How is Cablecom's fibreoptic internet service now?

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
I've read all the threads on how terrible Cablecom is compared to Swisscom, but I'm wondering if there's any update on how the fibreoptic internet service is, that Cablecom is offering.

With a free wireless router, and 100,000Kbits/sec from Cablecom for CHF95/month, I am v. tempted to go with them, but obviously NOT if their service is still as terrible as many of the recent threads would lead me to believe.

Does anyone have recent experience with the fibreoptic Cablecom service? would you recommend it? Swisscom is more expensive, but maybe more reliable? However, can you get high enough speeds with Swisscom, as 20,000Kbits is the fastest they offer.

(and yes, i've checked that the fibreoptic service is available to my address in Basel)

Many thanks for your thoughts,

Natacha

2
I've read many reports that Swisscom was terrible

I read some that Green was awful

I also read reports that Skodas were horrible cars, and I remember always getting car sick in them

My Point: be aware of what you are reading and when it was applicable (my Skoda experience was 40 years ago.)

Some of the Cablecom experiences you read about are also years ago, and they have changed lots and lots. For example, FiberPower has only been around for 6months or so, so it is really new.

Personally, I have Cablecom 20Mbps Internet Service and it is rock solid reliable and performs really well.

As for reliability, we suffered a 2 day outage when my neighbour unplugged the cable in the cellar.... otherwise it's been really really good

But then: normally no one takes the effort to post how good a service is, only people who have problems end to post their issues in forums

I think you'll find available services quite similar between Swisscom and Cablecom, except that Cablecom can deliver 100Mbps on their cable TV network, and Swisscom can do max 20Mbps on their copper wire network

The Cablecom 100Mbps FiberPower service is world class, extremely fast, and at a really good price. I'd say it's worth trying...

3
Im not a cablecom hater, but im a bit perturbed since upgrading to fibrepower 50.

I received the new modem and was told it would take half an hour before it worked. after 8 hours it still didnt work so i called them and they said it could be up to 24 hours. next morning it worked fine.

i did a speedtest on speedtest.net and the cablecom service. i will still only getting 20mbit download and 1.5 upload (instead of promised 50mbit download and 5mbit upload).

i left it for some days assuming it might speed up but didnt. three weeks later i called and told them and they said that my speed increase had not been activated, and they would do it and it would take a day. three days later and nothing so i called and they said it would take a few days more. that was 9 days ago in total.

apparently i have a case open and they will call me about it soon, maybe there is a problem with my modem.

im actually not terribly annoyed or anything... after all 20mbits is quite fast enough as friendlykiwi says. however, after it is sorted i will ask them not to charge me the higher price for the appropriate time. but i would like to see it sorted out soon!

4
I upgraded recently to the Cablecom 50MbpsFibrePower, and it works pretty well. I don't notice a huge difference between my previous Cablecom 20Mbps service, but the price is the same now, so why not. I will be using iTunes a bit more for movie downloads, so that should give it a good test.

Overall, I am very happy with Cablecom's service and never had a problem with them or getting a response form customer service (in English).

I may upgrade to the 100 Mbps service soon for only 10 CHF more.

fduvall

5
My experience with Cablecom's internet service over the last 12 years has been that they have a first-class product, but are a hopelessly badly managed company. So all is well until something goes wrong.

Cablecom is currently spending its subscribers payments changing its name to UPC...

6
Ok, I remember I asked it before and you do not seem to like to answer it: Do you have any connections with Cablecom? Do you work for them?

Source .

You know, that would be nice to mention before you share your view as a completely unbiased consumer.

I will give you an example:

I used to work with Swisscom, but have my ADSL with a competitor that was considerably cheaper. Used to be Tele2 is now operated by Sunrise. Works very stable. I keep my mobile at Swisscom even at a premium price as the service is significantly better than my current business mobile at Orange. My digital TV is from cablecom as my apartment company has them as default supplier and I did not feel to push my way through to get Bluewin. Cablecoms customer service sucks a big time and their billing is always a surprise... They still deserve their terrible reputation right now in 2010 as they did not improve it, but fired people in that area last year.

I will not comment on their new product as I do not know it. All I know is that the product I bought is still today completely buggy, their service is **** and the website completely over-promised in terms of the time they need to set it up. I keep it as it works right now, but would not buy anything else there ever again.

7
I have no connection to Cablecom, and I think they have been very easy to work with. I have said it in several threads that I have never had any problem with their customer service. They have always found an English speaking rep for me and taken care of my problems.

I have seen many threads about how horrible Cablecom is, and I just don't share that experience. I hope I continue to be licky!

fduvall

PS - I have upgraded my Cablebox (HD Recorder), and do not like it that much. Only saying this to demonstrate that I do not think they are perfect.

8
yeah, when i have had to contact them, i have rarely had to wait too long and the service i received was fine, apart from this one time where i am waiting for so long.

EDIT: Seems like CCOM did something, as my wired connection speeds have now increased to 50mbit and 5mbit. Woohoo! Wireless a lot lower though, but thats another thread.

9
I've just been upgraded to FibrePower 50, and have no reasons to complain... in everyday usage you don't notice much of a difference though.

One small experience / tip: I don't like the Swiss system of all contracts extending by 1 year after they expire, and I wanted to keep my options open, look around in the market so I cancelled my contract with them (3 months before 1st year was up): after about 1 week they called me and offered me half a year half price - I think it's a pretty good offer, so I said yes and upgraded.

One small correction: I don't think this is actually a fibreoptic service (to the apartment)... My understanding is, this is just the effects of the system upgrade to Docsis 3, which makes these speeds available

10
My experience (5 years) of cablecom, is that when everything works as expected their service is very good. Likewise, their products and prices are excellent. However, when something goes wrong, their customer service is the worst I've ever experienced of any company - no proactive communication with the customer, no issue resolution or even call back within the promised timeframe, unable to track progress on the issue or give a consistent message.

As a result I am always very wary of signing up for any of their new products or services, as these are obviously the ones which have the highest risk of issues. I prefer to wait until the service is bedded in and the teething problems have been resolved before jumping on board.

That isn't to say they are any different to any other tech co in this respect, early adopters should always expect niggles. What differentiates cablecom in my experience is their complete inability to provide any customer support when this happens.

11
I just got their Fibre Power 20 mbit package and the speed is around 24 at all times, which is OK. The upload is around 1.5 and should be 2.

But, they didn't give me any wireless router, only modem. Can I put any wireless router behind it or I have to buy some linux router so i can set it up as a computer so the modem will think it's only one computer using the internet? The question is, if they have routing limitations to wireless routers in general, or you have to use their routers?

12
You can use most 3rd party wireless APs ( Access Points ) or wireless Router with their EVM3206 modem .

13
yes you can put a wirless router after it no problem

14
If your modem has a Network port, I am pretty sure it has, just plug your wireless router into the network port. Your router will have NAT to cope with more than one user behind it. What do you mean by routing limitations ?

15
I've got the EPC2203 modem now I need to get a WiFi router/AP so I will have coverage around the appartment.

Some ISP put routing limitations so routers can't communicate between your modem and more computers - so you pay a montly fee to have wireless router. One of the best routers to use when such thing is implied is to buy a Linksys -WRT 54 GL which has a open source software and can be configured with a simple command line to act like ONE computer for the modem but many users to be able to connect thru it.

If cablecom doesn't have such limitations that you pay a fee to have a wifi router or you have to buy their routers, I will just buy another one and just plug it in.

16
All routers are able to route many to one ( NAT ).

17
Routing limitations will not affect a router on the LAN side of the connection, routing for all the users is done via the OS on the client TO the first local router, which will manage multiple source traffic through NAT, the ISP cable modem will not know the difference between a PC and a Wireless router on your network.

The linksys router you quoted does not have open source firmware or software. It comes loaded with proprietary code, protected under a license agreement. Later on Linksys was forced to release the source for their own code under GNU T&C's

It is however a popular router for enthusiasts to load other open source software. This opens up more features of the router and allows it to act as a web or ftp server for example.

Do you know of any ISP that cripples their own modem with 'routing' limitations ? I have never heard of this. Simple ICS on a Windows platform would get around this. It would be pointless to implement.

18
You are right, the WRT54 is quite popular router on which many people put DD-WRT and Tomato software.

I know few ISP in Eastern Europe who practice routing limitations on their networks mainly for the cheapest packages they offer. When you plug in a certain model of routers they won't be able to serve more than one computer due to routing restrictions from the ISP's servers (it is done through shapers). This can be avoided by using an open source software router by using a simple command like this

But I guess there are no such limitations on cablecom. Now what is left is to choose the brand and model for a decent wireless router to cope with the 20 mbit download connection. The 54 will do good, I see it new for 70 SFR, anyone has a good second hand to offer?

I search through the webpage of cablecom but I never found out what is their Fair Use policy of maximum bandwidth usage per month?

19
you can always ask them

20
I search through the webpage of cablecom but I never found out what is their Fair Use policy of maximum bandwidth usage per month?

http://www.cablecom.ch/en/agb.pdf

The indicated downstream and upstream pace concern a maximum

value, which we cannot guarantee. The connection-speed depends on

the power of your PC, the quality of the cable connections, the number

of households connected to a routing installation, the number of cousers

and further technical components.

Due to fairness reasons you shall restrict peer to peer use, operation of

game servers, downloading forums etc. between 4.00 p.m. and midnight,

so that other users will not be affected in an exceptional manner

being online.

In order to enforce this «fair use policy», we reserve the right to temporarily

reduce the maximum values for upstream and/or downstream

speed or to block the internet access completely, if an interruption-free

use of the Internet may be endangered. An infringement against the fair

use policy is deemed as a breach of contract and may possibly make

you liable for the losses caused this way.