Gigaclear broadband
Discussion
Anyone here using Gigaclear broadband?
I live in a rural village, and can currently only get traditional 'up to' 8mbps broadband. Gigaclear are currently installing their pure fiber service into the village, and I'm tempted. But it's quite expensive at nearly £40 per month for 50/50 mbps.
I'm worried that if I sign up, BT will enable the village for fast broadband (albeit using the traditional copper to the premises), but costing much less than Gigaclear.
Any experience?
I live in a rural village, and can currently only get traditional 'up to' 8mbps broadband. Gigaclear are currently installing their pure fiber service into the village, and I'm tempted. But it's quite expensive at nearly £40 per month for 50/50 mbps.
I'm worried that if I sign up, BT will enable the village for fast broadband (albeit using the traditional copper to the premises), but costing much less than Gigaclear.
Any experience?
deckster said:
If that means that you can get rid of the BT line altogether (don't forget that anything they quote is always 'plus line rental') then as said it sounds like an excellent deal. If you need to retain the BT line for other purposes, then perhaps it's less compelling.
hmm - good point. I hadn't thought of that.Mobile phone reception is pretty bad - I guess we could get an IP phone maybe?
Well, I signed up for it.
They're currently digging the village up, and estimated go live date is April.
I just can't see how all this work is viable - they really are digging the village up...massive project, including them putting a fibre 'pot' (that you tap into should you sign up) outside every property.
I recon they'll go bankrupt unless they're getting massive government grants or something?
The silly thing is that we have a BT exchange right here in the village, and I get reasonable 'classic' broadband speeds up to 7Mbps. I'm surprised BT haven't enabled the exchange for super fast already.
They're currently digging the village up, and estimated go live date is April.
I just can't see how all this work is viable - they really are digging the village up...massive project, including them putting a fibre 'pot' (that you tap into should you sign up) outside every property.
I recon they'll go bankrupt unless they're getting massive government grants or something?
The silly thing is that we have a BT exchange right here in the village, and I get reasonable 'classic' broadband speeds up to 7Mbps. I'm surprised BT haven't enabled the exchange for super fast already.
Brilliant - thanks for taking the time to write all that 
I now can't wait to get it. I may even pay the extra fiver and double the speed to 100 Mbps full duplex.
One thing I hadn't thought of - laying the fibre from the pot to my house...hmmm, time to get my shovel and dig a channel in the front lawn
I now can't wait to get it. I may even pay the extra fiver and double the speed to 100 Mbps full duplex.
One thing I hadn't thought of - laying the fibre from the pot to my house...hmmm, time to get my shovel and dig a channel in the front lawn
Ha - well BT have magically upgraded our line!
I don't know how they've done it...but they have doubled our speed overnight!
It's gone from 7Mbps down/30Kbps up to this...
OK, so it's not brilliant by modern standards, but I think that's pretty good for a normal ADSL (non infinity) connection! I bet Gigaclear aren't happy!!
I don't know how they've done it...but they have doubled our speed overnight!
It's gone from 7Mbps down/30Kbps up to this...
OK, so it's not brilliant by modern standards, but I think that's pretty good for a normal ADSL (non infinity) connection! I bet Gigaclear aren't happy!!
So do they actually deliver the speeds they say they will?
Also - if I select the self install option (I'm a fairly handy DIYer) I assume I'll need to route the cable all the way from the pot on the pavement to inside my property?
How are you supposed to get under the tarmac in the pavement to the pot? Do people usually run the fibre in a length of conduit?
Also - if I select the self install option (I'm a fairly handy DIYer) I assume I'll need to route the cable all the way from the pot on the pavement to inside my property?
How are you supposed to get under the tarmac in the pavement to the pot? Do people usually run the fibre in a length of conduit?
Quickmoose said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
So do they actually deliver the speeds they say they will?
Also - if I select the self install option (I'm a fairly handy DIYer) I assume I'll need to route the cable all the way from the pot on the pavement to inside my property?
How are you supposed to get under the tarmac in the pavement to the pot? Do people usually run the fibre in a length of conduit?
In many cases early adopters get more.Also - if I select the self install option (I'm a fairly handy DIYer) I assume I'll need to route the cable all the way from the pot on the pavement to inside my property?
How are you supposed to get under the tarmac in the pavement to the pot? Do people usually run the fibre in a length of conduit?
If not in times of heavy use ina village where many have iy you might dip to 10-15% but on the whole yes you get what you sign up for.
Self install is from the POT to your router, you install it how you want it. I guess 'gold' standard would be within a conduit nut it's not essential, damage to it will be by you if you're digging up the garden...and you know where it is.
Normally self installs are laid in soft grass/dirt areas straight to the house wall. If you HAVE to cross tarmac....you either have to know what you're doing or get our guys to do it.
ThePOT should be put right up against the boundary to your property so no pavement would need digging up.
Its a good question though if thats not the case...and one I'll ask tomorrow...
The install in my village was a bit questionable to be honest. They dug trenches about 2 foot deep, and then simply chucked the fibre in and covered it back over again! If one of those cables breaks or gets damaged, they'll have to carefully dig the entire trench (avoiding the existing cables) to lay a new cable - quite a big job! In an ideal world, I would have thought they'd lay service pipes and feed the cable through. But this will of course increase costs.
Quickmoose said:
and yes you can "port forward from the Gui", which I'm assuming means you can open your own firewall...
Brilliant - thanks.Hopefully my kit will arrive in the next few days - I'll post updates as I know some people find it interesting.
Off to Wickes this afternoon for some conduit.
You know that sinking feeling you get when you think you've make a huge mistake...yeah I'm feeling that today.
So I've got everything installed, and when I first hooked everything up I was getting a full 100Mbit up and download. Brilliant.
However...as soon as more than one person starts using it, the speed drops dramatically - two devices playing a youtube video just kills it.
We had ADSL2 with around 15mbits download before - and it was never this bad.
I'm now wondering what the legal implications are of ditching Gigaclear right now, or being stuck in a 15 month contract?
I'm happy to pay for the fibre that I've already laid, but the router can be returned.
So I've got everything installed, and when I first hooked everything up I was getting a full 100Mbit up and download. Brilliant.
However...as soon as more than one person starts using it, the speed drops dramatically - two devices playing a youtube video just kills it.
We had ADSL2 with around 15mbits download before - and it was never this bad.
I'm now wondering what the legal implications are of ditching Gigaclear right now, or being stuck in a 15 month contract?
I'm happy to pay for the fibre that I've already laid, but the router can be returned.
astroarcadia said:
There is only one button on the router (WPS) and I don't have a spare. Will any fibre router work with Gigaclear?
You have to use the router Gigaclear supply to initiate the connection, but you can disable the Wifi. Definitely get a Unifi if you have Gigaclear - don't let anyone advise otherwise. They are the best out there (for the money).
I'd love to know Gigaclear's reason for sticking with that dreadful router - they really aren't doing themselves any favors as the Wifi option is simply not fit for purpose.
Anyway...
So the fibre comes in to the house. You connect the fibre to Gigaclears router. You connect the Ubiquiti Unifi Access Point via the supplied power injector to the router.
Fit the Unifi to a suitably central location in your house (mine is on the landing).
You then configure the Unifi via the web interface and management application - it's a bit tricky if you're not IT literate, but there are plenty of guides available. You need to disable DHCP on the Unifi and let the Gigaclear router handle this.
Once this is done, disable the Gigaclear wifi and enjoy full speed internet access.
I recommend running a Cat6 cable up to the Unifi if possible, but Cat5e will work fine for most people.
I have an LR (long range) model on the landing...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-Networks-UAP-AC-...
And a cheaper Lite version in the conservatory to cover the garden...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-Networks-UAP-AC-...
Both work perfectly well - I'm still a bit undecided if the LR is worth the +£20 ...I really should stick both side by side and do some tests!
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Wednesday 5th April 12:00
dmsims said:
astroarcadia said:
Is it simple to install and configure as I'm pretty useless with this sort of thing.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Definitely get a Unifi if you have Gigaclear - don't let anyone advise otherwise. They are the best out there (for the money).
Did you read what he wrote?There are plenty of simpler alternatives
Unifi AP's aren't that expensive, and they support device roaming extremely well should you need better coverage by adding more AP's.
I'm not sure anything else really comes close to them for the money?
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