Fibre routers and modems

[johnb]

I do wonder about these speeds.

Sure, I accept that in an ideal environment that you get the high speed but, unless you have many of your family accessing the internet simultaneously or you are downloading large files (from a server that has sufficient bandwidth to cope with all the demands on it), I suspect that the likelihood is that the improvement for normal browsing, etc will be marginal.

Please tell me if I'm wrong.

(The most significant bottle neck for me is all the adverts and tracking thingies that delay many of the websites.)

[Dave2002]

There seems to be some agreement that the higher data rate services (50 Mbps and up) are worth having, but what's available right now? Now that I know that this is possible in my area I suspect that there will be more than one ISP provider, as often essentially the same infrastructure is used by more than one provider. I don't particularly want to pay £10 per month extra, and surely any competition will tend to drive prices down. Our current provider (one of them) is TalkTalk, and they are offering the higher data rate service now - but at a cost. Maybe I can negotiate the additional cost down.

Any advice on finding providers for higher data rate services at reasonable prices would be appreciated. Over the years I have tried f2s, tiscali, TalkTalk, GreenBee, John Lewis and Be.

I find the biggest irritations are the time to order a new service, or change a service over, plus the sometimes extended periods of faults requiring seemingly almost continuous "on the case" phone calls and emails. I think in our current abode the faults have quite frequently been due to the BT line, though we've also had some problems with micro-filters. Generally things have improved in the last year or so, and data rates are adequate for most purposes. Drop outs do happen though - perhaps 5 minutes at a time, and at peak periods there does seem to be some congestion on occasions.

I would expect that providers with much higher data rates, if they have managed to get stable operation, will generally provide much better service, as most end users won't actually be close to the maximum rate possible most of the time even when watching video.

[johnb]

There seems to be some agreement that the higher data rate services (50 Mbps and up) are worth having....

Well, perhaps ... but that depends on a number of factors:

- What someone uses their computer for. If someone already has a connection speed of 8Mbps and actually gets somewhere close to the 7Mbps max, I suspect that there would only be a marginal improvement for normal browsing, especially bearing in mind that the speed with which a website displays depends on all the junk that the website throws at you. (You can see this happening in Firefox and it is noteworthy just how much time the analytic and tracking junk takes.)

- If, however, there are multiple people in the family who are watching videos, browsing and downloading at the same time it, or someone spends a lot of time downloading large files then the upgrade would definitely be very welcome.

- Cost

As far as I am concerned I would upgrade only if there was no additional cost.

(I also wonder whether you have to use the router that the ISP gives you, instead of one of your own choosing. I've been using a rock solid business grade Draytek router for many years which, of course, wouldn't work with the new systems.)

[robk]

Well, perhaps ... but that depends on a number of factors:

- What someone uses their computer for. If someone already has a connection speed of 8Mbps and actually gets somewhere close to the 7Mbps max, I suspect that there would only be a marginal improvement for normal browsing, especially bearing in mind that the speed with which a website displays depends on all the junk that the website throws at you. (You can see this happening in Firefox and it is noteworthy just how much time the analytic and tracking junk takes.)

- If, however, there are multiple people in the family who are watching videos, browsing and downloading at the same time it, or someone spends a lot of time downloading large files then the upgrade would definitely be very welcome.

- Cost

As far as I am concerned I would upgrade only if there was no additional cost.

(I also wonder whether you have to use the router that the ISP gives you, instead of one of your own choosing. I've been using a rock solid business grade Draytek router for many years which, of course, wouldn't work with the new systems.)

I can confirm that with Virginmedia I have my router connected to Virgin's modem which works fine. The modem can be set to operate as a router or not. The installer was helpful in sorting this out. I found that my Squeezebox would not work with the Virgin router.

[Dave2002]

Well, perhaps ... but that depends on a number of factors:

- What someone uses their computer for. If someone already has a connection speed of 8Mbps and actually gets somewhere close to the 7Mbps max, I suspect that there would only be a marginal improvement for normal browsing, especially bearing in mind that the speed with which a website displays depends on all the junk that the website throws at you. (You can see this happening in Firefox and it is noteworthy just how much time the analytic and tracking junk takes.)

- If, however, there are multiple people in the family who are watching videos, browsing and downloading at the same time it, or someone spends a lot of time downloading large files then the upgrade would definitely be very welcome.

- Cost

As far as I am concerned I would upgrade only if there was no additional cost.

(I also wonder whether you have to use the router that the ISP gives you, instead of one of your own choosing. I've been using a rock solid business grade Draytek router for many years which, of course, wouldn't work with the new systems.)

Up to a point, Lord C.

You are right that most people, most of the time, won't notice a great deal of difference for web browsing and "normal" use. However, if one considers some download sites, then higher data rates will clearly get the job done faster. Also uploading large files, or sending emails with large file attachments will tke less time.

Of course cost is a factor - depends if the user thinks the snappier response is worth it.

[scottycelt]

I do wonder about these speeds.

Sure, I accept that in an ideal environment that you get the high speed but, unless you have many of your family accessing the internet simultaneously or you are downloading large files (from a server that has sufficient bandwidth to cope with all the demands on it), I suspect that the likelihood is that the improvement for normal browsing, etc will be marginal.

Please tell me if I'm wrong.

(The most significant bottle neck for me is all the adverts and tracking thingies that delay many of the websites.)

Well, I certainly find browsing quicker and more reliable and as for simple, regular things like computer updates very much quicker. Downloading a largish file like a Linux OS for burning to CD normally takes me around 4 mins instead of my previous 'fast' copper connection time of 40/45 mins.

Of course you are right as well, as we all know the speed in downloading stuff can depend on other factors such as the capability and efficiency of a particular website's server and not just the internet connection, so slow speeds can still be experienced even with fibre.

As you say, it all depends on individual use whether it's worthwhile to pay that little bit extra but for those who do regularly download files from the internet and, say, watch TV and internet movies on computer there is simply no comparison, at least in my own experience!

[clive heath]

My view, after a few days of the faster streaming, is that the benefit is real but not dramatic. The great advantage is the decrease in "dead" time when there's nothing else you can do while you're waiting and this is pschologically beneficial as is the massive decrease in programmes that take you into dead-ends from which you can only escape by turning the machine off... remember those!!

The old Netgear Router that was replaced contained a Firewall which means (I understand on good authority) that you don't also need the Firewall in your computer to be ON although to stop the computer constantly telling me its own Firewall ( your computer might be AT RISK!!) isn't on I might change the one for the other. Talk Talk customer service were able to tell me that the installer had switched the Firewall on!! What else do they know? Apparently to have both Firewalls on can slow the system down.

Mr GG.. are you suggesting that I am not a mover?? You should see my Dad-dancing.

[Dave2002]

Seems that the fibre capability is now available. Is there now enough collected experience of this to be able to compare offerings from different providers? I suspect that all the providers will actually use BT to provide the connectivity, but will package the services up differently. I could stay with one of my current providers - TalkTalk Business, or switch to Virgin or BT or other.

Suggestions on pricing and quality of service would be appreciated.