Cable and Fibre

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leo0787sx

407 posts

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#175749 10-Jul-2015 15:00

Hey guys,

I am currently on Cable and believe I can now get Fibre. I did a search and have looked online but just wanted to check I have this right that from what I understand Cable is better?

I believe this to be because of what they call 'the last mile' so the wiring from the 'road' to your house. With Fibre it is still copper telephone and this is where Fibre looses speed. However with Cable is is Coaxial and therefore doesn't loose the speed.

The only benefit I beleive of getting Fibre is it allows speeds of over 100MBps but Cable only allows 100MBps? However I doubt I need more than 100MBps.

Thank you :)

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#1340668 10-Jul-2015 15:00

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#1340679 10-Jul-2015 15:05

Realistically, fibre is your better choice here.

You are mistaken with what your reading online however, which is FTTC (VDSL) Not FTTH which is what ufb is here.

FTTC is often called fibre in the UK for some absurd reason.

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johnr

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#1340681 10-Jul-2015 15:07

UFB is fibre into the house to the ONT so your understanding is incorrect

DarkShadow

1647 posts

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#1340682 10-Jul-2015 15:09

Agree with above, looks like you're reading some UK material.

Can you get Vodafone UFB now in cable areas?

Lias

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#1340717 10-Jul-2015 15:47

This wikipedia entry is worth reading to explain the different FTTx flavours.

FTTx = Fibre To The x
FTTN = Fibre To The Node; Fibre from the central exchange to the cabinet, then copper from the cabinet to the home. This is not normally referred to as fibre in NZ, despite it technically being an FTTx technology.
FTTH = Fibre To The Home; This is what you get when you order UFB from your ISP, more specifically GPON
UFB = Ultra-Fast Broadband; The name for the government program to roll-out FTTH to 80% of NZ households
GPON = Gigabit Passive Optical Network; The type of fibre network used for the rollout

Clear as mud? :-P

Except in very unusual circumstances, in NZ your best option for an urban Internet connection is UFB/Fibre, Cable, VDSL, ADSL in that order.

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leo0787sx

407 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1340719 10-Jul-2015 15:48

DarkShadow: Agree with above, looks like you're reading some UK material.

Can you get Vodafone UFB now in cable areas?

Well I've been contacted by Spark and MyRepublic about switching to Fibre but not by Vodafone, which is odd as I'm with them currently.

Jase2985

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#1340721 10-Jul-2015 15:52

i believe Vodafone dont offer fibre in an area where they offer cable

so if you want fibre you need to change ISP's

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leo0787sx

407 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1340722 10-Jul-2015 15:53

Jase2985: i believe Vodafone dont offer fiber in an area where they offer cable

Think I found the answer:
https://community.vodafone.co.nz/t5/Broadband-landline-packs/Vodafone-not-allowing-Fibre-in-Fibre-Cable-Areas/td-p/141421

matisyahu

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#1340933 11-Jul-2015 00:31

leo0787sx: Hey guys,

I am currently on Cable and believe I can now get Fibre. I did a search and have looked online but just wanted to check I have this right that from what I understand Cable is better?

I believe this to be because of what they call 'the last mile' so the wiring from the 'road' to your house. With Fibre it is still copper telephone and this is where Fibre looses speed. However with Cable is is Coaxial and therefore doesn't loose the speed.

The only benefit I beleive of getting Fibre is it allows speeds of over 100MBps but Cable only allows 100MBps? However I doubt I need more than 100MBps.

Thank you :)

Neither one is superior or inferior and in regards to fibre depending on who you go through there are a large number of providers who offer voice services over fibre which means you don't need to have a copper line any more. As for the reason why one will go for one over another - it comes down to how easily it is to get it installed (I'm in the middle of dealing with an obstructionist landlord in the front property holding up the process) given that a good number of homes already have Vodafone cable installed.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

Lias

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#1341087 11-Jul-2015 12:25

kawaii:

Neither one is superior or inferior and in regards to fibre depending on who you go through there are a large number of providers who offer voice services over fibre which means you don't need to have a copper line any more.

Fibre is superior.

Scotty1986

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#1341670 12-Jul-2015 16:55

Jut look at the congestion issues with Cable, you don't get that on fibre (or much of it)

Sideface

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#1341694 12-Jul-2015 17:36

Two years ago I moved from a "fibre" area to a "cable-but-no-fibre-until-2109" area.

Fibre is much better. No contest.

VF promise to fix their current severe cable congestion problem by September, but I'll believe it when I see it

Here are the latest TrueNet Wellington cable stats for the past week:

(click to view)

Sideface

leo0787sx

407 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1342015 13-Jul-2015 10:58

Guess I'll have to move from Vodafone :( Not a biggie as my Sky is with Sky TV anyway, will only loose the $10 on mobile discount. Snap seems to have to best rated latency in NZ so probably go with them?

Which would be a good option? I stream HD and game on PS4/PC , usually have around 4 devices connected at one time and my Router is the Nighthawk AC1900.

100/20
200/20
200/200

Sideface

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#1342049 13-Jul-2015 11:23

leo0787sx: ... Which would be a good option? I stream HD and game on PS4/PC , usually have around 4 devices connected at one time and my Router is the Nighthawk AC1900.

100/20
200/20
200/200

Assuming that you can actually get these speeds, then 100/20 would do nicely.

Sideface

leo0787sx

407 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1342051 13-Jul-2015 11:26

Sideface:
leo0787sx: ... Which would be a good option? I stream HD and game on PS4/PC , usually have around 4 devices connected at one time and my Router is the Nighthawk AC1900.

100/20
200/20
200/200

Assuming that you can actually get these speeds, then 100/20 would do nicely.

I was on Cable 100/10 and hit 95/8 on speedtest. With cable 50/2 I get around 45/2.

So hopefully with Fibre I'll hit similar speeds of 95/8.

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