Broadband Internet & ISP Recommendations?

If Virgin is presented over ethernet like Hyperoptic (don't know if it is or not), you won't even need to use a Virgin modem at all. Just plug Google Wifi in.

I think it's coax into a Virgin hub, then ethernet out of that

It really does feel that Virgin are sitting on top of a big ageing infrastructure problem.

I mean, isnt the whole rg6 coax cable thing just a legacy arrangement from when Virgin bought NTL Telewest in 2006?

Yup.

Even new builds like our house is coax to modem.

Still they seem to be able to deliver a consistent 500Mb to some homes with it so it can't be all that bad.

My Xbox spiked at 750Mb down for about 15 seconds the other day before shaping kicked in and downgraded it to 300Mb.

Yup, and people like Hyperoptic are offering an infrastructure that allows them to offer a virtually uncontended product in a manner which means that they will be able to maintain the low contention ratios even if they grow rapidly.

Its the main reason why we decided to pay (50% of costs) for Hyperoptic to install in our block of 70 flats rather than let Virgin do it for free.

I lobbied for hyperoptic before we even moved into our place in Hither Green in 2013. We moved out in Jan 2015 and they installed it in March of that year. FML.

Currently getting a fairly solid 60 down 20 up in the attic for this Teams call via PowerLine.

Didn't realise that Nest stuff would be mesh so may look so to that as well as ubiquiti.

Cheers all.

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The Google/Nest stuff is exceptionally user friendly and I've been delighted with mine for a few years but it's worth noting that @soul has had a bit of a mare his his...

I'm fairly sure I know the answer to this, buts its not PoE is it? I have some ceiling mounted APs currently which are a bit crap, so would like to switch, but lack of PoE is a killer for me (no sockets on the ceiling of course).

Edit: they are massive anyway, no use for ceiling mounting!

I'm afraid not. They run off 5v delivered by USBC. Its theoretically possible to draw that from Poe with a bodge but itd look ugly on your ceiling

The search goes on. Suspect will end up with the Ubquiti ones.

^Good point. I'd definitely like PoE in the attic.

Would a workaround be:

Virgin Hub 3 (unless there's an alternative / better coax>ethernet router?) > google nests around the house (though i've just read that the longer the chain of mesh things, the slower the speed?) > then some kind of device that takes that wifi signal and converts to PoE?

Basically in the attic I want to have about 5 networked devices:

Camera, 2 video switchers, printer, computer.

I assume there’s no way to just run an Ethernet cable up to the loft?

That would solve all your problems.

Could run it up an outside wall...

You can get some really reliable premade flat ethernet cables that run under carpet in 10 to 20m lengths

Maybe, just seen some 'outdoor-proof' ethernet actually. Not a fan of ladders (meaning coming up here is a constant stress even for 3 meters, much less 15) and/or dangling wires so if I just threw a reel out of the velux window it'd flap around and annoy me / if it was somehow screwed down I'd need to risk life and limb.

Tbc...

You can get some really reliable premade flat ethernet cables that run under carpet or even in the gap between skirting/trim and hard floor in 10 to 20m lengths

You are using an Ursa mini and studio lights for your Teams calls?

You're not?

I have an Alexa.

Have you been watching Laurie Rose host these live chat things for Cooke? I love seeing James and Roger Deakins show up on their 480p webcams and Laurie putting his best foot forward with a beautiful contrast ratio from a couple of SkyPanels : )

Honestly, if you can run ethernet to a switch and WiFi AP, you’d fix all your problems.

Even a mesh setup might not give you what you want if it’s too far from the original base station.

You might be able to use WiFi 6 mesh to get it done but two points currently costs £700

Feel like this is the most appropriate place to ask this hardware question...

Moving to a family friends holiday home on the west coast of Ireland next week for a few months, want to get a monthly data sim plan, but what is my best hardware option?

Will likely have 2 work laptops, 2 phones and an ipad connected. I can't imagine download speeds will reach 100mbps (limited by provider/network).

Will a portable unit like the tp link m7350 get frustrating (single band wifi)? Should i get a non portable router with a sim slot like a tp link mr6400? If I'm going down the route of a non portable router, i already have an asus ac68u, should i just get a usb dongle and plug it into that?

Do you know what the signal is like at the house? You might need to use something with a proper antenna if it's a poor signal area.

Would definitely advise against a portable mifi device. Really not great for multiple devices.

I've used a mr6400 in a poor signal area with reasonable results. I steer clear of netgear 4g routers, they have very poor speeds in my experience.

The best solution, subject to signal quality, would be to go for one of the EE 4g broadband routers (rebadged Huawei). They cost £100 if you want a 30 day rolling contract. Free if you can stomach a 24 month contract.

We pay £50pm for 500GB of data on EE and get 150Mbps down and 150Mbps up, over double the advertised speeds. Ping speeds not bad either. This is because we literally have an EE mast on the roof of our block though so ita worth checking signal quality.

I’ve looked at the providers offering mobile broadband and Vodafone Ireland appear to have fair 4g signal and very good 3G signal where we’ll be.

I was thinking of buying an unlocked router and not locking myself in to a particular provider.

Any recommendation for any PAYG or no contract required dongle that has amazing upload speed? Need to do just a one of task for work that most requires uploading a lot of images etc. I am not going to pay for a more expensive internet plan as it can do everything I need except uploading loads of stuff at once.

Obviously work is paying for it.