Internet

[jonjo]

After struggling with my iptv (mag box) for a few visits (constant buffering, loss of signal,etc) I think I am just going to upgrade to cyta internet and away from my current supplier (4mb via a small dish on the roof). Looking at the cyta website, I assume that means I need to take their telephone line too? I'm happy to do that but should I also take their TV package or can I still use my existing mag box?
Jon

[trevnhil]

To be honest 4mb is only just enough to run a mag box. If the signal drops below that (and it will) then I am not surprised you have problems with IPTV. You quite possibly have another computer on the system as well..

[jonjo]

Thanks. Is it easy to reset the mag box for a new internet provider?

[jonjo]

Thanks. Is it easy to reset the mag box for a new internet provider?

[holitec]

Your mag box should work with any provider, there should be no need to reset it. I would recommend at least 8Mb though, 16 for HD channels if your MAG provider supports them.

Digby

[JimX]

Buffering? it will depend on where you live regarding Cyta services, if you live in a village then more people of course are online. Lack of bandwidth is the real problem.

I get double broadband (20MB) on Monday I will see how that performs.

[JimX]

Expats are in the minority in our village, but we do not live in a villa out in the sticks, I do know locals use Streaming devices as my family does, they are all but one Cypriots...

[holitec]

I am not certain contention is quite the issue these days as it was a few years ago. Almost all of the CYTA cabinets are on fibre these days, it is more likely a poor line to the premises. These days cabinets are connected with 10Gbps on the fibre - I know that because my fibre can have either 100MB/1GB or 10GB in both coral bay and Polis. I have seen some overhead links still on the old 400Ohm cable, which could be the problem if your house is via overhead cable. Underground cables tend to be the newer twisted pair cables.

I would first upgrade the speed with your existing provider, then if no better switch providers. There are other wireless operators who can use the dish and switch you over for a small fee or free. Try that first, then if no improvement go for CYTA/Primetel/MTN via landline.

Digby

[PaphosAL]

...I get double broadband (20MB) on Monday I will see how that performs.

That's a good deal, Jim! I bet you're happy- double speed AND €7 a month cheaper! I hope Jacs is taking note...

It's a pity that most of the time, the ISPs never automatically upgrade existing loyal customers with these sort of deals. It's left for you to find out about them, then phone them up (usually on cancellations / retentions CS) and politely ASK for such an upgrade!

A notable exception to this 'norm' is Virgin Media fibre optic here in some lucky parts of the UK. I was on 30mb earlier this year. Did a new 12 month contract with them, which supposedly upped me to 70mb down / 3mb up, for the same price. Only problem was, still only 30mb...

Countless calls to them, where they kept explaining that they had ongoing network issues in my locality and that it would take 2-3 months to resolve. Fair play to them, they did add a few sizeable credits to my account for 'degradation of service'.

Then, totally out of the blue, they upgraded me to Vivid200- 200+mb down / 12+mb up, for the same price, £20 pcm!!! I check these speeds every day @ 11am and they are constant and reliable. One very happy bunny here...

Look forward to seeing your new Cyta speed test, Jim, when it's all settled down next week. I'm particularly interested in seeing if doubling your download speed from 10 to 20 also increases your upload speed as well?

All the Best- AL

[holitec]

I wish we could do 200Mbps down, 12MBps up is no problem though! unfortunately the overseas fibre costs put this into the long grass!

Al, your speed tests are to the UK, or at least easy to reach parts, so no comparison to us poor people in CY with the expensive and limited undersea links.

And yes, we do upgrade our customers automatically when new levels are available. Ok for £20 per month you will only get 10MB/2MB here, but it is a very competitive price compared with most in Cyprus.
I Get this at home http://cyta.speedtestcustom.com/result/ ... 4587825966 have not tried a 200MB profile, but I do pay a bit more to cyta than £20 per month, like 50x that amount.

Digby

[PaphosAL]

Understand that Digby, and I'm by no means having a 'dig' at the Cyprus setup, honestly!

My reflection was more ISP orientated to Jim's specific upgrade case with Cyta. No more, no less. You're doing a grand job out there, and please keep it up!

As my dear Mum used to say, what you've never had, you'll never miss. For sure, Virgin are setting the overall pace for broadband in the UK, now cranking it up to 300mb. But TalkTalk are running trials in the York area that gives an eye-watering 1gb down / up speed.

Many other countries in mainland Europe easily top the UK on broadband speeds as well...

Cheers- AL

[holitec]

Al, the UK is severely limited by the short-sighted government decision to stick with BT Openreach and their outdated copper system. Virgin does not have this restriction. If they can get fibre to the home, you can do 1GB no problem. Personally, I would not touch talktalk with a barge pole, they must be the worst ISP in the UK. I ordered a "superfast fibre" connection from them last year, and the prats sent BT openreach with a copper cable. Took them 4 months to give me my money back! I did explain the connection was out of the range of vdsl2+ before I ordered it.

Digby

[PaphosAL]

@Digby: The talktalk 1gb trial in York is interesting. My m8 John there was invited in as tester and consequently dumped his Virgin service. He is now a Mod on their forum, trying to help with issues. Some interesting titbits for you...

On the plus side:
It's fibre right into the house
Phone included via voip inc 999, no line rental

On the minus side:
Frequent outages, which drives him (understandably) mad

I wish they had picked Luton for this test area, rather than York, LOL!

Cheers- AL

[JimX]

You may be correct Digby....but I doubt very much if upgrading from 10 to 20 will solve a buffering problem! Iptv will run perfectly well on much less than that...of course if you are running multiple machines in the property that will have an impact...I do accept the access to "off Island" capability in Cyprus does need significant investment but the Intranet provision is not bad...and yes it's fibre to the cabinet and then that pesky copper to all those properties....no I think contention is an issue.......


I do not have buffering with the speed I get now Hudswell, I hope to get a faster service, as I keep saying I will post a speed test as I did above, I'm not sure what buffering is on my Mag's as I have never experienced them, just the very occasional drop out, and usually in the F1 section, none other, this is not buffering I have only found this on my PC's never my Mags.

I do run at times several computers AND two Mags, of course, this slows down the services, but again never buffering while we watch TV streaming. As I write this the wife bless her is watching BBC news on one of our Mags, with no problems, it is though very early.

[galexinda]

Never had a real problem with buffering (just occaasonally on Sky channels) and I use CYTA. Originally had 6 Mbs because at the time CYTA thought 4 Mbs would be adequate to have the TV and I did want to have the computer running at same time. It was upgraded free to 10 Mbs a couple of years ago. I did jiggle with the buffering settings on the Magbox when the topic of buffering came up last year but returned it to its original setting of 0 as there was no visible difference.

[holitec]

The problem the OP has could be due to the WISP provider. Wireless is ok in areas where you can get a clear signal, in fact far superior to copper over the same distance, however in areas of high interference it can be very sub-standard.

Because of this issue, where a clear signal is not possible We are moving customers to our fixed line service, via the CYTA local loop without a telephone number. You can have a UK/Irish telephone number, plus UKTV as well with a MAG box.

[PaphosAL]

Would the areas of high WISP signal degradation happen to be nearby local airports and military bases, Digby?

[holitec]

Short answer no.

Some military radar does cause some issues, but it is only short-term during exercises.

Solar flares cause bigger problems.

[PaphosAL]

Solar flares are an 11 year cycle I believe? I asked the question because many years ago, we did a Hitachi road show exhibition build in a hotel right next door to Manchester airport. This was in the days when all the TVs were analogue signal.

Specialists had to be called in to investigate the signal, then find special filters to gain a clear picture, all on account of the local radar at the airport. Which made me wonder if this was a contentious issue near PFO, regarding WISP?

Cheers- AL

[PaphosAL]

From the airport, agreed. But are you sure about nearby military bases? I can visualize two either side of Pegeia. What if the OP happens to live directly between them?