How Do I Check My Broadband Line in Ireland?
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Whenever you sign up for a new broadband service, you always need to have a broadband line check to see what services are available at your property. Usually, broadband line checks will show you what speeds you can get and whether you have fibre available. Find out more in our broadband line check guide!
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What Is a Broadband Line Check in Ireland?
A broadband line check is where a broadband provider or other third party will check your broadband line for you to find out what types of connections you have available and how fast you network speeds are. Companies usually need to check this so they can tell you what they can offer you, and it’s a good idea to know so you don’t spend too much on a service that you can’t use or one that’s likely to fail on you regularly.
What Information Do I Need for Broadband Line Check?
In order to do a broadband line check, you’ll usually just need to provide your Eircode or address so that the broadband company can see what lines are connected to your property.
What Does a Broadband Line Check Involve?
A broadband line check is a relatively simple process, however the information that you can get from a line check can be really useful. After you give a broadband company your Eircode, they will be able view all the line information instantly and tell you exactly what is and isn’t available to you.
What Can You See from a Broadband Line Check?
In a broadband line check, you can usually see the following information:
- Universal Account Number
Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is a really important part of the broadband line check. The UAN of a property is the unique address for where you receive your telecommunications connections (such as landline and broadband). You need your UAN from a broadband line check in order to switch providers. This was your old Eircom account number that every Irish household had. - Speeds
A broadband line check can also tell you what speeds are available at your property. These will include your download speeds, which are typically higher, and your upload speeds, which are typically lower. The speeds in a broadband line check are the maximum speeds you can obtain at the property, and might limit your choice of broadband deal. - Connection Type
Your broadband line check will also see what connection type you have leading to the property to provide you with broadband. The line check will see if you have ADSL, fibre, SIRO, or satellite broadband so you can get the exact service you require for your home. This can help particularly with your signal strength.
Sometimes, all of this information is presented in a code for your broadband provider to read and interpret. Don’t worry too much about what the rest of the code says, the important bits are in how it relates to your broadband.
What if I just want to know my UAN? If you just want to know what your UAN is, the telecoms regulator in Ireland, Comreg, requires that all broadband companies provide you with your UAN when you request it. However, you can also find it on your broadband bills, whether you get them in the post or electronically.
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Where Can I Do a Broadband Line Check?
There are a number of ways you can do a broadband line check, but you usually can’t do them by yourself. You will almost always need to be in contact with a broadband company who has access to the tools and databases that will provide all the information from just your Eircode, however you can always find a line checker in other places as well.
Can I Call Selectra for a Broadband Line Check?
The fastest way to get a broadband line check done is to call us here at Selectra! One of our broadband agents will be able to walk you through exactly what type of broadband package your property can have and can set you up with the best one for you. We’re also happy to answer any of your questions regarding broadband so we can help you completely.
Are There Broadband Line Checkers on Provider Sites?
Almost any broadband provider will have a broadband line checker that you can use to find out which packages they offer will be best for you. Usually, you’ll just need your Eircode and address in order to use an online broadband line checker, however some companies require you to call in order to find out whether you’re eligible for their services.
What About Comparison Sites for a Broadband Line Checker?
Comparison sites, where you can view your energy, broadband and mobile deals all in one place, can be great for broadband line checkers. You will normally need to fill in your full address so the comparison site can provide you with the latest offers of deals and tariffs, and these are always based on what is available to you.
Can I Upgrade My Broadband Line?
If you have an older property, you might only have a slower connection that might make some basic internet tasks quite difficult. Especially in today’s internet-heavy world, if you have an ADSL broadband connection, you might want to consider upgrading your broadband line.
Here’s a list of the broadband speeds you need in order to some basic internet tasks:
| Internet Activity | Broadband Speed Required |
|---|---|
| Sending Email | 1 Mbps |
| Using Zoom | 1.2-3 Mbps |
| Social Media Activity | 1-5 Mbps |
| Listening To Music | 2 Mbps |
| Stream a Movie in HD | 5 Mbps |
| Online Gaming | At least 10 Mbps |
| Working from Home | 10-15 Mbps |
| Using a VPN | 20-50 Mbps |
Can a Broadband Line Check Tell If I Need an Upgrade?
Doing a simple broadband line check will be able to tell you what speeds you have already and whether it’s recommended to upgrade. If you have a larger household, you might want to consider upgrading your line so you can have more broadband for everyone at home.
What Can I Upgrade My Broadband Line To?
Currently, the best type of broadband connection is a fibre optic line that can provide you with lightning fast speeds and give you the right amount of broadband for your property to be completely connected to the web. If you don’t have a fibre connection installed, you might need to get the line installed which can cost you up to €100.
There might be some areas in Ireland where there isn’t fibre connection availability yet. This is typical of rural areas where the lines don’t run and so customers might have to rely on other alternatives. However, a broadband line check will be able to tell you whether you qualify for mobile broadband or satellite broadband too!
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What If I Don’t Have a Broadband Line?
If you don’t have a broadband line at all, this will show up on a broadband line checker as well. In this case, you’ll need to have a completely new line installed by your chosen broadband provider. You will usually be charged an installation fee that will be put on top of your first monthly bill payment.
How Much Does a New Line Cost?
Many companies now offer a free installation when you sign up to them. This is explicitly stated on their tariffs and is part of the offer for the broadband service. Other companies might charge a small fee to come round and install the lie for you.
Does a New Line Take a Long Time to Install?
Depending on the property, a new line installation can vary in time. Usually, it should take no longer than three hours for the technicians to come round, feed the cable into your home, and then test your new connection to see if everything’s working the way it should. In other circumstances, it might take another day for your broadband to be up and running.
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