The Technologies
Dial-Up
Most people here in Ireland are still using their regular modems and phones lines to connect to the Internet. (The modem is the computer component that translates digital computer-speak into a format that can travel over regular analogue phone lines.) The maximum speed for dial-up service is 56kbps, and here in Ireland you must pay for every single call.
Luckily, there are several free ISP’s (Internet Service Providers- the companies that answer your computer’s call and connect you to the Internet!). In the US, almost everyone is stuck paying through the nose for lousy AOL service.
Learn more about modems from the (truly excellent) How Stuff Works
site!
Cable
After working for a couple years at a broadband provisioning company called Interactive Enterprise, Cable modem technology is something that I know a lot about. To completely oversimplify it: the wire that brings you cable TV is very similar to the wires
that connect one kind of computer networks. "Hey!" some guy once said, when bored of watching reruns of Friends at the cable company’s head office. "I wonder if I can hook up to my computer at home over this stuff, and get a
really, really fast connection?" Several technological revolutions later, it turned out to be possible. And, at maximum speeds of up to 10Mbps (180 times as fast as dial-up) it turned out to be very, very cool.
Learn more about Cable Modems from How Stuff Works!
DSL
DSL is a technology that squeezes a ton of information down the same copper phone wires that you’re using right now. It
requires a special modem at your house and some very special equipment at the telephone company’s end. When DSL
works, it works just as well (and fast) as Cable Modem technology.
Learn more about DSL from How Stuff Works!
ISDN
One of the limits to dial-up speeds is that the lines are designed for voice. Ten years ago, a common solution was to lay new digital lines, designed for data. These special ISDN lines can carry both telephone and computer traffic, and the typical ISDN line can do it at 128kbps. Other technologies (like Cable Modems and DSL) can today provide superior service, but ISDN is still around.
One warning: DON’T plug a telephone designed for ISDN into an analogue (normal) phone socket! And don’t plug a normal phone into an ISDN phone socket!
There are other technologies as well- Satellite, Wireless
Broadband, T-1 and other leased lines.
To see a comprehensive chart of how different technologies compare,
visit Whatis.com
But as these technologies are not in widespread use here in Ireland, I’m not
going to confuse you with their details!
Available Residential Broadband Packages
Note added July 2005. The list remains below for historical purposes only. Check out the full index of Irish broadband providers!
(All research done November 2003. All amounts include VAT and are rounded to nearest figure.)
 Eircom Hi-Speed (which is ISDN)
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Speed: | 128kbps download. (faster than dial-up, but
not great)
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Availability: | Eircom hi-speed is currently available in many (not all) areas of Ireland.
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Installation: | €127.00
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Monthly cost: | €40.00
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Equipment: | €40.00 and up (Shop around!)
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Each time you connect: | You must pay- and see "The
Catch with Eircom" below!
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Some Notes: | I have helped several friends set up ISDN
lines, and the technology has proved to be reliable in the long term. Can’t say that I recommend Eircom ISDN,
though: I haven’t forgiven them for all the hassle and run-around that I was
given when overcoming some initial hiccups.
All the hidden fees won’t soon be forgotten, either.
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The Catch with Eircom Hi-Speed: | (1) ISDN calls
at ISDN speeds are charged at twice the normal call price.
(2) Though they
claim that free dial-up access is available, I have experience of being whacked with
a bill for several hundred extra bucks per year for the use of an ISDN-valid
username and password.
(3) Trying to
get assistance from Eircom is a nightmare.
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Learn More: | Eircom HiSpeed
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Eircom Broadband Home Starter(Eircom’s cheaper DSL offering)
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Availability: | Eircom broadband home starter is currently available
in some areas of Ireland.
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Installation: | €99.00
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Monthly cost: | €40.00
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Equipment: | Free Rental
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Each time you connect: | Free for the first 4GB, must pay after that.
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Some Notes: | Upgraded one location from ISDN to DSL: a world of improvement!
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The Catch with Eircom Broadband: | You still have to
pay telephone line rental fees of €24.00 per month.
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Learn More: | Eircom Broadband
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 IOL Broadband (aka Esat-BT)
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Availability: | IOL Broadband is currently available in
some areas of Ireland.
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Speed: | 512kbps download. (a decent speed)
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Installation: | €90 to install it yourself
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Monthly cost: | €39.00
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Equipment: | Free Rental
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Each time you connect: | Free for the first 8GB, must
pay after that.
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Some Notes: | See "The Catch", below!
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The Catch with IOL Broadband: | (1) You’ll still need
to pay for your phone service from Eircom.
(2) Not widely available until May 2004 (???).
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Learn More: | IOL Broadband
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 Netsource Office @ Home
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Availability: | Available in Lucan and some areas of Ireland.
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Speed: | 512kbps download. (a decent speed)
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Installation: | €82.00
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Monthly cost: | €30.00.
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Equipment: | €119.00 and up
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Each time you connect: | Free, no limit.
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Some Notes: | This is the one provider that I have heard enthusiastic feedback about. My friend thinks that they're the best!
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The Catch with Netsource: | You’ll still need to pay for your phone service from Eircom.
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Learn More: | Netsource
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 NTL ("Always On 600" There is also a cheaper version that offers ISDN speeds)
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Availability: | NTL Cable modems are available in
Dublin West and some surrounding areas.
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Speed: | 600kbps download. (a little faster than any
competition)
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Installation: | €65.00
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Monthly cost: | €40.00
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Equipment: | Free Rental
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Each time you connect: | Free for up to 1GB per day,
must pay after that.
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Some Notes: | Reports have been mixed. One friend of mine is delighted, another recommends
waiting until the kinks have been worked out of the system.
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The Catch with NTL: | (1) You must also pay for NTL
cable TV service. That’s a minimum of
€22.00 per month on top of what they quote you.
(2) You’ll still have to get phone service from Eircom.
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Learn More: | NTL
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 Chorus (aka Cablenet Broadband)
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Availability: | Kilkenny,Clonmel and Thurles.
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Speed: | 512kbps download. (a decent speed)
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Installation: | €50.00
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Monthly cost: | €35.00
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Equipment: | €150.00 or so- apparently have to buy it
yourself!
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Each time you connect: | Free.
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Some Notes: | This offer seems very expensive in
comparison. Still, if it’s the only broadband in town....
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The Catch with Chorus: | You’ll still have to get phone service from Eircom.
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Learn More: | Chorus
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 UTV Clicksilver
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Availability: | Mainly in Northern Ireland, but also available in some sections of the Republic (?)
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Speed: | 512kbps download. (a decent speed)
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Installation: | €99.00
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Monthly cost: | €30.00
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Equipment: | Free DSL modem
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Each time you connect: | Free for the first 8GB, must pay after that.
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Some Notes: | This service has been recommended to me.
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The Catch with UTV: | (1) You’ll probably still have to get phone service from Eircom (though UTV claims they can give you phone service as well).
(2) Must sign a one-year contract.
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Learn More: | UTV Clicksilver
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