Imagine LTE Rural Broadband

vidapura · 18-10-2016 11:03am

I can see this Imagine problem is going to keep rolling on..
Kind of amazing they themselves haven't tried to contribute to this thread.

So, I'm still a position to choose.. (haven't moved into the new house yet...)

The question for me is what are the alternatives to Imagine.

I do get 16Mb on speedtest.net on my meteor mobile outside the house.. so maybe thats one option.
Don't think eircom is available on the road...

Anyone able to speak about the meteor wifi routers? Or is there a thread I can be pointed at?

(I don't want to derail this thread now.. its just I've searched for a meteor thread and haven't found one current)

Thanks

bennyineire · 18-10-2016 11:07am

Galway_guy_33 wrote: »

you connected to the athlone site? anyone get connected to this site yet?

Cappard in Loais

TireeTerror · 18-10-2016 11:42am

JB81 wrote: »

Was talking to Imagine yesterday and was told they can offer me up to 70mb in my area and a minimum of 30mb, never to go below.

I assume this is all talk?

I would ask them to send you an email confirming that your speed will NEVER go below 30Mb. You will not receive a reply and therefore there is your answer.

um7y1h83ge06nx · 18-10-2016 12:21pm

Imagine are in my area but with some of the comments on here I think I will stay with my current wireless (MMDS or similar I presume) provider. As the hardware gets more and more loaded it will only get slower and the 18 month contract is very off-putting.

ArKl0w · 18-10-2016 2:45pm

Ahmed Narrow Beer wrote: »

the 18 month contract is very off-putting.

Just on that,you can get out of the 18mth contract for €100

So if you have a year to run,17 months to run,you don't pay 10x59 or 17x59 to leave
You just pay €100
So it's a lot better in that respect than most others,if for example something better comes available

um7y1h83ge06nx · 18-10-2016 2:52pm

Thanks for the heads-up, that's not as bad then.

km79 · 18-10-2016 3:51pm

ArKl0w wrote: »

Just on that,you can get out of the 18mth contract for €100

So if you have a year to run,17 months to run,you don't pay 10x59 or 17x59 to leave
You just pay €100
So it's a lot better in that respect than most others,if for example something better comes available

Good to know thanks

crazy2 · 18-10-2016 8:05pm

Quick question folks on the phone system, I know you have to plug your phone into the router in order for it to work but if I wanted to add a second/ third phone can this be done and what is the best way to do it?

On the speed front seem to be getting on average 10-15 most of the time which is a lot better than the 3-4mb I was getting before.

ED E · 18-10-2016 8:19pm

crazy2 wrote: »

Quick question folks on the phone system, I know you have to plug your phone into the router in order for it to work but if I wanted to add a second/ third phone can this be done and what is the best way to do it?

On the speed front seem to be getting on average 10-15 most of the time which is a lot better than the 3-4mb I was getting before.

You can either wire them all together with a Y/multi splitter but for most people a cluster of wireless DECT units is usually favourable. 1 base station + as many remotes as you need.

littelady · 18-10-2016 8:53pm

Hi all, I am new to imagine and was wondering if there is a way to check my data balance. Thx in advance

crazy2 · 18-10-2016 9:11pm

ED E wrote: »

You can either wire them all together with a Y/multi splitter but for most people a cluster of wireless DECT units is usually favourable. 1 base station + as many remotes as you need.

So say if I was to go with this option you'd have the base station plugged into the router and then the other two phones would work perfect?

http://www.currys.ie/Product/gigaset-al415a-cordless-phone-with-answering-machine-triple-handsets/332642/402.3.0

TheRiverman · 18-10-2016 9:11pm

I am with eir on a pair of copper wires with 3mb broadband 7km from my local exchange.The highest download speed I have ever got is 1.78mbps but almost all of the time it is 1.4/1.5 with an upload of .2.This is due to the distance from the exchange and at times congestion.My broadband is also tied in to a ridiculous bundle that I don't need but have to pay for in order to get the broadband.
Imagine are now advertising in the village where the local eir exchange is and I have signed up for a coverage test and am awaiting a call from them to find out if I could get coverage from the Athlone site.
I have read the various good,bad and indifferent Imagine speed posts here and it appears even the lowest is always going to be better that the crap line I have from eir.Anyway I will now wait and see what happens.

ED E · 18-10-2016 9:19pm

crazy2 wrote: »

So say if I was to go with this option you'd have the base station plugged into the router and then the other two phones would work perfect?

http://www.currys.ie/Product/gigaset-al415a-cordless-phone-with-answering-machine-triple-handsets/332642/402.3.0

Yep. As long as your house isnt a mansion or a cottage of solid stone walls they'll work perfectly.

giggsirish · 18-10-2016 9:54pm

Old Kilcullen mast. Router rebooted twice and using a cable connection. Very poor service from Imagine in Kildare

ArKl0w · 18-10-2016 9:58pm

crazy2 wrote: »

Quick question folks on the phone system, I know you have to plug your phone into the router in order for it to work but if I wanted to add a second/ third phone can this be done and what is the best way to do it?

On the speed front seem to be getting on average 10-15 most of the time which is a lot better than the 3-4mb I was getting before.

Regarding your speed
How far are you from their transmitter and do you have an uninterrupted line of site to it?
I'm just trying to 2nd guess what I might get here as I have another less hassle option as a plan b
Thanks

giggsirish wrote: »

Old Kilcullen mast. Router rebooted twice and using a cable connection. Very poor service from Imagine in Kildare

I would certainly not be happy with that if it's normal for you?
Again do you mind if I ask,how far from their mast and do you have any trees or other hills in the way?
Thanks

giggsirish · 18-10-2016 10:05pm

We have perfect line of sight ( not so mush as a leaf in the way). Can see the mast 3km away. Our signal was described on day of install on one of the best they had had in area.

Speed was around 45MB-55MB all day but every evening service goes to pot. Countless phone calls (always on hold and answered in the 30-35 minute time frame) but no better off for it

ArKl0w wrote: »

Regarding your speed
How far are you from their transmitter and do you have an uninterrupted line of site to it?
I'm just trying to 2nd guess what I might get here as I have another less hassle option as a plan b
Thanks

I would certainly not be happy with that if it's normal for you?
Again do you mind if I ask,how far from their mast and do you have any trees or other hills in the way?
Thanks

Gonzo · 18-10-2016 10:46pm

giggsirish wrote: »

Old Kilcullen mast. Router rebooted twice and using a cable connection. Very poor service from Imagine in Kildare

if that is contention wouldn't ping also be badly effected?

This seems to be getting worse by the day, when speeds started dropping after the loss of the NBP, speeds started dipping, then past few weeks they dipped into the 20's and last week around 10's and now low single digit figures down as low as 2 meg has been reported over past 24 hours, hardly the 'full fiber experience'. Anyone who has ADSL over 6meg and thinking of changing would be better off just staying with ADSL the way things are looking.

ArKl0w · 18-10-2016 10:54pm

Well you saw my adsl Gonzo,2mb at best
Whizzynet is working fine and stable 8 to 10 mb locally and 2 up
Unlimited for €35 a month and no contract

Now in my case I'd be much better off on that if things are as bad as the above poster
But even here,reports of that low(still twice what I have) are sporadic

ArKl0w · 18-10-2016 10:59pm

Here's whizzynet locally in the evening by the way

Very Tempting

ItHurtsWhenIP · 18-10-2016 11:14pm

ArKl0w wrote: »

Here's whizzynet locally in the evening by the way

Very Tempting

That's daycent ... I'd take that if I could, as this is what I get (3/1 package):

Now in fairness this has been as solid as a rock from Munster Broadband in the last many months, but if Whizzynet was available (and stable), I could be tempted.

I don't think I would like the variability and uncertainty of the Imagine service at this point. I presume everybody is still waiting for the magical usage meter that will probably never come. :rolleyes:

Wing126 · 18-10-2016 11:24pm

littelady wrote: »

Hi all, I am new to imagine and was wondering if there is a way to check my data balance. Thx in advance

No, there is no way to view your usage as of yet.

Gonzo · 18-10-2016 11:25pm

if that Whizzynet is similar speed all the time and nearly half the price of Imagine, it's certainly better. I would not recommend Imagine to anyone, there is no telling how much worse the service is going to get.

9726_9726 · 19-10-2016 12:37am

ArKl0w wrote: »

they are after all using the same frequencies as tv which suffers badly sometimes from high pressure (tropospheric ducting of signals)

That is a down fall of this method of broadband that usually doesn't need explaining to average users because they don't test several times day like you and I would

Sorry, I've got to pull you up on this. Imagine are using 3.4-3.8GHz, that's microwave.

Not TV frequencies at all, which are UHF and behave completely differently.

9726_9726 · 19-10-2016 12:39am

Gonzo wrote: »

if that is contention wouldn't ping also be badly effected?

This seems to be getting worse by the day, when speeds started dropping after the loss of the NBP, speeds started dipping, then past few weeks they dipped into the 20's and last week around 10's and now low single digit figures down as low as 2 meg has been reported over past 24 hours, hardly the 'full fiber experience'. Anyone who has ADSL over 6meg and thinking of changing would be better off just staying with ADSL the way things are looking.

It's really easy to QOS ICMP.

Advbrd · 19-10-2016 9:34am

Connected last Friday.
Obs so far. Had to reboot router a couple of times on day one. Not sure whether this was due to the imagine guys configuring things remotely or me adding 20 plus items (wired and wireless). No hassle since. Speeds are variable. Beside router I have gotten just over 70 Mbps. At the moment I am getting 35 Mbps but I am quite a distance from the router. Last night, I was down to 8.5 Mbps which was fine for what I was doing but I do suspect that this is down to contention. Overall this is a hell of an improvement on Eir's sh1t current service which fluctuated from 1 to 3 Mbps.

ArKl0w · 19-10-2016 9:58am

9726_9726 wrote: »

Sorry, I've got to pull you up on this. Imagine are using 3.4-3.8GHz, that's microwave.

Not TV frequencies at all, which are UHF and behave completely differently.

Agreed,my bad,UHF frequencies are being released for these services though

Microwave though like all radio waves is affected by weather including tropospheric ducting,common in high pressure weather,of which we have had some this month
To confuse things further,tropo mainly happens at night
That said obviously rushed planning/contention/lack of initial attention to the detail of customer satisfaction in the rush to build are all certainly also affecting some people as evidenced here

Regardless,a bit of a decision to make by me on which service to go with
Distance selling regulations are still in play as I am not installed
Versus do I try it as it's only €100 to get out and move to Whizzy

ED E · 19-10-2016 11:49am

ArKl0w wrote: »

Agreed,my bad,UHF frequencies are being released for these services though

Microwave though like all radio waves is affected by weather including tropospheric ducting,common in high pressure weather,of which we have had some this month
To confuse things further,tropo mainly happens at night
That said obviously rushed planning/contention/lack of initial attention to the detail of customer satisfaction in the rush to build are all certainly also affecting some people as evidenced here

Regardless,a bit of a decision to make by me on which service to go with
Distance selling regulations are still in play as I am not installed
Versus do I try it as it's only €100 to get out and move to Whizzy

You're preaching to the choir there, 9726 would be one of the most industry involved posters on here.

We've a few bands in the TDD space that can be used but going any higher would be, I suspect, problematic as would require even more high sites. Really what we need is some 400Mhz spectrum for ultra long range LTE like Finland and Canada have been doing.

ArKl0w · 19-10-2016 1:42pm

Ed,as per my pm to you just now,here's what I'm looking at now where Imagine would do the install in a shed with power

In the picture:
Their mast is in the collection of mast's on that hill that you can see,behind and above that house looking at the left hand side of its roof a full clean view line of sight and about 6.6kms
Workable I presume?
I will be sending a cat 6 cable via an existing ducting to the dwelling house
I'll be using a heavy duty cable,it's the only extra expense if I do this

9726_9726 · 19-10-2016 10:24pm

ArKl0w wrote: »

Ed,as per my pm to you just now,here's what I'm looking at now where Imagine would do the install in a shed with power

In the picture:
Their mast is in the collection of mast's on that hill that you can see,behind and above that house looking at the left hand side of its roof a full clean view line of sight and about 6.6kms
Workable I presume?
I will be sending a cat 6 cable via an existing ducting to the dwelling house
I'll be using a heavy duty cable,it's the only extra expense if I do this

That's good LOS. They might crib about not using their own cable. See how you get on. Worst case, the POE/router could stay in the garage and you could use your long line to link LAN-side to the house.

ArKl0w · 19-10-2016 11:08pm

9726_9726 wrote: »

That's good LOS. They might crib about not using their own cable. See how you get on. Worst case, the POE/router could stay in the garage and you could use your long line to link LAN-side to the house.

Yeah that's what I want to do,i.e. Let them do their full install at that shed and my lan cable then takes it from their router via the ducting to my own router in the house
It's about 90mtrs of cat 6 though,just about inside the limits of that cable

Are you saying that they might be able/willing to cable from that shed to their own receiver/router 90mtrs away through my ducting instead?
Is that possible even? (I know nothing about installing the stuff they're installing)

Weses · 20-10-2016 12:38am

They're contacting me and I'm considering paying for it. I've been stuck on 2mbps for years and will take anything better. Even 5mbps would be a huge improvement. I'd just like to know if I'm making a good decision at this point?

tsue921i8wljb3 · 20-10-2016 1:13am

Here is my data after nine days. There does seem to be a slowdown around peak times but it is still far better than my previous connection. For €5 extra a month it was a no brainer decision really. Each person considering signing up will have to make that decision for themselves.

For reference this was the data for my previous Breeze 3Mb connection:

Weses · 20-10-2016 5:31am

That is MILES better than what I'm getting right now, at all times. Can anyone tell me what the daily gig usage the average YT video or Netflix show uses in 1080p?

ArKl0w · 20-10-2016 9:46am

90mins of sky hd movies are north of 2gigs
So you'd want to be on 6 or 7 full movies a day
But even if you pass the 20 gig limit,1.5 mb download's will still run them and Netflix

Happy_Harry · 20-10-2016 10:47am

ArKl0w wrote: »

Yeah that's what I want to do,i.e. Let them do their full install at that shed and my lan cable then takes it from their router via the ducting to my own router in the house
It's about 90mtrs of cat 6 though,just about inside the limits of that cable

Are you saying that they might be able/willing to cable from that shed to their own receiver/router 90mtrs away through my ducting instead?
Is that possible even? (I know nothing about installing the stuff they're installing)

I got them to install in my garage as it was the only place they could get direct LOS. Initially I wanted the router to stay in garage and send network through powerline extender, but this didn't really work due to complex wiring I guess.

I then prepared a duct with cat5e from garage to a place in the middle of my house. I now have router in the house with an ethernet socket in the wall connected to an ethernet socket in the garage, where I plugged in the end of the cable that comes from the modem/router.
No significant drop in speeds or pings- length of cable is around 50 m.

So yes, it can be done. I would just let them connect their router in your shed, get the best possible signal , tell them you will connect the router to your cable. When they are gone, you just test the direct connection. They don't like custom set ups.

lucernarian · 20-10-2016 8:55pm

9726_9726 wrote: »

Sorry, I've got to pull you up on this. Imagine are using 3.4-3.8GHz, that's microwave.

Not TV frequencies at all, which are UHF and behave completely differently.

What kind of bandwidth spectrum-wise are they using per sector? Assuming they even have sectors...

ED E · 20-10-2016 11:56pm

lucernarian wrote: »

What kind of bandwidth spectrum-wise are they using per sector? Assuming they even have sectors...

He's posted the spec way back in the thread, its Huawei kit rated at 100Mbps. IIRC we're assuming 3 sectors per site but I dont think that was confirmed.

whelan2 · 21-10-2016 9:29am

Lads a re supposed to be here at 9 for installation today :rolleyes:

TopTec · 21-10-2016 9:33am

^^ Here is where? ^^

TT

whelan2 · 21-10-2016 9:34am

TopTec wrote: »

^^ Here is where? ^^

TT

Dunleer ,county Louth

Galway_guy_33 · 21-10-2016 9:40am

got installed yesterday..... very nice lads... most helpful let me install just how i wanted even tho it was more difficult for them....

im 17km from the mast and have been getting speeds up to 55mbps ..... took pleasure in ringing 3 ireland to cancel my account..... they offered me two months free for a crap service... i told them to keep the money and reinvest it in their network

ArKl0w · 21-10-2016 10:12am

whelan2 wrote: »

Lads a re supposed to be here at 9 for installation today :rolleyes:

I haven't heard a word from them bar a text 2 weeks ago saying their high site would be ready this week

whelan2 · 21-10-2016 10:14am

ArKl0w wrote: »

I haven't heard a word from them bar a text 2 weeks ago saying their high site would be ready this week

Have heard nothing from them today yet, got a text last week asking what day and am or pm slot would suit. Then got a call on Wednesday evening

ArKl0w · 21-10-2016 10:14am

ED E wrote: »

He's posted the spec way back in the thread, its Huawei kit rated at 100Mbps. IIRC we're assuming 3 sectors per site but I dont think that was confirmed.

Is that 400 max on 3 sectors in total or 400 per sector :eek:

9726_9726 · 21-10-2016 10:30am

ArKl0w wrote: »

Is that 400 max on 3 sectors in total or 400 per sector :eek:

They are using 20MHz channels, according to their Comreg submissions re 3.6GHz auction.

I have seen cabs at multiple mast sites with 3 sectors connected to line cards.

Haldane · 21-10-2016 12:07pm

Guys,
Anyone know the admin password for the GemTek router wvrtm-127ACN. I rang imagine and they told me that thay are currently not allowing customers to access the router because of security. My problem is that I need to add my dyndns account to the router but I'm not going to give them my password for the obvious security concerns.

ArKl0w · 21-10-2016 12:35pm

Haldane wrote: »

Guys,
Anyone know the admin password for the GemTek router wvrtm-127ACN. I rang imagine and they told me that thay are currently not allowing customers to access the router because of security. My problem is that I need to add my dyndns account to the router but I'm not going to give them my password for the obvious security concerns.

Is it possible that they don't want any customers accessing that as they might discover that the modem synchs at a much slower speed in the evenings,i.e. A managed throttling of everybody regardless of usage, which they are controlling ?

Mr Velo · 21-10-2016 12:38pm

Something i've heard is that by default they leave the modem setting at internal antenna - even though they've mounted an external antenna. Changing this has (for someone i know) increased his speeds.
I'd be very interested to check my Huawei modem as well but don't have the login details.

ED E · 21-10-2016 12:58pm

ArKl0w wrote: »

Is it possible that they don't want any customers accessing that as they might discover that the modem synchs at a much slower speed in the evenings,i.e. A managed throttling of everybody regardless of usage, which they are controlling ?

The contention is managed by timeslots, not the CPE. The equipment on the high site will "share" these slots evenly assuming flat QoS across all users.

whelan2 · 21-10-2016 2:09pm

No go here, cant get a strong enough signal, trees etc blocking the line of sight. Imagine wi max apparently works off a weaker signal .Prefer that they were honest with me rather than installing it and it being crap. They had a 20ft pole up over the end of the house and still not good enough

Imagine LTE Rural Broadband

Comments