Virgin Media FTTH... Any info

lotas · 16-05-2023 12:05am #1

Morning all.

Had a Virgin Media tech in last week to swap one of the (s)Hitron "Business Class" (my A$$) modems... I seem to go through 1 every 6 months... It just starts dropping packets and needs to be replaced... After a lot of complaining to him about it, he said that FTTH was coming soon to the area (Im in Tallaght). He said it was rolling out from City West (where they are based) and Tallaght would be one of the first to get it. He said it goes into a modem though... which has me confused... Does anyone have any details on this? Could what he is calling a modem, be an ONT? or even a "router" that they give out to customers, like other FTTH connections from Eir, and there be an ONT that it hooks up to? Ideally, i would want just an ONT and to be able to hook my own equipment up to it... Anyone got any details yet?

KildareP · 16-05-2023 8:40am

The early stage rollouts in Gorey were RFoG but the Tallaght build may be different. Certainly they would appear to be moving towards a streaming method for TV in the UK and they've partnered with Vodafone to allow access to their network so perhaps a move to pure fibre is the way.

Anyway, with the current cable network to date, it's fibre optic to a street cabinet where it's converted to co-ax which is what arrives into your home.

With the early fibre to the home builds, the fibre was brought into each home and the conversion to co-ax was done there instead.

You'd get an ONT, not hugely unlike the ones OpenEir, SIRO, NBI provide, except handoff is to co-ax, not Ethernet.

The same modems and set-top boxes are then used as normal just as in cabled areas.

(This is the most common method for sky to distribute satellite signals through apartment blocks using a single dish mounted out of site on the roof to serve everyone)

To be honest, having managed sites using a number of different providers in a past life, if you can get the speed you need from another provider I'd avoid Virgin Media altogether. Poor quality modem equipment and their default preference to route everything through Amsterdam that frequently congests used to cause no end of headaches and time wasting chasing down packet loss and latency issues. Going fibre to the home, by itself, isn't going to change any of that.

Glaceon · 16-05-2023 10:51am

I have Virgin at the moment in Drogheda but it's RFoG as KildareP mentioned above.

Their ONT is in one of the utility boxes on the side of my house and that converts the fibre to coax and feeds it into the house. So you still need their modem bridged if you want to use your own stuff. I can't believe they're still using this Intel Puma-based crap - I know people complained on here about the TC7200 routers but they were pretty solid once bridged. I'm in the process of moving away from them, I only signed up because they were the only option available at the time I moved in.

Ah-Watch · 16-05-2023 12:25pm

@lotas Rogers in Canada use that (s)Hitron modem as you mentioned and they were constantly swapping out one (s)Hitron for another every few months exactly as you say. Is there a different modem Virgin have they could give you? Having worked for Rogers I can tell you first hand you're going to continue swapping them out every 6 months forever more

Glaceon · 17-05-2023 1:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120603210#Comment_120603210

Speaking of Rogers you reminded me of a video I saw many moons ago of one of their Hitron modems catching fire. They're the standard issue for Virgin Media business customers, not sure if I've seen one in a domestic setting before. But they're pretty much the same hardware as the domestic ones, same Intel Puma controller.

lotas · 17-05-2023 5:30pm

it's gotten to the stage that I now have a fan sitting on my (s)hitron to keep it cool... only been installed for a few days, but we see what happens in the next 6 months... I really hope they do proper FTTH and do not use these things again... I would guess that going to FTTH they would probably upgrade from DOCSIS3.x... Not sure if they are 3.1... Wikipedia reckons DOCSIS 3.0 tops out at 1Gb down, 200Mb/s up... 3.1 is 10Gb down and 1-2Gb/s up... 4 is still 10Gb down but upto 6Gb up... hopefully they can get me more than 50Mb/s up... And nope... no option for other modems... Hopefully, as a business customer who doesn't need TV, they can do something sane and give me a proper FTTH link... one can dream...

dunworth1 · 29-05-2023 12:12pm

I have FTTH installed in Limerick they are using Siro's Infrastructure so have the ONT. Installed by TLi 2gb available it's a Sagecom router Sagemcom F5685LGE

I have also go the new 360 mini wireless tv box but my house is still being renovated so i haven't used it yet

https://www.libertyglobal.com/the-mini-tv-box-our-smallest-greenest-set-top-box/

lotas · 30-05-2023 9:46am

Interesting... I would hope that if they are using an ONT with SIRO that they use the same for all infra... Fingers crossed... Checked their site today and there is now mention of 2Gb... my eircode does not get it, yet, but hopefully soon...

Gusser09 · 31-05-2023 12:14pm

What do people plan on doing with the kit in the house? More than likely the bottle neck will now be you nic cards. If the nic and internal cabling is only good 1GB this seems like a bit of a waste.

bk · 31-05-2023 1:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120661609#Comment_120661609

Just save yourself some money and get the 1gig package. The reality is that 99.9% of people won’t come anywhere close to benefitting from more then 1gig.

If you really need faster, you could potentially use Wi-Fi, but you’d need fast Wi-Fi on both the client and router and it comes with various downsides.

BTW Cat6 Ethernet does up to 10Gbps and affordable 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps switches are starting to hit the market.

Gusser09 · 31-05-2023 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120661890#Comment_120661890

Cat6A will carry 10gbps. I don't think Cat6 will.

bk · 31-05-2023 3:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120661960#Comment_120661960

Cat6 will do 10gbps up to 50 meters or so. Cat6A can do 10gbps up to 100 meters.

You are correct though, if you are putting cables in a wall during a new build/refurb, probably best to future proof and go with 6A.

lotas · 01-06-2023 9:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120661609#Comment_120661609

Even if one machine is limited to 1Gb, multiple devices connecting at the same time is what it's useful for. Most of my workstations, servers, and even my MacBook now have 10Gb links. So do both of my NAS boxes. They do backups off-prem every night... granted, I am not the average user, but I would probably be the kind of customer that wants a 2Gb link (or 4... I already got a 2Gb FTTH from Blacknight and will be upgrading my 1Gb VM link to 2Gb when its available)

Kevrano · 16-06-2023 4:29pm

2Gb has started rolling out in Ireland: https://www.virginmedia.ie/about-us/press/2023/virgin-media-launches-2-gigabit-full-fibre-broadband/

The main website has a link to upgrade to 2Gb, but it doesn't quite work properly. Would be helpful if they said where in Dublin it is now available in.

breeno · 20-06-2023 1:52pm

I'm in Templeogue and we've had Virgin lads working on the cabinets and doing a bit of digging in the last few weeks upgrading it to 2gb capable. They didn't have an exact timeline when it would be available but suggested it would be fairly soon.

feargantae · 20-06-2023 3:08pm

Trying to figure out if 2G is available to me. Shows up on the Virgin website and Blacknight too but haven't seen any works going on in my area recently either

Kevrano · 20-06-2023 7:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120739840#Comment_120739840

The website was saying it was available to me (Dublin 8), but wouldn't show prices. They seemed to have fixed it now and best I can get is 1Gb.

The original press release says that the full fibre upgrade would take 3 years (this was over a year ago), so hopefully it moves along pretty quickly!

feargantae · 21-06-2023 1:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120741169#Comment_120741169

Hmmm that's weird alright. Vodafone say I can only get 1Gb too, even though they offer 2Gb in some places (just Kilkenny city maybe?)

At any rate I'm contracted with Sky til next year so I don't know why I'm even looking 😂

lotas · 21-06-2023 9:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120739840#Comment_120739840

Virgin have signed a deal with SIRO (IIRC). So it might be SIRO in the area, not Virgin. that would explain it showing on Blacknight's site too.

Gusser09 · 21-06-2023 9:47am

The problem with VIrgin is that when they tell you shortly it could mean 6 or 12 months. The lads on the street really had no idea.

It's like the whole sale deal that they announced with Vodafone last year and still no sign of it.

lotas · 22-06-2023 1:45pm

I had a VM guy here to sort out a cable modem issue for me, and said that in Dublin it was rolling out from City West, since that's where they have their end point (I think its called a Head End, IIRC). Tallaght and the surrounding areas would be the first to get upgraded... Thats from a Dublin point of view. Mind you, as mentioned above, they have a deal with SIRO, so I think they piggy back on their FTTH service. So, if you can get SIRO, you can use VM.

NBAiii · 22-06-2023 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120748913#Comment_120748913

It is already live across several thousand premises in Dublin, mainly north Dublin that I know of. Dublin 1, 2, 3, 9, 13, 15, 17 all have live premises. For the 2Gb/s product it is €64 for the first twelve months rising to €90 after that.

lotas · 26-06-2023 10:41pm

interesting! anyone know what the upload speed is?

PixelTrawler · 29-06-2023 2:40pm

For people getting 2gb... whats your home setup like?

My current setup is VM 360 Meg into the living room and I've Cat 6 (not 6a) run from the living room up to my office in the attic.

For me to get 2gb and actually make use of it, I'd need to get an ethernet card for my pc and I hope my cable run is under 50m because as far as I know, Cat 6 will do more than 1gb up to 50m. Its shielded Cat 6. And was thinking of some Ubiquiti gear to replace my current Linksys mesh(which currently gives decent wifi over the three floors but its not the greatest).

tazzzZ · 30-06-2023 2:50pm

If its SIRO then the upload is 100Mb. If its openeir its 200Mb. Source: moved to blacknight having discussed SIRO 2Gb with 200Mb upload turned out I was wrongly informed. Thankfully Blacknight were able to put me back on my legacy 1Gb/200Mb connection. Not sure why SIRO dont at least match openeir for upload. unless they have changed their offerings recently.

lotas · 03-07-2023 4:24pm

If its SIRO then the upload is 100Mb. If its openeir its 200Mb

but what if it's Virgin's own network? they are using SIRO where they don't have their own FTTH equipment, but in my area, where they are working on it, they use their own FTTH. So, does anyone with that know the kind of speeds they are offering?

feargantae · 04-07-2023 12:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120800125#Comment_120800125

On VM it should be 10% of download so 200Mb, however they're after removing any mention of upload speeds on their website so it's hard to know!

SIRO used to be 200Mb upload and anyone on an older package keeps that speed

Jonathan · 04-07-2023 11:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120653296#Comment_120653296

Would you be able to take a picture of the ONT and upload it here please? Interested to see what they are using.

MikeyJoyce · 10-07-2023 6:15pm

Ok so i had my 1GB virgin media connection upgraded to 2GB today.

Previously i had a Hybrid Fibre connection to the outside of the house -> ( Image not mine but was the same ) this was then converted into a coax connection and fed to a ARRIS TG3492LG-VM

Inside the house there was a power booster for the coaxial cable.

( not my image )

Now today they completely removed all the coaxial cables and pulled the fibre directly into the house. They mentioned this is the plan going forward and no more coaxial connections in areas that can get full fibre.

They then used the same faceplate as before but now the fibre connection comes out on the wall.

This is then fed into a Sagecom F@ST 5685. This router has 3 2.5GB network ports and 1 10GBS port which is a bit overkill but they probably plan on running 10gb on this new infrastructure.

So far so good!

lotas · 11-07-2023 11:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120831442#Comment_120831442

Thanks for the info... If I am looking at the pictures correctly, which I would like to think I am, looks like the fiber connection goes directly to that modem, which is different than how Eir do their FTTH... for Eir, from the ONT they have an ethernet handoff, and then they stick a router (or, depending on your provider, you can use your own) in there. With this, looks like you might be somewhat "stuck" with the one Virgin provide...

Glaceon · 11-07-2023 1:24pm

Yep, you'd be tied into using their router again and hoping you can bridge it if you need more than what it can provide. Same as their cable modems.

thefinalstage · 11-07-2023 4:46pm

Is the 1gb full fibre service still with a 50mb upload? Their site doesn't confirm the upload at all...if it's 100mb I may he tempted.

Also looking for wifi router suggestions. I currently have the ax92u but they only have 1gb Wan/lan port so won't be any use with the 2gb.

Is the provided router any good?

bonoman66 · 11-07-2023 6:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120837431#Comment_120837431

Maybe have a look at the Asus RT-AX88U Pro

https://www.asus.com/ie/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/rt-ax88u-pro/

Just picked one up last month to replace my older RT-AC88U

Everything running much more stable at home (I've tons of 24/7 connected devices that some had intermittent stability issues with over the last few years as I'd been adding & adding more devices - the older ac88u router was being over loaded). All rock solid with the new router thankfully.

The new AX88U Pro came out in March this year approx (note its the Pro - not the standard AX-88U Router).

Great user interface, supports a ton of options like native WAN VLAN tagging (which is typically required if you want to connect your own router hardware to FTTH ONT etc.). I'm considering upgrading to a 2Gbit FTTH connection in the coming weeks. I have a couple of ax capable devices & hard wired CAT 6A cabling in use.

I reckon even the non 2Gbit capable devices will be served better due to the speed,bandwidth & better upload (think its 200 Mbps up for the FTTH service I'm looking at).

The AX88U Pro has 2.5Gbit WAN / LAN port capability etc..

Hope my '2 cents' helps you..

lotas · 15-07-2023 1:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120835657#Comment_120835657

Hoping as a business customer I can bypass the modem, but if I cant, business customers get them as modems, not routers with wifi, etc.

LimerickGray · 15-08-2023 3:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120653296#Comment_120653296

how did they bring the fibre into the house?

and box mounted outside I'm in Kilteragh and all the SIRO from VF and SKY etc are done terrible 0 wires all over the external walls and holes drilled in external walls to bring in cable - messy. in my house and all house here, virgin have a duct from the path under the lawn and into the living room with copper cable - presume originally for TV but they use is for BB now. Are virgin using this for fibre instead?

dunworth1 · 15-08-2023 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120981802#Comment_120981802

same as all Siro down the front of the house and in trough the wall in the front.

its not virgin installing its TLI

LimerickGray · 15-08-2023 6:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120981842#Comment_120981842

I’ll be cancelling the order then. Not having wires and a box outside my house when they already have a duct into my living room- live every house here.

DECEiFER · 18-08-2023 5:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120838055#Comment_120838055

Just a heads up. High-end routers with multi 2.5G ports (or higher) aren't cheap but for some reason they seem to be well below MSRP in Germany right now!

Check this out:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-RT-AX88U-Extendable-Rangeboost-Subscription-free/dp/B0BV6ZN274 vs. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/RT-AX88U-AX6000-Router-Quad-Core-AiProtection/dp/B0BNYTFX9V

I ordered this bad boy just yesterday, saving well over €100 off MSRP, which is basically what's being charged on every web store in the UK, including Amazon and some here as well (the stores that don't gouge too much):

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B09MG9MDB5

Also, I think the PON Hub from VM has 1 x 10Gb port and 3 x 1Gb ports? I could be wrong, but this is what VM in the UK say about the Hub 5x:

https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/existing-customer-deals/hub

Alas, I can't get fiber in my apartment, so I'm using the Hub 5 on the 1000/50 plan, hoping it'll go to 1000/100 soon like VM did in the UK recently.

LimerickGray · 23-08-2023 4:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120981842#Comment_120981842

Why thought? Cabinet is outside the end of my driveway and ducting going from my house to that cabinet with existing coax for TV/broadband, virgin. It’s actavo and they refuse to take out that cable and replace it with a fibre cable, even though it’s the same cos cable, and it’s going right into my sitting room

eskin · 29-08-2023 10:45am

I got a pre- terminated fibre cable from the guys installing cables along the house facia with intention of myself routing it behind wall insulation from external box on facia into attic and down to where the coax is terminated and modem is sitting. Checking if this fibre cable can be cut and existing termination replaced with whatever ONT termination they will be using for it - or if this will need to use preterminated cable?

breeno · 29-08-2023 1:04pm

We had our cabinet at the end of our road updated a few months back and the lads doing the job and roadworks said it shouldn't be long until we're all connected up. Unfortunately i had a technician out changing my router last week and he told me that my road gets the cables overhead and not underground so I would have to wait until the 6 house between me and the cabinet upgraded before they could get an upgraded cable to my house. Does that sound right? Disappointing if true.

eskin · 30-08-2023 9:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121041535#Comment_121041535

Is there another termination box before the ONT?

legend99 · 01-09-2023 7:37pm

Hope it's okay to ask this here. SIRO do not list Virgin Media as a supplier for my house. However, Virgin website says they can provide to my house although 110% they do not have their own cables to the house as this estate was never connected to the old multichannel (Cork memories!) line. So I assume that Virgin don't supply via open eir so this must be a Siro offering? So is it just that although Virgin have signed the deal to supply via Siro that they don't pop up as an option within the Siro website?

Thanks all.

Sierra Oscar · 04-10-2023 7:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120831442#Comment_120831442

You might be able to help me with some advice.

I currently have Virgin Media and the connection terminates with a coaxial cable with a power booster.

I'm in a new build and when I moved in earlier this year Virgin Media setup the coaxial cable with the power booster. The house already had fibre to the home.

I've just renewed by contract and they said they're sending someone out to upgrade my connection to full fiber.

My TV / modem is currently installed from a coaxial point that is not beisde my telephone point (it's in the same room).

Are they going to be able to run the fiber to the current coaxial termination point, or are they going to have to run a new cable from the telephone point?

Ideally I don't want any wires to be running around my skirting.

feelings · 11-10-2023 1:11pm

Brother in law has VM fiber, has it about 3 months no issues. Was asking him if he's stuck with VM, he wasn't sure. Is it possible to move to another supplier with VM fiber? It's full fiber.

I know with Eir/SIRO they allow other ISPs. I know the old VM coax stuff, you had to stick with VM. But what about this new VM fiber stuff? Cheers.

legend99 · 11-10-2023 1:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057617#Comment_121057617

This was Siro by the way. So they did a Siro install. So now have 2 fibre connections to the house - openeir fibre cable and the new Siro fibre cable.

feelings · 23-10-2023 10:52am

Answering my own question really. I see SKY and VM have agreed a deal to allow SKY access VM fiber network from the 31/Oct.

Marcusm · 01-11-2023 9:56am

Anyone know what tech they will use? Sky or VM. Have always had patchy FTTC service from Sky via Eir. More frustrated as it got cutoff on Friday. Supposedly fixed yesterday but not actually fixed and now waiting to hang in the customer service line for hours. Would prefer the VM 500 or 1gb rather than 75mb. However, VM/UPC points not in ideal places.

Gusser09 · 01-11-2023 10:29am

I'll be waiting a few months to switch to Sky anyway and let any issues be ironed out.

Any ideas who is doing the install for Sky on the VM network?

Marcusm · 01-11-2023 5:10pm

Looks like I didn’t carefully analyse the statements. The access is only to the fibre network whereas I have the old co-ax system. I suspect the same is true for many houses in central Dublin. As a result, Sky can’t sell me the service.

have had horrible experience and cancelled Sky. Engineer from OpenEir has been out to house 4 times today. Thinks there was some sort of surge. He has fixed cabinet end, pole end, reconnected he pole wire to internal cable and ch she’s the face plate. Sky modem cable equally shot. He now has full service based on his meter but no action in router.

now on with sky who are resisting sending out a new router even though I have to pay for the cancellation period! Hilarious.

Fayainz · 10-11-2023 9:18pm

Got my VM 2Gb Fibre installed end of May 2023 and was told my order was one of the first on their new offer. I’m in Kildare and it’s not on the SIRO network it’s Virgins own.

They had to drill through the wall and but this unsightly box on the inside of the hall. No idea why it has to be so big considering SIRO right next to it.

Anyhow speeds are pretty good. 700Mb down and 200Mb up from my iPhone

Virgin Media FTTH... Any info

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