What do the early users think of FTTC?

Now that we have quite a few early adopters on FTTC, I was wondering how users were finding it compared to the "old" adsl products? Yes the headline speeds via speedtest sites are a huge improvement, but what about other aspects?

Be interesting to get some feedback, and no doubt be useful to those out there considering whether or not it is worth going for.

Questions:

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?
2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?
3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?
4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?
5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?
6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?
7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?
8) is there anything else that you see a signifcant improvement with? If so what?

cheers

Sorry I cannot add info to your post but I'd also like to know if gaming pings are just as good when the family are also using the net.

I don't play the likes of Modern Warfare Black Ops on my PS3 if I know my sister is on BBC iPlayer because I know my ping will suffer. Is this the case on FTTC?

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?

Be Unlimted - Synced at 16/17mbps

2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?

IDNet FTTC Home Fibre Plus - IP Profile generally bounces between 38718kbps and 31000kbps.

3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?

Not really but then I wouldn't expect it.

4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?

Slightly lower latency but that's about it.

5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?

I've not really noticed any difference but then again my previous connection wasn't exactly slow.

6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?

The odd update? Nope.. After a reformat when there 501 updates to download then the quicker connection comes in handy.

7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?

I've not really used it for these purposes. Some VNC but obviously that's dependant on the other connection too.

8) is there anything else that you see a signifcant improvement with? If so what?

Uploading to FTP is significantly quicker so it handy if you work with websites/forums etc where you need to upload multiple files. Downloading large files is obviously much quicker too.

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?
Sky Unlimited getting about 3.5 down and 1/2 up.

2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?
BT Infinity unlimited

3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?
Faster response, most noticable on YouTube etc.

4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?
No

5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?
No.

6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?
Download speed

7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?
Yes, uploading files is significantly quicker i.e. a file that took 80 minutes to upload previously only takes 4 minutes now.

8) is there anything else that you see a significant improvement with? If so what?
Not an improvement (quite the opposite) but it seems to drop the connection a lot more than Sky did, but it's bearable i.e. only every 4 days or so.

Edited by deleted (Sun 16-Jan-11 20:47:47)

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?
Sky Unlimited LLU 1.5Mbps Down 768Kbps Up 4.7Km from Exchange but 8.7KM line length

2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?
Aquiss FTTC 45 - 30Mbps Down 10Mbps Up approx 1.25Km from Cab

3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?
Depends on the page but those with embedded video or numerous picture load significantly faster

4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?
Not a gamer, so no idea. Although when doing speed test the pings vary from 17ms to 60ms

5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?
Yes, previously tended to download as even SD streams would stutter and re buffer. Can now watch HD streams perfectly whilst doing other stuff.

6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?
Yes, they come down in a fraction of the time

7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?
Not particularly but previously could not do anything else whilst VPN'ed in as it would sometimes timeout. Can watch iPlayer on one machine and have the work laptop VPN'ed in to work no problem.

8) is there anything else that you see a signifcant improvement with? If so what?
Newsgroup downloads are lightening fast now. Previously had to rate limit downloads to 100Kbps during the day otherwise even general surfing was painful. Can now run downloads flat out at 3Mbps and still do other stuff.

Because of the very long line length and therefore the low speed going to FTTC was a no brainer for me. However as the BT estimate is only 11.6Mbps down for my line Inifinity wasn't an option but now I'm glad it wasn't as the speed and service from Aquiss has been great.

However as the BT estimate is only 11.6Mbps down for my line Inifinity wasn't an option but now I'm glad it wasn't as the speed and service from Aquiss has been great.

I believe the threshold has been lowered to 5mbps now

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?
ADSL2+ at around 4mbit
2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?
25mbit down, 7mbit up
3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?
Nothing terribly noticeable
4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?
Not in game play. Pings are slightly lower but again not a big difference
5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?
It's significantly faster to load and smoother playing (no buffering)
6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?
Updates are a lot faster to download obviously
7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?
n/a
8) is there anything else that you see a signifcant improvement with? If so what?
Newsgroups become comically fast to download from

Edited by orly (Thu 20-Jan-11 23:30:46)

1) what product (speed of actual connection etc) were you previously on?
02 Broadband 12Meg Down/1 Meg Up.
2) what product (speed of actual connection etc) are you now on with FTTC?
Aquiss 34 Meg Down/8 Meg Up.
3) do you see any significant difference with "normal" web browsing? If so what?
No noticeable difference.
4) do you see any significant difference with online gaming? If so what?
Yes definitely, there is less lag and I am seeing myself hosting a lot more games.
5) do you see any significant difference when using iPlayer etc in streaming mode? If so what?
No noticeable difference.
6) do you see any significant difference when downloading Windows etc updates? If so what?
N/A As I have a Macbook Pro.
7) do you see any significant difference when using the connection for work (eg VPN)? If so what?
No noticeable difference.
8) is there anything else that you see a signifcant improvement with? If so what?
The obvious key difference is insanely fast downloads through newsgroups!

Edited by maniac886 (Fri 21-Jan-11 17:53:04)

In reply to a post by Scoot:

Sorry I cannot add info to your post but I'd also like to know if gaming pings are just as good when the family are also using the net.

I don't play the likes of Modern Warfare Black Ops on my PS3 if I know my sister is on BBC iPlayer because I know my ping will suffer. Is this the case on FTTC?

I play on Black Ops on the PS3 whilst other individuals are using the connection, either streaming or playing on games through Xbox live and I have never had any lag, even in the evenings when the connection speed is usually reduced.

In reply to a post by maniac886:

... even in the evenings when the connection speed is usually reduced.

?
Connection speed reduced?