Eir TV

OK, a few weeks later - zero complaints. Product has been solid and I've ran into no major issues.

Minor gripes:

It's about 30 seconds behind traditional broadcast TV. Some SD channels should really be HD. Quality on some of the non-mainstream HD channels is only OK, for example Discovery. They should work with the broadcasters to source better streams. It can be done - Virgin Media One has outstanding picture quality for example.

For anyone curious, the platform Eir are using is from a company called Zattoo (link below in addition to a video from a few years ago). Eir made a good decision here on the device (Apple TV) and by working with a provider with experience.

https://thetvplatform.zattoo.com

why does RTÉ only rewind 2 minutes even when you have had channel on for ages?

looking at getting eir broadband and eir tv

in regard to eir tv, I know its apple tv etc - are the remotes you get the flimsy apple ones (had them before and hated them) or are they proper old school remotes?

nice one, so more like a traditional remote

Answers below…

"Would like to know if the Apple TV box is kept after contract is up?"

No, you have to return it.

"can the eir tv app be loaded onto other devices?"

You can load it onto any Apple TV on your home network. No sure about Android - but it also works in a browser on a PC/Mac. You can buy refurbised Apple TV boxes from the Eir store cheaply.

"I have my Deco mesh plugged in and everything running through that, even the Apple TV box (despite being told that would only work through the Eir router)."

Correct. It does not need the Eir router, just needs to be on their broadand.

"I still have to set up prime, will look at that over the weekend"

When setting up Prime (one time task), watch for blocked web browser popups - this caught me out first time.

"now they give you a home phone also. but mine won't work."

No idea about phone. I have a line and a number, never used it to be honest.

I doubt that would work. Expect you’ll have to transfer to Eir TV.

was using (and paying for) eir tv via 5G while waiting for my fibre install. Stopped working. Told that it had to be a wired connection to the Apple TV box. Told them I’d always used WiFi and response from tech assist was no you haven’t. Followed their comment up with “well it’s like Netflix, you can’t just go to someone else’s house and use your Netflix account”. Works well now again, on WiFi, bit of a pain though that the bbc channels are blocked on phone app. Maybe I should have my phone plugged in to my router……. 🤦🤦🤣🤣

call me dumb, but how do you plug an Apple TV box into a router to make it a wired connection? is there an invisible ethernet socket somewhere that I cannot see 🤣

There was some confusion here. By "wired" they mean on fibre broadband, not mobile.

When I signed up recently, they sent an Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) - the WiFi only version of this. Not a big deal, vast majority of people will use these over WiFi anyways.

dumb Seve OB 🤣🤣

https://support.apple.com/en-ie/111922

lol, I didn't get a box like that from them last week 🤣

The support you get depends, I phone support to ask can you use my firestick in the kitchen, the guy was very helpful. told me to use the brower go to website tv.eir.ie and use my log in credential, it work like my phone away from home. It slow but does work.

Some additional info …

"Would like to know if the Apple TV box is kept after contract is up?"

If you dont return it they charge for it. (Used to be €50.)

"can the eir tv app be loaded onto other devices?"

On a browser no app is required, just log in to eir.

There are separate apps for mobiles (Android/Apple) and AppleTV. Mobile devices must be registered and I am limited to 3. AFAIK there is no app for any smart tv or a fire stick.

"I still have to set up prime, will look at that over the weekend, can't remember if they said it was 1 year free or the duration of the contract."

When I got eirTV, over 3 years ago, it was supposed to be only for a year. I still have it. (This might be to compensate for the closure of Eir Sports. I don't know.)

"now they give you a home phone also. but mine won't work."

You may have to pay extra for this, depending on your package. It works fine, I use it with cordless phones. (Less so since support for VoWiFi was added to Pixel phones.)

Static on the line normally suggests a wiring issue, at your end. Did you try plugging a phone directly into the eir Router? If not, try doing this, if necessary temporarily removing/replacing the Deco Mesh. If it now works the issue is with the Deco Mesh. It may well be a case of simply changing the VoIP/SIP settings. (This would make sense, if the support guy could see the wrong settings. It is unlikely he could remotely update these on a non-eir router.)

I don't know where you'll get the correct VoIP settings. A good engineering contact in eir would be your best bet. Failing that, try and get through to eir technical support. Seems this might not be so easy, see this thread.

After 2 years you get to keep the apple box. If you cancel after one year they charge you €100 if you want to keep it.