CityFibre and Zen ISP

[8bit]

Currently with PlusNet, no complaints on reliability or customer service there but they don't seem to offer FTTP at all and our contract is up in April, reticent to renew with them when I can potentially get a faster service for similar sort of money.

We've had CityFibre available in our area for a while now, until recently the only ISP option was Vodafone and I have heard fairly poor reviews there. Last week though we got yet another flyer through the door with a list of new ISPs, one of which is Zen. I checked all the ISPs on the flyer and it's currently only Zen and Vodafone that operate here. I've never used them but I know people who get OpenReach-provided FTTC broadband from Zen and they seem to have a far better reputation. Anyone here using Zen on CityFibre and got any feedback?

[geeks]

Can't help with Zen but I can vouch for the Vodafone service. Only issue I have ever had was when it went live about 2 years ago the VF router didn't like Apple Watches and every time we left or entered the house and they joined the wifi the whole thing would crap itself. Ticket logged with Tier 3 who came back to me as soon as it was resolved which was pretty quick. Other than that it's been solid as a rock.

[ecsrobin]

Can’t answer for Zen but we’re with giganet over cityfibre and service has been brilliant. A cable got chopped back in the summer which cityfibre weren’t great on fixing but I had daily calls from giganet appraising me of what they’d done and they sent me a sim and router to at least keep me going whilst it was repaired, they then knocked of a months bill (£40pm for 900 up and down).

So if they’re on the list it’s worth looking into.

[AJB88]

I cant say anything about Zen but we have Cityfibre + Vodafone.

We lived in house 1 and had the 200 package, installation was easy and it was very reliable
We now live in House 2 and have the 500 package, now its setup once again very reliable.

Moving properties was the bit Vodafone messed up big time but the actual service has been fine. Cant imagine Zen being any better/worse.

[springfan62]

Yes been on FTTP for about 5 years with Zen, highly recommend them and have no plans to move even if I can find cheaper options.

[8bit]

Thanks all, that's useful. For those on CityFibre-based ISPs just now, are you generally getting down/upload speeds close to the maximum on your package? One of the criticisms I've heard from the few I know that use CF is that they generally get just above the "guaranteed" minimum. They all use Vodafone, hence the concern.

[AJB88]

I pay for 200

just speedtested now in terminal 215 down, 208 up.

[ecsrobin]

I pay for 900 and wired I get over for both up and down. With netgear orbi mesh (1 modem, 1 satellite hard wired and located both downstairs) upstairs and between the 2 I’ve just recorded 587/652.

It’s been consistent for over 6 months with only the previous issue mentioned which was beyond their control.

[geeks]

I dont test it that often but I pay for 500 and get that up and down whenever I test it.

[buggalugs]

I use Zen, not because they're cheap but because they're good.

[fat80b]

Vodafone +cf in Cambridge.

Been on the 200/200 package from day 1.

Performance has been very good. Regularly saw just above 200 up and down in the early days. It’s a bit more up and down now but always in the right ballpark.

Have had one outage of an hour on a weekend that affected the whole area and they responded to the online chat and messaged me when it was fixed. Seemed ok to me.

[8bit]

Many thanks again.

For those with Zen or Vodafone, anyone using their own routers instead of whatever the ISP supplies? I have a TP-Link mesh wifi setup which also acts as the router (e.g. connects direct to the current FTTP DSL modem), I am assuming that the fibre comes in to the house and then attaches to a media converter with an Ethernet socket, and I just plug that into my own device?

[FunkyGibbon]

8bit said:

Many thanks again.

For those with Zen or Vodafone, anyone using their own routers instead of whatever the ISP supplies? I have a TP-Link mesh wifi setup which also acts as the router (e.g. connects direct to the current FTTP DSL modem), I am assuming that the fibre comes in to the house and then attaches to a media converter with an Ethernet socket, and I just plug that into my own device?

ZEN user here (via OpenReach FTTP) - the supplied modem/router is quite good and you get to keep/sell it. But you are correct just connect your existing system to the ONT via your ethernet cable you currently use.

I have had zero issues with Zen.

[geeks]

8bit said:

Many thanks again.

For those with Zen or Vodafone, anyone using their own routers instead of whatever the ISP supplies? I have a TP-Link mesh wifi setup which also acts as the router (e.g. connects direct to the current FTTP DSL modem), I am assuming that the fibre comes in to the house and then attaches to a media converter with an Ethernet socket, and I just plug that into my own device?

I had some issues getting my TP-link mesh to also be the router however, this actually worked out for the better as I wanted some proper(ish) router controls and the TP-link didn't really service those needs so my mesh is on AP mode and serves as my wifi with the wifi disabled on the VF router.

[AJB88]

Just had a look at Zen and they appear to be available in my area now to take over my Cityfibre/Vodafone connection.

But The prices don't seem competitive, more than I pay Vodafone and dont include a phoneline (yes we still use ours as mobile signal is poor)

[Funk]

CityFibre pulled the fibre into my building for me a couple of days ago...

Now they just need to sort out getting it connected and I'll be going from 45/15 to 900/900! Can't wait. Decent price too, am paying £40/mo capped forever with Zen - compares well with my £25/mo for Plusnet that keeps creeping up every year.

[sjg]

8bit said:

Many thanks again.

For those with Zen or Vodafone, anyone using their own routers instead of whatever the ISP supplies? I have a TP-Link mesh wifi setup which also acts as the router (e.g. connects direct to the current FTTP DSL modem), I am assuming that the fibre comes in to the house and then attaches to a media converter with an Ethernet socket, and I just plug that into my own device?

With Zen for FTTP now (via Openreach) they have no problem with you using your own router. Plug into the ONT, put in PPPoE details and off you go. I got £50 on ebay selling the decent Fritzbox they give you, it had about an hour of use while the installer was testing.

Had Vodafone VDSL before and they were also OK with own router although you need to contact support to get the password to use - their webchat will give it out, no need to call. I used one of the older openreach modems into my own router.

[NoTreadLeft]

AJB88 said:

Just had a look at Zen and they appear to be available in my area now to take over my Cityfibre/Vodafone connection.

But The prices don't seem competitive, more than I pay Vodafone and dont include a phoneline (yes we still use ours as mobile signal is poor)

Zen almost always cost more and their connections are no more reliable than any other ISP's, because they mostly use the same infrastructure.

It's only when you actually have a problem that you find out why they cost more: you pick up the phone and pretty quickly you're talking to someone, in the UK, that actually knows what they are talking about. They also properly case-manage issues and know what buttons to press with infrastructure providers (e.g. OpenReach) to get things done.

That's where the extra money goes. It may or may not be important you, depending on how heavily you rely on your broadband. I need mine for work and I think they're worth every penny.

[sjg]

Yep, agreed. Most problems are likely to be wifi on your end (spend some money on your own kit) or connection between exchange/cabinet and your house - and the ISP doesn't control that. I went with vodafone at the time as they were cheaper, I knew the phoneline had been reliable and I was unlikely to need support beyond that.

With Zen it did take a while and a few visits to sort out my fibre connection - blockages between pavement and the conduit to my house, all sorted out by Openreach but Zen were great at chasing on my behalf and keeping me informed. Gives me a lot more confidence that if there were a problem they'd be able to sort it out quickly.

[AJB88]

Fibrehop are another one who now sell Cityfibre connections.