Accomodation - The Grove/The Village/Etc

Chuckin

Looking at these two complexes and don't know what to make of them. From their websites it seems clear they're both run by the same company or group, but where The Grove's has a full price listing and even an online order form The village doesn't even list its prices.

To confuse matters further The Village's website is touting 'fibre optic broadband from August 2013' but based on the fact they seem to be quite close by one another, both on the Clarion Road, is it safe to assume fibre optic is available at The Grove too?

To make matters worse neither is responding to emails which doesn't exactly made a good first impression.

More generally, I'm looking for accommodation quite close to the college and have mainly been looking at the two above complexes and the Gateway, but their layout, no en-suite, seemingly smaller rooms, a sink in one bed room picture (wtf?), has marked them down a bit in my book.

Anyways, anyone looking for/willing to offer any last-stop accommodation advice?

mcon1

Sent you a pm there regarding a free room in a house i'm staying in for coming year.

RossieMan

I've lived in "the village" the last couple of years.
No problems with the old company, haven't dealt with the new one just yet but by the sounds of things everything is getting upgraded and fixed up.

The grove and the village are pretty much the same for getting to college, takes about 6 minutes to get to the front door to the college, if you walk quick enough.

Always a bit of craic to be had, where ever you live in Sligo.
Prices are pretty much all similar, so its down to personal preference.
I'd give them a call, they're very busy down there so can't see them looking at e-mails.

Captain Hman

I'm having trouble finding accomadation also.
Can't decide whether to live in student accomadation or share a house.
What is the internet speed in the student built accomodation like ?

RossieMan

Captain Hman wrote: »

I'm having trouble finding accomadation also.
Can't decide whether to live in student accomadation or share a house.
What is the internet speed in the student built accomodation like ?

when you say internet, do you mean watching youtube and such?

because unless they've changed the internet since last year, you cannot download or play ps3/xbox on the internet. there's also no wireless, just ethernet ports in each bedroom.
pretty awkward, to be honest.

But, i don't know if they're changing it this year, haven't heard much about it.

Chuckin

It's 150mb fibre optic in the Grove and Village from the responses I've got.

I have to assume that you can download as much as you want or less what is the point of an 150mb connection? The ISPs that provide that tier of service invariably offer unlimited bandwidth so money isn't a concern.

I assume you can just hook in a router of your own to their ethernet ports as well as work around any lock-outs with proxies?

RossieMan

Chuckin wrote: »

It's 150mb fibre optic in the Grove and Village from the responses I've got.

I have to assume that you can download as much as you want or less what is the point of an 150mb connection? The ISPs that provide that tier of service invariably offer unlimited bandwidth so money isn't a concern.

I assume you can just hook in a router of your own to their ethernet ports as well as work around any lock-outs with proxies?

no and no.

you cannot download. its all proxied by the college.

you cannot connect routers, you'll get a contract stating that you will not use them and you'll get fined if you do as it wrecks up the network with different IP's.

there is no work around, its just wired internet. (if it's the same as last year)

Chuckin

What is considered 'downloading', then?

Loading a single web page is 'downloading', looking at a Youtube video is 'downloading'. It would be an incredibly pointless service if what you're saying is true, there's no point advertising an 150mb service if they only allow you to use it as a 56kb dial-up connection.

That'd literally be enough to mark any complex offering such a poor level of service off my list immediately, they are already higher priced than individual houses so they least you should expect for that money is decent service on something as basic as an internet connection.

RossieMan

Go to an individual house then and stop crying on the forum.

i've told you how it was ran the last few years, and you don't seem to be able to understand it.

Captain Hman

RossieMan wrote: »

when you say internet, do you mean watching youtube and such?

because unless they've changed the internet since last year, you cannot download or play ps3/xbox on the internet. there's also no wireless, just ethernet ports in each bedroom.
pretty awkward, to be honest.

But, i don't know if they're changing it this year, haven't heard much about it.

yeah i was wondering, is it decent enough to play xbox live on the internet

RossieMan

Captain Hman wrote: »

yeah i was wondering, is it decent enough to play xbox live on the internet

as i've said, unless things have changed this year, you can't play xbox online.

i'm here to be corrected, maybe the new company has sorted out new internet, but the internet before was from the college and pretty much everything(torrent sites, porn, proxies etc etc) was blocked and there is no work around.

maybe they've got their own this year, i highly doubt it though.

Chuckin

Woah my good man, you've got the wrong end of the stick completely.

None of my incredulity is directed at you, if I didn't believe what you were saying it wouldn't be so annoying.

These are exactly the sorts of things that aren't made crystal clear and are hidden away in contracts or sprung on you at the last minute before you sign a lease. Very important to know exactly what you're getting for your money before you commit 3-4k to a company.

RossieMan

ah sorry, you seemed to be questioning everything i was telling you.

it may have changed. i've lived there 3 years now, and even though its annoying you can't download, i'd still prefer it to all the unknown charges that comes with a house. It's also serious craic on campus, always somewhere to go, once you're friendly that is.

i would recommend it, even with the internet being the way it is. Never really have time to be gaming anyway.

Chuckin

Besides internet concerns it does meet my needs. Sounds really restrictive, but I assume these are being placed on the complexes by Sligo IT because all the ones in the catchment area seem to adhere to the same 'ethernet cable in your bedroom only' rule.

I'd be doing computing and it would be incredible to me that the college I was training at was placing draconian limits on my internet usage in my flat, but there you go.

What exactly is the situation with the IT's network, do you know? Is it some sort of boutique network they've invested heavily in or are they just rebranding UPC (or Eircom?) fibre optic service?

RossieMan

woooooow, i hope you don't talk how you type or college is going to be a very cruel place for you.

dunno what the story is with the college internet, never really bothered to ask.
It seems to be restrictive for safety reasons, that's why you have to log on with your student ID over the internet.

Chuckin

RossieMan wrote: »

woooooow, i hope you don't talk how you type or college is going to be a very cruel place for you.

dunno what the story is with the college internet, never really bothered to ask.
It seems to be restrictive for safety reasons, that's why you have to log on with your student ID over the internet.

I'm a bit taken aback by such a stupid comment.

I'm continuing on from completing two years' worth of a similar course at another college after a couple years out - this isn't my first trip around the block so less of the attitude.

Given I'd be moving to Sligo I thought spending the year in one of the purpose build flats would be the best way to meet people and settle in. If they can't offer even decent internet service the 3500ish asking price for rent and utilities for the year becomes a bitter pill to swallow and it mightn't be fit for purpose for me.

Anyone out there with opinions on the housing in the area and if any of the student flats have better internet service than the above?

RossieMan

ah yea, you do seem like great craic alright.

I'm sure where ever you end up in Sligo, people will be lining up to meet you. :P

I'm guessing you're a mature student?

dingding

I think that this year the accommodation companies are providing the internet access not the college.

Chuckin

dingding wrote: »

I think that this year the accommodation companies are providing the internet access not the college.

That would sync up with one of them advertising '150mb fibre optic broadband August 2013', which I'd have to guess is running off UPC's service as they're the only provider offering that speed in Sligo as far I can tell.

If they have switched it should mean a much more relaxed internet policy.

SystemsGuy

That really would be great if it isn't the college internet. After 2 years of heavily proxied internet that decides to turn off every 2 hours it would be a great for getting a proper service that will be worth the money.