Imagine LTE Rural Broadband

KOR101 · 19-05-2016 8:13pm

Reyansh Little Bandage wrote: »

I think that Imagine would be delighted to sign such an agreement if it guaranteed them the NBP. However up until now the department has been dismissive of Imagine and it's claims, rightly so in my opinion as their solution is not future proof.

Have a read of the criteria for changing the map. The government won't let them sign a commitment contract unless these are met. The deployment criteria alone require a big company with a track record of rolling out large scale projects.

Was future proofing part of the EU targets for broadband? If not, Imagine may well have a case that the intervention goes beyond EU objectives.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/Lists/Consultations%20Documents/NBP%20Process%20for%20Updating%20the%20High%20Speed%20Map%20Consultation/Annex%202%20-%20PwC%20oct%202015%20Report%20Assessment%20Criteria%20Investment%20Plans.pdf

tsue921i8wljb3 · 19-05-2016 8:26pm

KOR101 wrote: »

Have a read of the criteria for changing the map. The government won't let them sign a commitment contract unless these are met. The deployment criteria alone require a big company with a track record of rolling out large scale projects.

Was future proofing part of the EU targets for broadband? If not, Imagine may well have a case that the intervention goes beyond EU objectives.

I think we are singing from the same hymn sheet. I don't believe that the government would offer or accept any commitment contract from Imagine. However if they deploy enough highsites they may have legal recourse under state aid rules in respect of government interference unfairly disrupting competition.

TireeTerror · 19-05-2016 10:34pm

I've noticed on the speedtest results that Morgana has been kind enough to post up for us, that it always shows as grade B+. I spend a lot of time online gaming and when I have had a B result it certainly has impaired online gaming.

I wonder if its B for everyone, and if so, why and is there a solution to obtain a grade A result.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 19-05-2016 10:50pm

TireeTerror wrote: »

I've noticed on the speedtest results that Morgana has been kind enough to post up for us, that it always shows as grade B+. I spend a lot of time online gaming and when I have had a B result it certainly has impaired online gaming.

I wonder if its B for everyone, and if so, why and is there a solution to obtain a grade A result.

Speedtest.net seem to have some algorithm ranking connections against others both from Ireland and worldwide. I don't know if they have published details of it's workings anywhere. It is interesting to note though on morgana's page listing all the tests that the connection only receives a D+(39%) meaning 61% of tested connections in Ireland are faster.

Edit: misreading of the data by me. Explained by morgana below.

http://www.speedtest.net/results.php?ct=d&sh=ea8f1e9c6d1da05f431f9ddbbabebe23&ria=0&s=0

morgana · 19-05-2016 11:14pm

Reyansh Little Bandage wrote: »

.It is interesting to note though on morgana's page listing all the tests that the connection only receives a D+(39%) meaning 61% of tested connections in Ireland are faster.

Yes, but my test results go back a long time and also include those of my previous provider. It doesn't state exactly ("currently displayed") which test results are taken into account.

I am a gamer (semi-hardcore raider), and have experienced no problems at all (that is in MMOs rather than FPSs though).

tsue921i8wljb3 · 19-05-2016 11:21pm

morgana wrote: »

Yes, but my test results go back a long time and also include those of my previous provider. It doesn't state exactly ("currently displayed") which test results are taken into account.

I am a gamer (semi-hardcore raider), and have experienced no problems at all (that is in MMOs rather than FPSs though).

Ah I hadn't thought of that. It makes sense that your current speeds would be a higher grade.

TireeTerror · 19-05-2016 11:45pm

morgana wrote: »

Yes, but my test results go back a long time and also include those of my previous provider. It doesn't state exactly ("currently displayed") which test results are taken into account.

I am a gamer (semi-hardcore raider), and have experienced no problems at all (that is in MMOs rather than FPSs though).

Im an online racer and FPS gamer, the FPS quality of connection is really the difference between life and death.

If you dont mind, could you post up a result from pingtest.net as that can be helpful when considering gaming.

editorsean · 20-05-2016 12:21am

Another good ping test is from the command line. Type in "ping -n 400 8.8.8.8" and let it run until it completes, which takes 7 to 10 minutes. As it runs over several minutes, it will catch fluctuations that pingtest.net will miss in its few seconds of testing.

When it completes, the figures worth checking are the average, maximum and packets lost as highlighted in red below (this example is from my Three connection):

If a packet is lost, it must be retransmitted, not good when you've pulled the trigger and there's a retransmission delay, similarly also for a high maximum figure. For example, if let's say the maximum is 500ms, then if you happened to pull the trigger at that time the 500ms ping response took place, the server would have picked up that a half a second later.

For example, with my previous ISP NWE Bluebox, I've seen many occasions where pingtest.net returned an 'A' grade with 0% packet loss where the command line was returning pings in the 1000's of ms along with lost packets intermittently every minute or two.

morgana · 20-05-2016 12:22am

TireeTerror wrote: »

Im an online racer and FPS gamer, the FPS quality of connection is really the difference between life and death.

If you dont mind, could you post up a result from pingtest.net as that can be helpful when considering gaming.

Yea I know FPSs are way more sensitive to pings than MMOs although you don't want any lag in boss fights either :P.

It can't test packet loss (but I have a monitoring app running all the time, and, provided there are no outages, packet loss (pinging the nearest hub outside my network) over the day is 0 %

OneEightSeven · 20-05-2016 12:40am

morgana wrote: »

Yea I know FPSs are way more sensitive to pings than MMOs although you don't want any lag in boss fights either :P.

It can't test packet loss (but I have a monitoring app running all the time, and, provided there are no outages, packet loss (pinging the nearest hub outside my network) over the day is 0 %

Packet loss might be a browser issue. Check for any pop-ups when running Pingtest.net.

morgana · 20-05-2016 12:47am

Naw, its not. IIRC, pings are disabled in the router. There you go:

And now have a static IP too.

leex · 20-05-2016 10:36am

I have just booked an install slot for Galway (Tonnabrooky) for next Thursday morning. During the call they stated that antenna may be installed under roof on wall or worst case on a chimney using up to a 3m pole. (Someone asked about install on a pole earlier).

leex · 20-05-2016 10:45am

morgana wrote: »

And now have a static IP too.

Is the static IP provided as standard or did you have to request it?

morgana · 20-05-2016 10:57am

You have to request it - a lot of people wouldn't know why you would want one :P.

leex · 20-05-2016 11:30am

morgana wrote: »

You have to request it - a lot of people wouldn't know why you would want one :P.

Thanks - I have requested that they add it to my order. Will come in handy.

Scruff · 20-05-2016 12:27pm

leex wrote: »

Thanks - I have requested that they add it to my order. Will come in handy.

Careful now!

polaris68 · 20-05-2016 4:15pm

Signed up for this this afternoon - we'll be getting our signal from a new mast at Whitechurch Co. Cork which will be going active late June/early July.

Currently getting about 7 / 0.5 Mbs from Sky broadband so already looking forward to the faster speeds. Hopefully everything will go smoothly with the install etc.

Hoki · 21-05-2016 2:05am

morgana wrote: »

You have to request it - a lot of people wouldn't know why you would want one :P.

Guilty! Why would you want one? - I also signed up with Imagine yesterday. Looking forward to getting better than the 2mb connection I'm currently on.

Johnboy1951 · 21-05-2016 10:15am

Hoki wrote: »

Guilty! Why would you want one? - I also signed up with Imagine yesterday. Looking forward to getting better than the 2mb connection I'm currently on.

Maybe so you could easily access your home server, using a known IP address that does not change, when travelling?

Gonzo · 21-05-2016 2:17pm

another nice reason to have a static ip address would be to host a small private gaming server for something old school like counter-strike or Quake 2!.

irishchris · 22-05-2016 2:23pm

Anyone else that signed up get the android tv box? Seems to be gone off their website now?

just_manu · 23-05-2016 3:43pm

Hi, Imagine LTE broadband is going to be going live in the next few weeks in Donegal.
Does anyone know what the phone line is like?
Anyone know what the app is called that you can use on your mobile for the phone line?
Need the phone line for work so just want to see what people think of it? Thanks folks.

leex · 23-05-2016 3:47pm

just_manu wrote: »

Hi, Imagine LTE broadband is going to be going live in the next few weeks in Donegal.
Does anyone know what the phone line is like?
Anyone know what the app is called that you can use on your mobile for the phone line?
Need the phone line for work so just want to see what people think of it? Thanks folks.

Mine is going to be installed on Thurs but my understanding is you can plug existing landline phone into the router/unit that will be installed IN your house. The app is in development and will allow you take your calls through an APP on your mobile if you're away from the house.

just_manu · 23-05-2016 3:53pm

leex wrote: »

Mine is going to be installed on Thurs but my understanding is you can plug existing landline phone into the router/unit that will be installed IN your house. The app is in development and will allow you take your calls through an APP on your mobile if you're away from the house.

Thanks leex.
The App will be very handy and if I sign up for this I'll be able to drop the landline but want to make sure all works well with Avaya soft phone before cutting the landline. Cheers.

morgana · 23-05-2016 4:42pm

Yes you just plug in your usual house phone into the router. I have been using a VOIP phone line for many years and have never noticed any difference to a normal land line. The only drawback of a VOIP phone is that the line will be down in case of power cuts.
But then, in the age of mobiles, this is not really an issue.
Looking forward to the mobile app as well.

leex · 23-05-2016 4:53pm

just_manu wrote: »

Thanks leex.
The App will be very handy and if I sign up for this I'll be able to drop the landline but want to make sure all works well with Avaya soft phone before cutting the landline. Cheers.

Am I correct in saying the Avaya soft phone is a PC application like SKYPE etc so is independent of VOIP hardware (e.g. phone handset) anyway? The main performance consideration for this would be no latency issues which the ping speeds published here would suggest is not an issue.

just_manu · 23-05-2016 5:39pm

leex wrote: »

Am I correct in saying the Avaya soft phone is a PC application like SKYPE etc so is independent of VOIP hardware (e.g. phone handset) anyway? The main performance consideration for this would be no latency issues which the ping speeds published here would suggest is not an issue.

Avaya is a corporate soft phone application. It allows employees to login to the application from home and dial phone numbers from their laptop which routes the call through the company's servers which then makes a call back to your home number and connects you to the desired number.
So, net result is you can call eg America and not be charged to you own phone. (Sorry long winded reply there!)
I assume once I can receive the call to my house number I should be good.

leex · 24-05-2016 10:35am

Keeping an eye on Morgana's stats. Looks to be holding up well since the antenna issue was resolved. Obvious dips at peak times but that is to be expected.

irishfeen · 24-05-2016 7:18pm

These are the telephone rates for the LTE service if anyone is wondering -

polaris68 · 24-05-2016 9:10pm

I thought local and national calls are included as part of the 59.99 pm package?

morgana · 24-05-2016 10:18pm

Yes they are. I presume this applies to international/premium numbers.

irishfeen · 24-05-2016 10:20pm

I think the local/national rates apply if the 60min free period is surpassed - they say in the terms and conditions that you should hang up and dial again after 60min.

Waffleon · 25-05-2016 12:56am

Hi there. I checked imagine coverage page, entered my details and then a guy rang me to tell me there was a mast being installed in Rylane due to go live in mid June. I signed up there and then. Next an installation guy will call, check signal. If greater than 30meg all ok. If less than 30 meg I get a refund and stick with my current provider. Nothing to loose then..!

Scruff · 25-05-2016 9:40am

ordered 3 weeks ago and havent heard anything about an install yet. Next door neighbour ordered last week and had it installed 3 days later. Rang up and queried but no call back. Not impressed.

irishchris · 25-05-2016 11:10am

Scruff wrote: »

ordered 3 weeks ago and havent heard anything about an install yet. Next door neighbour ordered last week and had it installed 3 days later. Rang up and queried but no call back. Not impressed.

Same issue here. Where you based scruff

irishfeen · 25-05-2016 1:00pm

morgana, are you taking the speed tests via wired or wireless connection?

morgana · 25-05-2016 1:18pm

My PC is wired to the router using a cat 6 cable. When i take tests on the mobile, I get a about 54 Mbps (not sure if that is a limit on the mobile, wireless reception is pretty good everywhere in the house using the Asus RT-N66U). Haven't run tests on the laptop (Sony, wireless adapter is utter crap) or the other PC for a while.

irishfeen · 25-05-2016 1:32pm

morgana wrote: »

My PC is wired to the router using a cat 6 cable. When i take tests on the mobile, I get a about 54 Mbps (not sure if that is a limit on the mobile, wireless reception is pretty good everywhere in the house using the Asus RT-N66U). Haven't run tests on the laptop (Sony, wireless adapter is utter crap) or the other PC for a while.

Ah that's cool, got the service installed this morning - fair used to the boys they moved it twice in order to get the best reception... Was reading 80Mb+ with the engineers laptop (wired) and then when they went it read about 50Mb wireless.

Seems to stack up with your own figures!

polaris68 · 25-05-2016 2:15pm

Does anyone know what the darker shade of orange on their coverage maps represents? Better or worse coverage?

jeco · 25-05-2016 2:20pm

Anybody get any indication when Tonabrocky (Galway) might be enabled?
Originally supposed to be 2 weeks ago but no update since.

leex · 25-05-2016 2:36pm

jeco wrote: »

Anybody get any indication when Tonabrocky (Galway) might be enabled?
Originally supposed to be 2 weeks ago but no update since.

I'm supposed to be getting a connection to there tomorrow.

jeco · 25-05-2016 3:11pm

Hi leex, thats encouraging, when did you sign up?
Could you let me know how you get on and in which direction you are from Tonabrocky.
I signed up at start of May and have heard nothing back yet.

leex · 25-05-2016 3:21pm

jeco wrote: »

Hi leex, thats encouraging, when did you sign up?
Could you let me know how you get on and in which direction you are from Tonabrocky.
I signed up at start of May and have heard nothing back yet.

3 weeks ago today

18km north of Tonabrooky

NIMAN · 25-05-2016 3:22pm

Anyone know how long they take to respond to an Eircode query, sent mine a few days ago, and heard nothing back yet.

polaris68 · 25-05-2016 3:25pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Anyone know how long they take to respond to an Eircode query, sent mine a few days ago, and heard nothing back yet.

Best just to ring them (1890 92 92 99) or use the Live Chat on their website.

Ten Pin · 25-05-2016 5:06pm

polaris68 wrote: »

ring them (1890 92 92 99)

For those with inclusive landline calls Imagine's main number is: 01-4375000

Hoki · 25-05-2016 5:44pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Anyone know how long they take to respond to an Eircode query, sent mine a few days ago, and heard nothing back yet.

I did what you did originally and was waiting a few days without hearing anything. Contacted them via twitter and was signed up within 24 hours. I was told Its a minimum 2 week wait from sign up before installation (Galway area). Hoping to get connected before bank holiday weekend ...

irishfeen · 25-05-2016 5:58pm

First evening with imagine installed form the Bweeng mast... delighted

The only thing is the supplied router seems to vary an awful lot from place to place in the house, even a few feet apart.

ED E · 25-05-2016 6:33pm

While FWA isnt a long term solution its great to see rural users beating out Dublin suburbs for peak downstream. I'd be giddy as a schoolgirl if I were you with that kinda upgrade.

leex · 26-05-2016 12:02pm

Had my Tonabrooky install today. I am 18km north of the mast. Nice tidy install on my chimney

Results: http://www.speedtest.net/results.php?sh=aecde9c6a966e2a552333f79b461f612&ria=0

Imagine LTE Rural Broadband

Comments