have the 150Mb service. CAn i ask if you are using a dedicated modem or is it part of the Horizion bundle? Alos if a dedicated modem, is it the one supplied by UPC or did you get your own and which one?

barrackali · 13-10-2013 11:17AM

yeah i'm using horizon....i find it very good.

TommyKnocker · 13-10-2013 11:29AM

barrackali wrote: »

yeah i'm using horizon....i find it very good.

Cheers. Not convinced on the Horizon bundle. Looking at the "Talk to UPC" forum here and their FB page, the number of folks complaining about the Horizon bundle is crazy.

hfallada · 13-10-2013 11:35AM

I have a 50 MB bundle package and I get 45mb on wifi 5 meters from the router and this hardwired

ben101 · 13-10-2013 01:58PM

I find the speeds good but the wifi signal is poor.You would probably be better off buying your own router if like me you use your broadband in a different room than the router.I have the 100mb and get about 15mb ,i am only 30-40 ft away but i recon the piss poor signal can't get through a concrete wall into the extention.Also bear in mind that the customer service is terrible.I don't know whats happenned to them in the last year but i have been overcharged every month since may and after spending 2-3 hours each time on the phone i get promised its all sorted.Last time i was talking to a supervisor and he swore it was sorted and would get the next two months free to compensate and i've just noticed they have taken 25 euro's this month,god know what they'll take on my next supposedly free month ,5 euro's? 12 ,15,25,90 ,150 euro's?
Who knows ,it seems they just make up as they go along.I'm taking this as a break in contract and i will be looking elsewhere.

L1011 · 13-10-2013 03:23PM

TommyKnocker wrote: »

Anybody any recommendations as to what would be a good router to replace the stock UPC one with??

You can't replace it outright like you can with DSL. At best on some you can bridge to another router but newer ones don't even support that properly so you're stuck with DMZ or purely being unable to port forward.

is the 50mbit plan, on wifi.

Its better (slightly on speed, significantly on ping) hardwired but I can't be bothered moving to the room with the hardwired PC in it right now

Paulw · 13-10-2013 03:32PM

TommyKnocker wrote: »

Cheers. Not convinced on the Horizon bundle. Looking at the "Talk to UPC" forum here and their FB page, the number of folks complaining about the Horizon bundle is crazy.

In general though, the reason people post to those sections and FB page is with an issue or to complain. You very very seldom see people need to post in there when things are working properly. :rolleyes:

Tony EH · 15-10-2013 09:08AM

I switched to them from Smart a while ago and I have to say I'm disapointed and seriously thinking of switching back to Smart, despite the fact that I'll be going back to a 4mb line through a telephone cable.

The reason is that the UPC connection is, at best, extremely flaky. Put simply, you just never know what you're going to get and I'm convinced that they hobble certain sites too, like filesharing. So, if that's your thing, forget it.

I don't know about the Horizon stuff, but the wireless reception from the tc7200 modem is, in a word, shit. I have heard NOTHING but bad reports about it, in conjunction with UPC. So, if you're thinking of wireless gaming, or downloading large files, don't. I am never sure whether the download will even finish correctly, I've had many a download clap out on me already.

With a cable, which I have to string up the stairs to my main machine, much to the irritation of my wife, I can get 50mb download and about 5 mb upload on a speedtest, which sounds great. However, actual download speeeds can vary dramatically. Most packets start off well enough, but then descend down to as low as 80kb/sec, then back up again to over 1mb, then back down again...you get the picture. With smart, I had a rock steady line, with no fu*king around and, ironically, faster downloads, despite the lower speeds, because there was no fluctuation like there is with the UPC line.

And remember this, if you do get UPC connected and you decide it's crap, it cost YOU 200 quid to cancel before the initial 12 months are up.

There is no trial period.

StaticNoise · 15-10-2013 09:47AM

They have the best broadband connection in the country, by far. The standard is incredible. The service and speeds are unmatched.

Eircom and other providers do not come close to what UPC are offering.

former legend · 15-10-2013 10:59AM

I've been with UPC for ages, my broadband connection has gone down maybe twice in the last 5 years, it is as dependable as you are ever going to get.

My parents live down the road and have broadband with Eircom; it's like going back to the stone age in comparison with UPC.

(Obviously broadband is heavily dependent on your geography; I live in Dublin in a newish estate so am benefitting from better connections).

barrackali · 15-10-2013 12:39PM

As some others have already mentioned....UPC is the gold standard for broadband in this country....there is nobody who comes near them.

I'm a previous Eircom customer & would never go back.

banbhaaifric · 15-10-2013 11:14PM

I'm a previous UPC customer and would never go back.

murpho999 · 16-10-2013 02:31PM

banbhaaifric wrote: »

I'm a previous UPC customer and would never go back.

I was like that until I tried their broadband.

It's near perfect and is a dream when compared to Eircom's "Next Generation" broadband.

Regarding customer service found it has improved and can also use chat service rather than ringing.

Was once a TV customer, which was awful and hated UPC but they have definitely got their broadband right.

moonship · 16-10-2013 07:44PM

I on 100Mb cant get more than this.

Actually, why my ping is 0?

dam099 · 16-10-2013 08:47PM

moonship wrote: »

I on 100Mb cant get more than this.

Actually, why my ping is 0?

There's something weird going on with that Enniskillen test server, I get 0ms ping on it aswell, even if they peered directly into UPC wouldn't it be a few ms?

banbhaaifric · 16-10-2013 09:54PM

murpho999 wrote: »

I was like that until I tried their broadband.

It's near perfect and is a dream when compared to Eircom's "Next Generation" broadband.

Regarding customer service found it has improved and can also use chat service rather than ringing.

Was once a TV customer, which was awful and hated UPC but they have definitely got their broadband right.

Sorry, I should have clarified...

I was a UPC broadband customer and would never go back.

If they were the last Internet provider in the country I would learn how to live without it.

I never, ever, ever want to go through that kind of stress again.

At least I have in writing from them that their actions were illegal. Small victory.

Mearings · 16-10-2013 10:44PM

banbhaaifric wrote: »

Sorry, I should have clarified...

I was a UPC broadband customer and would never go back.

If they were the last Internet provider in the country I would learn how to live without it.

I never, ever, ever want to go through that kind of stress again.

At least I have in writing from them that their actions were illegal. Small victory.

I hope the above is a trailer.

murpho999 · 16-10-2013 11:06PM

banbhaaifric wrote: »

Sorry, I should have clarified...

I was a UPC broadband customer and would never go back.

If they were the last Internet provider in the country I would learn how to live without it.

I never, ever, ever want to go through that kind of stress again.

At least I have in writing from them that their actions were illegal. Small victory.

You don't explain what actually happened so it makes it very hard to discuss.

Hope you're happy with your Eircom or equivalent BB, I'll stick with my 150mb thank you.

banbhaaifric · 16-10-2013 11:14PM

Most of the correspondence is over on the UPC thread if you want to check it out. Still not completely resolved as it happens.

Have 70mb with magnet now and it's more than enough for us all to be streaming, downloading etc at the same time

God and the last thing I want to do is start discussing it again - blood pressure is only returning to normal...

L1011 · 17-10-2013 10:30AM

Wait till you've an issue with magnet. I've seen how poorly they treat customers paying six figures a year, I doubt a home user will get any more satisfaction

banbhaaifric · 17-10-2013 11:23AM

MYOB wrote: »

Wait till you've an issue with magnet. I've seen how poorly they treat customers paying six figures a year, I doubt a home user will get any more satisfaction

Oh we are under no illusions here :rolleyes:

It seems like every broadband provider in the country went to the same school of customer service. Probably run by Ryanair

_Kaiser_ · 21-10-2013 08:22AM

MYOB wrote: »

You can't replace it outright like you can with DSL. At best on some you can bridge to another router but newer ones don't even support that properly so you're stuck with DMZ or purely being unable to port forward.

I have UPC BB in the apartment and it came with a modem and router that the owner of the place used previously. The router was just crap so I replaced it with my own Buffalo one, so all the modem does is bring in the signal.

I then run a home server (actually 5 of them (4 virtualised) from it that I can VPN/FTP/RDC into without any issues.

Is UPC Broadband any good?

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