Kitz Forum

Broadband Related => Broadband Technology => Topic started by: Alb on January 11, 2017, 02:47:57 PM

Title: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on January 11, 2017, 02:47:57 PM
Out of the blue, I've just had a leaflet through the door from Rural Broadband (UK) Ltd http://ruralbb.com/the-broadband/ stating that they are setting up an ultrafast service in my village.
I'm currently on FTTC but at the end of a fair length of cable so only achieve 20mbps at present.
On paper, it seems fairly impressive and more than competitive (capability is 500mbps up/down although they are only only quoting a price for 10, 40 and 100mbps up/down).
I have no experience of this technology so although I'm not sure if I should be rushing to ditch Openreach, I have to say I am very tempted!
Can you all help me to pick out the pros and cons?

Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Dray on January 11, 2017, 03:21:50 PM
It says *Prices for the 500Mb service on request.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Ronski on January 11, 2017, 03:48:18 PM
I have a friend who uses Vfast here in Kent and works perfectly for what he users it for,  just emailing and browsing, I'm not sure what is like for gaming.

It does depend on if you have line of site of the transmitter though,  I've known people just up the road from my mate and they couldn't get it due to some trees.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: roseway on January 11, 2017, 04:26:33 PM
That's certainly true. I'm supposedly in an area covered by VFast, but when I applied a few years ago (when FTTC seemed years away) I was rejected for "topograhical reasons".
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on January 11, 2017, 06:27:07 PM
The transmitter is being set up on the local church and I have direct line of sight from my house  :)
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: highpriest on January 13, 2017, 01:22:42 AM
I wonder what the latency is going to be like. Also, will you get an internet IP address or will it be private/CGNAT?
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: d2d4j on January 13, 2017, 09:41:54 AM
Hi

We have clients on LOS, and their latency is around 10ms, where FTTC BT is slightly above 20ms, and they have an external IP address

This business use though, and I know the pipe used is talktalk

Many thanks

John
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: highpriest on January 13, 2017, 10:58:32 AM
We have clients on LOS, and their latency is around 10ms, where FTTC BT is slightly above 20ms, and they have an external IP address

This business use though, and I know the pipe used is talktalk

That's pretty impressive. Will environmental factors have an impact thought? What if you don't have clear line of sight? Heavy rain? Any other wireless interference?
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: d2d4j on January 13, 2017, 11:20:07 AM
Hi highpriest

Many thanks

No line of sight means you will not be able to use the connection

We have not seen any issues from heavy snow, rain, thunder storms etc on LOS

I can also confirm LOS maintains a full uptime, where as BT FTTC does not, which periodically reconnects on ppp

So overall I'm impressed with LOS, from the connections we monitor/control for clients, and these are multi wan setups, using both LOS and FTTC, with wan failover, vpn failover

I stress though, this is business and not residential

Many thanks

John
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on January 13, 2017, 08:43:48 PM
The company are planning to run a demonstration in the village hall next Saturday.
Interestingly, the hall doesn't have LOS to the church so it will be interesting to see what can be achieved.
On their website, they state their feed comes from Virgin Media Business but I'm not entirely sure how this would pop up in a rural location in the first place.
Any thoughts on how stability and reliability would stack up against FTTC?
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: d2d4j on January 13, 2017, 09:25:57 PM
Hi

It would be hard to demo LOS if no line of sight - what would be the point

LOS unit are usually fixed to the highest point, so from the roof of the building, it may be LOS to church, and the units are PoE

My experience from clients are they are  very good, but do not have a client using LOS with VM, only TT

Many thanks

John
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Weaver on January 14, 2017, 11:39:23 AM
I would say be extremely skeptical, as you will be competing with all your neighbours for some unknown share of some amount of backhaul. If it were me, I'd run a mile, and in fact have. There's also the question of interference and responsibility for maintenance. The 20 Mbps you currently have is all yours. If you are not going to be locked into a long contract then you could always try it out short term as an experiment while keeping your FTTC at the same time so you are not screwed if it turns out to be rubbish.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: ejs on January 14, 2017, 12:02:44 PM
you will be competing with all your neighbours for some unknown share of some amount of backhaul.

Isn't all broadband sold like that though?
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Ronski on January 14, 2017, 04:16:00 PM
Yes, but wireless could be considerably less than that of what he has, so could be prone to congestion - so its worth checking.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on January 14, 2017, 09:38:52 PM
One of their selling points is that they do not offer an "Up to" x Mbps service. If you buy 100Mbps, that is exactly what you get (or so they claim).
Interesting idea to try it in parallel with the existing service for a couple of months. If you pay for the hardware upfront there is no long term contract and I imagine the hardware has a second hand value if it were not retained.
I wish there were lots of people already doing this so I could get more feedback but it seems to be a pretty rare setup.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: kitzuser87430 on January 14, 2017, 10:23:05 PM
There are a few suppliers using wireless here in Pembrokeshire. TFL http://www.walesbroadband.com/ (http://www.walesbroadband.com/) and Blue Wave http://www.bluewaveinternet.co.uk/ (http://www.bluewaveinternet.co.uk/)

It is all about the backhaul.

One friend tells me his WISP is unusable at peak times, but okay off peak.

It is all about the backhaul

Ian
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on January 15, 2017, 09:12:24 PM
Thanks for the links Ian :)
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on May 21, 2017, 08:27:20 PM
Just thought I'd do an update on this.
I had this system installed on Monday and it works a treat.
I've also signed up to Vonage so once my BT number has been ported I will be saying bye-bye to BT and copper wires  :P

(http://beta.speedtest.net/result/6315287384.png) (http://beta.speedtest.net/result/6315287384)
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Chrysalis on May 22, 2017, 11:21:43 AM
nice
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: burakkucat on May 22, 2017, 06:16:35 PM
I like the symmetry of the DS - US of the product.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on May 23, 2017, 11:35:24 AM
Had a small glitch yesterday when I found the antenna pointing 90 Degrees off it's intended direction.
Although this is not something you would want to happen, it underlined the robustness of the system because I was still getting a 20 Mbps download speed!
Support service was good with only 2 hours from phone call to the installer returning to refit it.
Hopefully all OK now  :fingers: although I did go up on the roof with him so I know everything I need to do to align it myself.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: WWWombat on May 23, 2017, 12:12:30 PM
although I did go up on the roof with him so I know everything I need to do to align it myself.

Very smart move  ;D
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: tickmike on May 23, 2017, 02:41:02 PM
So how did you get the above of 95/94 when the aerial was face the wrong way.?
Be even better signal with an outside aerial .!
How much are you paying ?.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: highpriest on May 23, 2017, 07:38:00 PM
(http://beta.speedtest.net/result/6315287384.png) (http://beta.speedtest.net/result/6315287384)

That is sweet. What is the maximum possible speed with this connection, assuming perfect conditions?
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on May 23, 2017, 10:54:09 PM
So how did you get the above of 95/94 when the aerial was face the wrong way.?
Be even better signal with an outside aerial .!
How much are you paying ?.
Everything was lined up correctly when I did the speed test.
I'll see if I can post a picture of the aerial setup.
The company are doing an introductory offer at the moment. The first 6 months for £25/Month with no contract followed by £42/Month also with no contract.
I can factor into the pricing arrangements the fact that I no longer pay line rental to BT.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: Alb on May 23, 2017, 10:56:47 PM
That is sweet. What is the maximum possible speed with this connection, assuming perfect conditions?
The hardware is good up to 500Mbps Up and Down but that's a "price on application" option at the moment.
Title: Re: Wireless Broadband Delivery
Post by: highpriest on May 24, 2017, 11:49:52 AM
I can factor into the pricing arrangements the fact that I no longer pay line rental to BT.

It's actually cheaper than Infinity 2 with BT. Plus you get vastly superior speeds!