Broadband Providers Poll

Moriarty

Only vote for providers you have current personal experience of using, so it gives as fair a snapshot as is possible of the current state of services.

Any I've missed, suggest them in here and they'll get added.

Couch Potato

I have NTL and am NOT happy

what about ntl ?

skibum

I have BT and am NOT happy

Currently with BT and have no complaints. just found out that NTL is available in my area so I'll be checking them out

Moriarty

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

Right, poll done I think. Am I missing any obvious ones?

Rovi

Atari Jaguar

I voted for 2 items- 'I have Digiweb (other) and am happy' and 'I want broadband but can't get it because I fail the line test/exchange not enabled/out of range.'
I'm on a Digiweb satellite connection which I'm happy with as far as it goes, but I have yet to find a provider who can connect me up with any other technology

There's a HUGE fibre link about 50 meters from my house, anyone know of a way I could tap into that?

.

dlofnep

I have NTL and am NOT happy

NTL and they are the bombay!

Steffano2002

I have Magnet and am happy

Yeah well, IBB... Nuff said...

subway

I have IrishBroadBand (IBB) and am NOT happy

Steffano2002 wrote:

Yeah well, IBB... Nuff said...

hah,
theyre alright

Steffano2002

I have Magnet and am happy

subway wrote:

hah,
theyre alright

We'll see on Tuesday when I'm migrated to new mast! Fingers crossed!!!

muffler

I have Clearwire and am happy

Moriarty wrote:

Only vote for providers you have current personal experience of using, so it gives as fair a snapshot as is possible of the current state of services.

Any I've missed, suggest them in here and they'll get added.

Im not sure if this poll in its present format will paint a true picture of the situation.

A lot of people like myself have only the choice between Eircom and BT unless we were foolish enough to opt for wireless.

Could you not break it down into city/rural catagories or something like that. I see that NTL are in the lead in this poll with IBB in joint 3rd but both of those services are not available where I and a lot of other people live

Sparky

I have Magnet and am happy

Does anyone Use E3 broadband, you know the one electroplus provides?

J2DaC

I have eircom and am NOT happy

What about magnet networks? There new but seem very good!

EDIT:::::::
Sorry, just seen it in the list. Im thinking of getting it, whats it like?

raheny red

I have IrishBroadBand (IBB) and am NOT happy

I have IrishBroadBand (IBB) and am VERY happy

Rudolph Claus

Im thinking of getting Net1 wireless as i live in the sticks and its my only option. Digiweb cant get me.
Can you add Net1 to your list in case anyone wants to pick them and i can look at their results i nthe poll. Thanks.

ghostdancer

I have Digiweb (other) and am NOT happy

Digiweb (other) - very happy

prospect

I have UTV and am NOT happy

Moriarty wrote:

Only vote for providers you have current personal experience of using, so it gives as fair a snapshot as is possible of the current state of services.

Any I've missed, suggest them in here and they'll get added.

Oi,

I had a copyright on that poll.....:D

Moriarty

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

Stickying this.

god's toy

I have eircom and am NOT happy

what a good poll, gives us all in insight to how green the grass really is.

Sparky

I have Magnet and am happy

Moriarty wrote:

Stickying this.

Did you forget to tick the "Stick this thread after you submit your message" box?

dub45

I have Smart and am NOT happy

It might be interesting to also do a poll on the other aspects of isps apart from the signal side? The most glaring example might be Esat who seem to give an excellent signal consistently but are disastrous for many customers on the billing, losing application forms etc. It would probably be a difficult poll to structure I know but these aspects of the product are important and worth a look every now and then?

Legion

I have NTL and am NOT happy

Have both NTL and Smart very happy with both conns,Pyr0 uses the Smart connection so I 'll get him to pop up a vote.

Pyr0

I have Smart and am NOT happy

Yeah..Smart = excellent

RobertFoster

I have BT and am NOT happy

I've BT and they've generally been fine. It all went titsupdotcom during and a few weeks after the last upgrade and it took a while to be sorted. I'll let you know if I'm still happy with BT after the next upgrade

muffler

I have Clearwire and am happy

dub45 wrote:

It might be interesting to also do a poll on the other aspects of isps.......... The most glaring example might be Esat who seem to give an excellent signal consistently but are disastrous for many customers on the billing, losing application forms etc.

Damn good idea

Moriarty

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

Sparky-s wrote:

Did you forget to tick the "Stick this thread after you submit your message" box?

>_>

<_<

I don't know what you're talking about. *cough*

Aye dub45, I'll have a think about how best to put something like that together.

Sparky

I have Magnet and am happy

Moriarty wrote:

>_>

<_<

I don't know what you're talking about. *cough*

yeah LOL

Brian017

I have eircom and am NOT happy

I have Eircom and I find it ok. It's not good and it's not bad. Just ok. The main reason I moved to BB was to have an "always-on" connection and to have a flat fee (phone bill was enormous) and not for its speed and whatnot. So I can't complain about Eircom.

Stephen

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

I'd be happy with UTV if it wasn't for 2 points:
1) Ridiculously low caps (8gb on the 1mb product)
2) Very strict enforcement of said caps

I would have switched ISP's long ago, if eircom's incompentence wasn't preventing me - All other ISP's claim that eircom's line test says my line is unsuitable for BB - despite having it for 2 years, and getting the full 1mbps. Fortunately for UTV they've recently got a link into INEX (AT BLOODY LAST!!) so pings in games have dropped drastically. Eircom's only suggestion to remedy this is to cancel my connection, wait about a month, sign up to another ISP and endure their lead time. Total down time, approximately 2 months at best. **** that.

delly

Atari Jaguar

Up until recently i thought that i had the choice of Digiweb or IBB.

It actually turns out that Digiweb are waiting to put up a new transmitter and according to the IBB coverage map, half the estate is covered, but my half isn't. The funny thing was though that the rep was willing to take my order based on the theory that it'll 'probably' work on the day after they mount it. Thanks but i'd like to know in advance before i have it clamped to my house.

When the rep rang me back to see if i wanted to go ahead with the order, i told him no because of all the bad stories they have on Irish forums. He then said, and this is no word of a lie, that when they get reports of bad coverage, theres usually a load of trees in the way, and all they have to do is get permission to cut the trees down :v: :v: :v:

I was laughing for quite a while after that call

dub45

I have Smart and am NOT happy

Stephen wrote:

I'd be happy with UTV if it wasn't for 2 points:
1) Ridiculously low caps (8gb on the 1mb product)
2) Very strict enforcement of said caps

I would have switched ISP's long ago, if eircom's incompentence wasn't preventing me - All other ISP's claim that eircom's line test says my line is unsuitable for BB - despite having it for 2 years, and getting the full 1mbps. Fortunately for UTV they've recently got a link into INEX (AT BLOODY LAST!!) so pings in games have dropped drastically. Eircom's only suggestion to remedy this is to cancel my connection, wait about a month, sign up to another ISP and endure their lead time. Total down time, approximately 2 months at best. **** that.

Most people who have bb find that their line now failts the line test. If you want to transfer to another isp it is only a matter of a 'port transfer' thats not the right term I know but supposedly if you initiate it with the isp you want to go to it can be done without interruption. there have been posts on here about it from time to time but there seems to be a lot of luck involved.
Eircom's suggestion is nonsense.

dub45

I have Smart and am NOT happy

delly wrote:

coverage, theres usually a load of trees in the way, and all they have to do is get permission to cut the trees down :v: :v: :v:

I was laughing for quite a while after that call

Very interesting - so do they this sort of work themselves or do they contract it out? Anyone spotted any ads lately for IBB lumberjacks?:rolleyes:

We really should have a poll for the daftest excuse given out by an ISP?

DonkeyStyle \o/

I have BT and am NOT happy

Hmm, could have sworn I'd voted on this poll already. {o_O}

Anyway, happy enough with EsatBT, dl-speeds/pings are fine and consistant, uptime has been exceptional (aside from some serious teething problems >1 year ago)... my only remaining bone of contention is that they're next to impossible to contact... even when you want to pay a missed bill over the phone by credit card you'd be left sitting there on hold for 20 mins... and God help you if you've got a support query or complaint.
They're on thin ice with me still though, it'd only take another prolonged network b0rkage for me to cancel tbh... that reliability is about the only thing they've got going for them at the moment.

bluto63

I have Imagine and am happy

i have eircom and am NOT happy

hawthorn

What about Lastmile? havent seen them mentioned at all. Im thinking of trying them as I cant get anything by phone line. They have a mast on a mountain near me!

Seanie M

I have another provider (please specify) and am NOT happy

Currently a Last Mile subscriber. On a 512K connection for €40. If I was to get their 1Mb connection, I'd be looking at €120 per month, which is ridiculous!!!

So, as it stands, I am happy with their level of service, but unhappy with the fact that I can't terminate my 12 month contract with them, and go for a cheaper 1Mb+ onnection with Digiweb or Eircom.

Seanie.

Seanie M

I have another provider (please specify) and am NOT happy

hawthorn wrote:

What about Lastmile? havent seen them mentioned at all. Im thinking of trying them as I cant get anything by phone line. They have a mast on a mountain near me!

Where are you based? When I was looking for BB where I am, the only provider was Last Mile Wireless. Now the exchange has been upgraded, and rather unexpectedly too, so I can now have an option of a higher BB rate that is also cheaper. But the 12 month contract makes me liable to pay for the remainding months should I terminte with Last Mile... :mad:

Seanie.

gogul

Anybody using this, or heard anything about it?

I'm applying for business broadband: 4Mb download, no cap. Any suggestions?

gogul

jonski

I have eircom and am NOT happy

I have obviously been reading this poll wrong , I check it maybe once a week , just to see where the figures are at . I thought all along that I had seen a small number of people unhappy with NTL , but overall they seemed to have the highest number happy with them . Then I look today and they seem to have no one unhappy ............. did something go wrong with the poll , or did I mis-read it .

IT Loser

Here's the trick as I see it: I've read little in the line of complaints about Eirocom that weren't centered around the Regulations/Monopoly end of things. Somebody show me a thread where Eircom is lambasted for providing a grossly [technically speaking] inferior service....

Now, apples and apples. Eircom charge €40 per month for their 2 GIG version of events, so to speak. BT charge €30 for the same thing- but Eircom throw in a free wireless [Netopia WiFi] modem and free connection [where you sign up online]

Thats a saving of €70-00, a considerable lump, if we assume that Eircoms service is as technically proficient as that of BT.

Now, Eircom want an extra tenner a month, and the contract is a 6 month minimum. So you still save a tenner and switch over to BT or whoever in 6 months if the mood takes ya. The sting in the tail of all this is that you're still 200 bob or so ahead [10 Euros = 200 Shillings...get with it lads] and you've avoided having to pay the €70 up front and in-lump as BT would like.

Like I said- argument rests on whether Eircom dick you around or don't on the quality of the service. A big if , says you.

My tuppence worth [.4 of a shilling, .02 of a punt, and .0158 of a Euro.]

bk

I have NTL and am NOT happy

IT Loser wrote:

Now, apples and apples. Eircom charge €40 per month for their 2 GIG version of events, so to speak. BT charge €30 for the same thing- but Eircom throw in a free wireless [Netopia WiFi] modem and free connection [where you sign up online]

Your comparison is wrong, it doesn't include line rental:

BT 2m + Line Rental = €40
Eircom 2m + Line Rental = €64

Over a 6 months contract BT works out at €144 cheaper (you could buy three wireless routers for that difference). Over 12 months BT works out at €288 cheaper.

BT will give you a free connection if you supply your own modem. Which will pay for itself after just 3 months anyway.

Technically speaking, both services are excellent, with little or no problems other then the problems caused by the bad state of Eircoms network.

BT does have porblems with its billing department, but they are far cheaper then Eircom.

IT Loser

Ok then fair enough. The way BT are telling it to me now is that if I pay them €80 in cash they'll connect me and throw in a wireless Router [the two in one job] and then for €60 per month I'll get Talk Plus, 3Meg Down Broadband [something insane in terms of DL limits] and line rental. Neat.



..........20 minutes later

Just spoke to a BT representative who called me back and the deal we signed up to is:

3 Meg Download Speed Broadband 30 Gigs Per Month limit [Dowload Only]

Phone Line Rental

Talk Plus Option {free calls abound, so I've not factored in the odd international call}

All IN: €64.82 per month

My first bill is going to be: €129.60 + €40 once off connection + €40 [Wireless Router} = €210

Every other bill €130 every 2nd month.

In effect, my first 4 months of telephony and internet will set me back €340, the next 4 will be 260 and the next 4 260 again.

So for 1 year of goodies, a grand total of €860.

No complaints here

ConUladh

I have IrishBroadBand (IBB) and am NOT happy

IBB Ripwave and very happy, for me it does just what it says on the tin.

Pappacharlie

I have another provider (please specify) and am NOT happy

I have a connection with WestNet and I must say it is an excellent service.

FSL

I want broadband but can't get it because I fail the line test/exchange not enabled/out of range

There does not appear to be anywhere to specify the provider in the Poll. I have wireless broadband from DigitalForge. It would seem DigitalForge supply the wireless network which connects to an unspecified ISP. The wireless part works fine but the service from the ISP is inconsistent particularly on the upload side, with long pauses which give rise to timeouts when connecting. This makes it impossible to consistently use my VOIP service which varies from being perfect one minute and ten minutes later being unable to connect or fine coming in and rubbish going out. Unfortunately the only alternative is dial up on a poor quality eircom line.

Feu

bk wrote:

Your comparison is wrong, it doesn't include line rental:

BT 2m + Line Rental = €40
Eircom 2m + Line Rental = €64

Over a 6 months contract BT works out at €144 cheaper (you could buy three wireless routers for that difference). Over 12 months BT works out at €288 cheaper.
.

I've just been on the phone to the nice lady in Eircom, and in addtion to the outlined charges above, if you have Eircom Phonewatch - the alarm, then the technician is going to have to come out and tweak that for you, before they can set up the broadband. Free of charge? As me b**locks. €89. Aaargh!

da4i's

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

I have UTV and am not happy because of the low caps and low speeds wer as u can pay the same as what i am paying, 30 euro, and get 2mbps off BT with a 20 gig cap... (am i correct??)

Dave

homerzero

I have another provider (please specify) and am happy

I have utv and i am now very happy , for 6 yoyos more the service is now uncapped , provided you dont horse it between 6pm and 11pm ( they throttle your speed if you do) you are free to download what you want

antifuse

I have Imagine and am happy

Has anybody had Eircom enforce download limits on their accounts? I have heard that they don't bother, even though they say there is a limit of 8 gb (or whatever) on their broadband accounts.

Having said all this, I'm shocked at the prices of broadband here. Coming over from Toronto, where I was paying about 35 euro all-in for 5mbit, it's a bit of a shock being here and paying as much as we do.

tonymahoney

I have eircom and am NOT happy

How about this question in your poll?
I have broadband but am thinkjing of switching provider!:cool:

Gangsta

I have BT and am NOT happy

Does anyone have Irish Broadband in Galway? If so, what is their service like? Am moving to Toreeny, Moycullen soon and afaik there the only one providing bb there.

kleefarr

I have BT and am NOT happy

Shouldn't these percentages be reconfigured?
For example BT: 79 for, 21 against. Should the percentage not reflect the proportion of happy and unhappy customers.. ie: 79% Happy - 21% unhappy?