Full Fibre 900 package - any good feedback?

[sudosaurus]

Hello,

My BT contract (500Mbps) is coming to an end and looking to switch providers.

Highly tempted by the Vodafone Full Fibre 900 package which is currently available at £36 via Topcashback.

Whilst I don't anticipate needing to speak to customer services and understanding the IT side of things, I was wondering if anyone else here is using VF and are happy with the service?

Yes, I've seen many reviews on TrustPilot etc warning not to go with VF however these reviews are so many in every 100k people so, you can't really use that as a figure to judge against.

I won't be using their Router but my own TP-Link router which I've been using with BT just fine for the past 24 months.

Thanks!

[Jayach]

Interesting query.

The first thing to consider is. will you be using OpenReach (same as BT) or is CityFibre available where you live?

Unfortunately, the people who are using Vodafone happily, probably wont be on the forum because very few people come here, except to complain.

If you are using your own router on BT, presumably you are not using their phone service, which is where Vodafone are are poor compared to BT.

If your service with Vodafone will be via Openreach, it should be no different to the BT service, if you are using your own router.

If Cityfibre are available it should be better as their offering has the same upload as download speeds.

Perhaps someone on the Vodafone 900 service will come along and give you their opinion, but the BT (apparently soon to be  EE) prices mean I would never consider them, especially if I wasn't to be using their router.

[sudosaurus]

@Jayach 

I will be using OpenReach as CityFibre is not available where I live.

I use my own router with the BT PPPoE credentials to connect.

My other choice is Zen for £40 for 300Mbps (I know they will be a solid option) but would often wonder whether I could've got 900mbps for £36...

I think I've just seen plenty of bad reviews where VF has cocked up the order and miscommunicated with OpenReach which often results in people not being connected properly etc.

[Jayach]

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@sudosaurus wrote:
My other choice is Zen for £40 for 300Mbps (I know they will be a solid option) but would often wonder whether I could've got 900mbps for £36...

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Whether you go for Zen or Vodafone the actual connection is Openreach, so speeds should be whatever you opt for, although each has there own network behind that, but it shouldn't affect speed. I imagine the Zen router to be better than the basic Vodafone one, but as you use your own, that's not really a consideration.

The big difference will probably be if there are problems, support with Vodafone is dire and Zen have a good name for support so that, along with the price, may be where you have to make the decision.

Good luck.

[dcs5002]

Hi pal, just got my Full Fibre 900 installed about 3 days ago now. So far I've not had any problems, but I should note that I don't usually get higher than about 500mbps through Wi-Fi - which I've tested on my iPhone 12. Some of the other devices in my house have it slower for some reason, such as my MacBook Air 2020 which I don't get above 300mbps (not sure if it's my laptop or router which is the issue hence why I'm here). I haven't got round to testing via ethernet so I wouldn't be able to tell you whether you'll receive the full speed through wired connection unfortunately. That being said, it is still a great price for the speed you get - given I pay about £26 for a steady 500mbps. I should note that I am in a CityFibre area, which may be a reason as to why it is stable and therefore I do get symmetrical upload and download speeds. One more thing I should add is that I am using the Vodafone router, so your experience may be different depending on what you use. 

Feel free to ask me anymore questions you might have 👍

[sudosaurus]

@dcs5002 

Thanks for the context of your situation. Sounds positive. I did wondering whether there's any difference infrastructure wise between OpenReach and CityFibre and how VF handles that.

I am currently getting 436/70 on my LAN connection - I think BT throttle it during the day a little.

Just don't want to be in a situ where something drastically goes wrong with my order and am left without connectivity I guess.

[prs1000]

I have been on the 900 package for just over a year through City Fibre. Once set up it has been pretty good. A couple of disconnects but the 4g back up works well. Always get full 930 upload and download with a  wired connection. I did use my own router but have been back on the VF router for months as it gives a better connection. 

[Cynric]

@sudosaurus It may not actually be "throttling" but load balancing over multiple routes in periods of high demand.

[CrimsonLiar]

As you are currently a BT customer, if you look at their forums you'll find those same issues regards some users suffering from poor performance at peak time.  It seems to be an OpenReach issue and may well be due to incorrectly set up contention on individual fibres.  If you don't have that issue with BT you won't have it with VF!

[sudosaurus]

@CrimsonLiar yeah I've had zero issues here. I am on a new build estate and have been with BT here since my house was built in Feb 2020, so the local Infrastructure may be a lot more refined than in other parts of the UK.

Have you noticed any issues with Microsoft Teams? I've read about that having issues on Vodafone FF and slow transfer speeds on Microsoft cloud services (M365) - again may not be an issue for me. 

I would probably use my own router though.