Best BB provider? (looking to get away from Eircom).

barnesd

I currently have the 2mbps Eircom package but the speed NEVER gets above 512kbps, which is god-awful so I'm looking to move to a different provider. The only thing is, I've heard a lot of companies just use Eircoms's lines, if this is the case will I have the same problem no matter who I move to? I was looking at both Digiweb and NTL anyway, who offer faster broadband for about the same price I'm paying now. Any recommendations appreciated.

I'm in the Malahide area by the way, some companies don't provide for this area.

Edit - with Digiweb can you only get the 6mb BB if you get their phone service along with it?

smellslikeshoes

If you are paying for a 2meg and it never gets above 512K it is more than likely a problem with the line rather than anything else. Whats your line stats like?

barnesd

To be honest I don't know what you mean by line stats. How would I go about checking them?

PogMoThoin

I'll presume its a netopia router you got from Eircom, on your browser type in 192.168.1.254, this will bring you into the config of your router. Click troubleshoot, statistics, dsl and paste the results here

watty

There are different Digiweb systems. They do resell the phone line DSL. The other system with a phone is "Metro". It's a lunch box sized plastic box outdoors that has to "see" the basestation. Indoor is a modem with ethernet and two phone sockets. Unless it's changed lately all Metro packages at all speeds include a free phone connection (no line rental) with free calls to other Metro users and cheaper than eircom calls to all other numbers. No phone line is needed.

You probably need to ring and complain to eircom if you paying for a higher package. But further from exchange the speed drops.

barnesd

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I'll presume its a netopia router you got from Eircom, on your browser type in 192.168.1.254, this will bring you into the config of your router. Click troubleshoot, statistics, dsl and paste the results here

Cheers. This is all it says:


Line State Up
Modulation DMT
Data Path Interleave


Downstream Upstream
Max Allowed Speed (kbps) 512 256
SN Margin (dB) 12.00 16.00
Line Attenuation (dB) 47.50 31.50
CRC Errors 269 6

PogMoThoin

Not great stats,
SN Margin......higher is better
Attenuation.......lower is better

Your attenuation is high, 512k may be all your line is capable of. Where in the house is the router located? Have you tried another phone socket for comparrison? Are you using a long extention phone cable to the router?

barnesd

The router is not plugged into the "master" socket as it were, it's plugged into an upstairs socket. I've the filter plugged into that and there's about a 15-20ft phone cable the from the filter to the router.

Bohrio

barnesd wrote: »

The router is not plugged into the "master" socket as it were, it's plugged into an upstairs socket. I've the filter plugged into that and there's about a 15-20ft phone cable the from the filter to the router.

Well I am afraid there lays your problem...

barnesd

Bohrio wrote: »

Well I am afraid there lays your problem...

Ok that's fine, at least I know what it is now!

Thanks to everyone for the help.

PogMoThoin

Plug it in2 your main socket and login to the config to check that you sync at 2meg, what your paying for. Also paste your stats from that socket.

barnesd

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Plug it in2 your main socket and login to the config to check that you sync at 2meg, what your paying for. Also paste your stats from that socket.

Grand, will do it this evening.

All the router needs is to be plugged into the phoneline to work right (and the mains obviously)? Does it have to be plugged into the PC by an ethernet cable? I'm thinking now leave the router downstairs and just connect wirelessly upstairs.

barnesd

Ok, I set up the router downstairs and tried to pick up wireless upstairs. It only stayed on for about 20 seconds, but it was long enough for me to see it was running at its proper speed of 2048kbps, so we've found the problem anyway.

But then another problem surfaced... after that 20 seconds it disconnected and from then on I just got "limited or no connectivity" messages, and I couldn't get back online.

JNive

turn the antennae on the router and your PC horizontal to give better signal between floors.

barnesd

The signal was actually being picked up no problem, it would just get to "acquiring IP address" and wouldn't be able to do this.