Help/Advice: Irish Broadband - Breeze 1MB Lite

Steffano2002

Hello everyone,

On paper, the "Breeze 1MB Lite" package from Irish Broadband is exciting. Indeed, a 1 Mb Symmetrical connection with a 20:1 contention ratio and no download limit for less than €50 EUR per month sounds heavenly (and Eircom: p*** off with your line rental!!!).

My worry: I need a fast internet connection because I play online games on European servers (pretty serious about it too). Those of you who do this know how important it is to have a low ping.
At present, I have an IOL/EsatBT "Broadband Plus" connection but it remains a "slow" (sorry for those of you who don't have broadband in their area yet - hang in there!) 512k/128k connection with a 24:1 contention ratio and a download limit of 16GB per month. I get decent pings on UK (50ms) and French servers (between 70-80ms) but I'm looking for MUCH less (15-30ms would be ideal!).
So off I go ringing Irish Broadband to ask "Will I have a good ping with a Breeze 1MB Lite connection?". The answer shocked me a little as it was "Yes, you will, better than your current connection". I was expecting something more like "No, sorry, the services we offer are not ideal for online gaming".

So what I would like to know is: Was this Irish Broadband employee lying to me? Has anybody here got a "Breeze 1MB Lite" connection? If so, do you play online games? How's your ping? Would you recommend "Breeze 1MB Lite" to a friend?

I'd love to have 1 Mb Symmetrical connection with a 20:1 contention ratio and no download limit for less than €50 EUR per month but I have to make sure my ping will be lower than the one I currently have with EsatBT! I mean it is, after all, a wireless connection so I'm worried... Can anybody help me with this?

Thanks a million!

Blaster99

The pings are outstanding with IBB's Breeze 1Mbps service. I don't know where the perception that fixed wireless means high latency came from. I'm sure if you name a few sites in this thread you'll get all the ping stats you ever wanted.

tom-thebox

I have IBB paying the same price for the mbit line, for a half mbit with a 8 to 1 ratio.

I must have them upgrade that to the 1 mbit.

Anyhow I got half life 2 this week, and have been playing CS on it all week mainly on servers in the UK and Germany as I dont think there is any Irish ones up yet.

The ping is about 60 to 80, which isnt great however I never really notice lag.

To be honest the service from IBB has gone terrible over the last two months, my downloads use to be about 60 to 90 kbs now I am lucky to get 40kbs, 20 to 30 in most cases.

I have mailed support@irishbroadband.ie and no one even bothers to get back to me.

I am going to call them to see what they can do but if my company supplied this kind of service we would be out of business.

Mutant_Fruit

the 5.8ghz VL gear offers pings as low as 20ms stable ingame in UK servers. You won't find a better service ping wise. The other equipments available from IBB aren't as good. Ripwave offers pings of about 130 ingame, and the 2.4ghz "breeze" equipment offers pings the same as good ADSL ingame (about 50-60ms).

If you are a big gamer, make sure you get the VL gear, and you wont go wrong. But as always, there is a "line test" as such, if you have a ****e signal, nothing can fix it, so if you get it installed, and its ****e, considar that as "failing" the line test, and get the equipment removed and get your refund. No point in holding onto it in that case.

neokenzo

I have the VL gear 1MB Breeze connection. Pings to UK server around 23-25. Dont notice any lag at all

vasch_ro

just got this service 1mb breeze lite today
tell me how to ping certain sites or what ever and i will post results for you

garthv

find a games server
open up DOS(start-run-cmd)
type ping followed by whatever server
look for the average ms and post it up

Steffano2002

Firstly, thank you all for replying so fast! I think I've just found the best Irish website ever!

Blaster99: Sorry, I just thought (don't ask me why!) anything wireless was slower. I'm delighted to be wrong!

tom-thebox: I hope you are one of the rare people having this problem and that it does not apply to those who have the 1MB package! Thanks for letting me know it's not perfect though...

Mutant_Fruit - neokenzo: What is this VL gear? It's the first time I hear anything about it! I didn't see anything about it on the order form either... I better ring them to sort this out!
Mutant_Fruit, thanks for the tip about the line test. I only want a fast connection for playing online games. If I have a poor ping, I don't want it. Plain and simple. I'll make sure they understand "MY" Terms & Conditions!

vasch_ro: Congratulations for getting the 1MB today (you lucky b*****d! lol). Could you please ping my Call of Duty server in France? IP is 194.146.225.42. Thanks a million! Here are my results with an EsatBT Broadband Plus connection:

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=56
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=56
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=56
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=54ms TTL=56

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 54ms, Maximum = 66ms, Average = 58ms

I hope you beat me easily!

GaRtH_V thanks for helping vasch_ro!

Can't wait to get a proper connection!!! Thanks again everyone!

tom-thebox

From IBB Breeze 8 to 1 ratio 512k

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\tom>ping 194.146.225.42

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=221ms TTL=53
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=95ms TTL=53
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=395ms TTL=53
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=53

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 33ms, Maximum = 395ms, Average = 186ms

C:\Documents and Settings\tom>

neokenzo

Here's mine:

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=55
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=55
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=55
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=55

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 22ms, Maximum = 27ms, Average = 24ms

tom-thebox

Depends on where you are from their kit, to be quite honest with you matey your ping anit bad with IOL why take the risk on Irish Broad Band, I and many others on this forum find crap.

If they answered their support mail that would be a start.

Mutant_Fruit

my pings (on the VL equpiment, 1 meg):

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 26, Received = 25, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 23ms, Maximum = 34ms, Average = 25ms
Control-Break

For boards.ie:
Ping statistics for 82.195.131.130:
Packets: Sent = 22, Received = 22, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 7ms, Maximum = 21ms, Average = 11ms
Control-Break

For clarity.jolt.co.uk:
Ping statistics for 195.149.21.11:
Packets: Sent = 23, Received = 23, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 18ms, Maximum = 39ms, Average = 25ms
Control-Break

MackQ

IBB 1MB; 20:1; Bray High Site; 23/11/04 01:15

C:\>ping 194.146.225.42

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=51
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=51
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=51
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 30ms, Maximum = 50ms, Average = 35ms

Steffano2002

Thank you all for your feedback!

Apart from Tom, you all have fantastic ping results and seem to be pretty happy with IBB's service! I'm just hoping I have a good "line of sight" (the closest transmitter is at the Guinness brewery which is less than 1 km away but I'm not sure I can "see" it from my house...).

For those of you who have great ping results: How far are you from your transmitter? Do you have that "VL gear" (still don't know what it is )?

Tom, I'm not risking anything here cos as Mutant Fruit advised, if I have a poor ping, I will consider it a "line test failure" and cancel the subscription straight away.

Thanks again for all your help/feedback/ping test results!

Blaster99

You may consider it a failure, but that's not to say that IBB will agree with you, at least not easily. If you're close to the mast, you don't necessarily need line of sight as it happens.

joolsveer

I've got Breeze 512K.

C:\>ping 194.146.225.42

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 26ms, Maximum = 74ms, Average = 38ms

C:\>ping 194.146.225.42

Pinging 194.146.225.42 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=52
Reply from 194.146.225.42: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 194.146.225.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 26ms, Maximum = 41ms, Average = 31ms

Boards.ie
C:\>ping 82.195.131.130

Pinging 82.195.131.130 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 82.195.131.130: bytes=32 time=19ms TTL=58
Reply from 82.195.131.130: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=58
Reply from 82.195.131.130: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=58
Reply from 82.195.131.130: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=58

Ping statistics for 82.195.131.130:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 10ms, Maximum = 26ms, Average = 16ms

Bogger77

tom-thebox wrote:

Depends on where you are from their kit, to be quite honest with you matey your ping anit bad with IOL why take the risk on Irish Broad Band, I and many others on this forum find crap.

If they answered their support mail that would be a start.

Tom, call them, it's the best way (and only way sometimes) to get an answer from them

Steffano2002

Blaster99 wrote:

You may consider it a failure, but that's not to say that IBB will agree with you, at least not easily.

Hi Blaster, I know IBB will not be happy if I tell them I no longer want to subscribe to their services because I have a poor ping but that's just the way it's going to be. I rang them and they told me I'd have a better ping than with my EsatBT Broadband Plus connection. To me, this is a verbal agreement. And I wrote that on my application form too!

Blaster99 wrote:

If you're close to the mast, you don't necessarily need line of sight as it happens.

Are you sure? this is what I read on IBB's information document:

"What is a line of sight?
For our Breeze service to work the customer antenna must have an unobstructed view – ‘line of sight’ of our nearby base station. This is because our base stations operate at extremely low power output – unlike mobile phone signals they cannot penetrate walls. Before installation, our technician will visit your premises and carry out this test."

Blaster99

Yes I am sure. But it depends on what's in your way and how close you are. There's no point in speculating about it here, they will test it.

machalla

A verbal agreement as the old saying goes isn't worth the paper its written on. If you check the terms and conditions of the breeze home do you see anything in there that guarantees you will have very low pings to gaming servers? I've never seen it anyway.

It is not really an adequate reason to cancel the service (not to mention you will have the installation cost of €150 regardless). It is a product with a 12 month contract and I believe there will be a disconnection fee (coming out and taking down the aerial) if you cancel before the end of your contract (I'm not 100% on how true this part is though so don't take it as gospel). Not to mention paying off the remainder of the contract as well for the 12 month period.

Either Breeze home or NTL are generally acknowledged as the two best BB packages available (apart from some of the cable BB available in limited parts of the country) in this digital backwater. I would leap at the chance of being able to get either of them but then I'm not a big gamer these days (dial-up not being exactly fun for online gaming).

Don't expect any ISP to guarantee something that isn't in the contract. I'm just warning you before you leap into something you might consider inadequate. You will end up costing yourself money if you want to break out of the contract.

tom-thebox

Steffano2002 wrote:

Thank you all for your feedback!

Apart from Tom, you all have fantastic ping results and seem to be pretty happy with IBB's service! I'm just hoping I have a good "line of sight" (the closest transmitter is at the Guinness brewery which is less than 1 km away but I'm not sure I can "see" it from my house...).

Just to point out I am on the Guinness Brewery too, I live in Arbour Hill. I can see Guinness from one of the front bedrooms in my home.

Steffano2002

Thanks for your replies!

To be honest, I'm only getting this IBB connection because I want a good ping. I ring IBB, they said I'll have a good ping. That's good enough for me. If I don't have a good ping I will consider that I have been lied to. And hopefully it won't cost too much too cancel the subscription... Ah sure we'll see. "Qui ne tente rien n'a rien" as we say in french!

Tom, are you telling me the problem could be due to a poor transmitter at the Guinness Brewery? I'd be gutted if that was the case! Did you ring IBB? What did they say? Any luck? I can't see the brewery from my street but I'm quite sure it's visible from my roof. Anybody else using this particular transmitter? How's your ping?

By the way, I rang IBB this morning and they told me the "VL gear" was the name of the technology of the Breeze 1MB Lite connection so they said I'll have it automatically.

And then I asked about the antenna but the girl on the phone wasn't sure about what it looked like... Is it a dish (like the one used for Sky Digital)? Is it more like a conventional antenna (long and narrow)? Just want to know if it was a massive heavy thing that required 25 bolts or just a small dish that require 4 bolts...

Thanks in advance!

machalla

You should check with them before they install what the story would be if the pings are inadequate. Or at least what the disconnection costs would be.

Then antennae goes on the roof and seems be about a metre or so tall with a small little diamond shaped dish at the top of it. It looks pretty light overall and I don't think it needs loads of bolts or the like. Of course I've only seen this from a distance on my friends house.

Best of luck with it anyway.

Blaster99

They use a pole that's about a meter tall and on a normal house they use a chimney bracket with a strap, the same way a TV aerial is normally installed. On industrial buildings I've seen them bolted to the side of the building. The aerial/dish is probably about 40x40cm, possibly smaller.

Steffano2002

machalla: I will make sure to contact IBB before they send out the engineer. I'm really hoping I won't have to cancel the subsription in the first place!

machalla - Blaster99: Thanks for letting me know. I now know what to expect. I thought it was either a dish or an antenna... Now I know it's both!
The IBB guy I had on the phone yesterday said the dish was 1 ft x 1 ft (30cm x 30cm) but he never said anything about an antenna...

I really hope I have that "line of sight"!!!

tom-thebox

I am going to call them now and see what they say I will update you all, by the way I can see guiness and the arial from the front bedroom in my house.

Steffano2002

tom-thebox wrote:

I am going to call them now and see what they say I will update you all, by the way I can see guiness and the arial from the front bedroom in my house.

That's why I'm worried Tom... I mean, you can see the transmitter but yet you're having connection problems! And I can't even see the bloody thing...

I'm really hoping that this particular transmitter is fine! Perhaps if you upgrade to the "Breeze 1MB Lite" package all your problems will disappear? (Wishful thinking)

Are you sure you are not having an issue with your modem/router/firewall/PC?

Thanks for getting in touch with IBB Tom! I really hope they sort all this out!

Blaster99

Looks like there are some problems on IBB's network. Massive ping spike on the RTE mast. Anyone else seeing these? Performance is pretty crap across the board as well, but what's new.

1 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 0.708 ms 0.689 ms 0.638 ms
2 bray-vl-vlan-1.irishbroadband.ie (62.231.50.193) 2.916 ms 3.272 ms 2.866 ms
3 62.231.32.238 (62.231.32.238) 5.316 ms 8.100 ms 12.270 ms
4 62.231.52.34 (62.231.52.34) 11.359 ms 11.796 ms 12.623 ms
5 3rock-et-2-4.irishbroadband.ie (62.231.32.149) 11.891 ms 54.197 ms 23.482 ms
6 rte-et-2-7.irishbroadband.ie (62.231.32.182) 181.838 ms 171.102 ms 163.683 ms
7 ix-et-1-1.irishbroadband.ie (195.26.12.61) 136.062 ms 129.985 ms 141.798 ms
8 suez-inex.hosting365.ie (193.1.208.202) 158.479 ms 150.612 ms 140.787 ms
9 boards.ie (82.195.131.130) 169.004 ms 154.942 ms 176.332 ms

ballooba

I notice from Blaster's tracert there the names of masts from bray to 3rock to rte.

Do IBB link their backbone wirelessly via their high sites?

Steffano2002

Not following all this now... Is IBB a bit of a "luck of the draw" service? Or does it depend on the day (sometimes good connection, sometimes no connection at all...)?

I'm getting a little worried here...

ballooba

Oops... forgot this was a thread about Breeze.

I'm on ripwave steffano, different kettle of fish. Cheaper but pretty poxy.

Question about high sites is valid but I'll edit out the rest.