slow speeds on virgin.net plan 2

Hi,

We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However, I
can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to, but getting about 1/8
of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is there anything that can be
done to up the speed or are my line conditions such that 1.1Mb is the best
I'm going to get? I'm connecting via a Netgear router, if this makes a
difference.

thanks very much.

Aaron B wrote:

> Hi,
>
> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However, I
> can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to, but getting about 1/8
> of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is there anything that can be
> done to up the speed or are my line conditions such that 1.1Mb is the best
> I'm going to get? I'm connecting via a Netgear router, if this makes a
> difference.
>
> thanks very much.



Check the BT Broadband checker to see what BT think your line *might*
support. If this is significantly different to the 1.1Mb you are
seeing then your internal wiring and/or filters should be looked at.
If it isn't significantly different, that's probably all your line can
support.

I know certain router chipsets perform better on poor quality lines, so
you might be able to squeeze out a little more performance by switching
routers -- check Google Groups for recommendations within this group.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Aaron B wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However, I
>> can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to, but getting about
>> 1/8
>> of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is there anything that can
>> be
>> done to up the speed or are my line conditions such that 1.1Mb is the
>> best
>> I'm going to get? I'm connecting via a Netgear router, if this makes a
>> difference.
>>
>> thanks very much.
>
>
>
> Check the BT Broadband checker to see what BT think your line *might*
> support. If this is significantly different to the 1.1Mb you are
> seeing then your internal wiring and/or filters should be looked at.
> If it isn't significantly different, that's probably all your line can
> support.
>
Just done so - thanks.
It cam back with 3Mb, which is quite I bit different!
We have a faceplate filter form clarity.it, and the router is plugged into
it via an extension cable (with adaptors to allow the cable to be used).
There is only 1 extension socket and this is wired from the 'hardwire' side
of the faceplate and supplies a multi-handset Panasonic DECT.
Should I remove the extension and buy a longer phone lead for the router or
contact Virgin in case they haven't turned up the speed from when plan2
was1Mbs?

> I know certain router chipsets perform better on poor quality lines, so
> you might be able to squeeze out a little more performance by switching
> routers -- check Google Groups for recommendations within this group.
>
>

"Aaron B" wrote in message news:Gj7lh.5335$(E-Mail Removed)...
> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However, I
> can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to, but getting about
> 1/8 of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is there anything that
> can be done to up the speed or are my line conditions such that 1.1Mb is
> the best I'm going to get? I'm connecting via a Netgear router, if this
> makes a difference.
>
> thanks very much.

Hi Aaron, I'm on Virgin plan 2, does your speed vary or is it constantly on
1.1 Mbps?

I'm no expert, unlike others on this group, but the following is my
experience.

If it is constant at 1.1 Mbps I would say your on "classic" broadband rather
than ADSL MAX.

I had a constant 1.1 Mbps sync on "classic" (my brother is on the same plan
and gets 2.2 Mbps, I assume because he's closer to his exchange). Because
the speed check on the BT website said I could get up to 2.7 Mbps I asked
Virgin to put me on ADSL MAX as I thought I would then acheive this speed.
Once it went to MAX my speed varied between 526 kbps (if memory serves me
right) up to 2.8 Mbps.

Now this may sound okay but it affected my download speed badly as my local
exchange set my profile according to the lowest speed. Therefore I have just
requested to be put back on the stable "classic" connection.

HTH

Sean

"Sean Bergin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:rb9lh.29302$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Aaron B" wrote in message
> news:Gj7lh.5335$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However, I
>> can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to, but getting about
>> 1/8 of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is there anything that
>> can be done to up the speed or are my line conditions such that 1.1Mb is
>> the best I'm going to get? I'm connecting via a Netgear router, if this
>> makes a difference.
>>
>> thanks very much.
>
> Hi Aaron, I'm on Virgin plan 2, does your speed vary or is it constantly
> on 1.1 Mbps?
>
> I'm no expert, unlike others on this group, but the following is my
> experience.
>
> If it is constant at 1.1 Mbps I would say your on "classic" broadband
> rather than ADSL MAX.
>
> I had a constant 1.1 Mbps sync on "classic" (my brother is on the same
> plan and gets 2.2 Mbps, I assume because he's closer to his exchange).
> Because the speed check on the BT website said I could get up to 2.7 Mbps
> I asked Virgin to put me on ADSL MAX as I thought I would then acheive
> this speed. Once it went to MAX my speed varied between 526 kbps (if
> memory serves me right) up to 2.8 Mbps.
>
> Now this may sound okay but it affected my download speed badly as my
> local exchange set my profile according to the lowest speed. Therefore I
> have just requested to be put back on the stable "classic" connection.
>
Very helpful, Sean.

It is constantly 1.1Mbps and has been ever since they upgraded from 512kpbs
to the current speed a few years back, so what you say is probably true.
I'll bear what you said in mind before requesting a transfer to ADSL max -
are the problems you had common with ADSL max on Virgin?

Thanks again.

Aaron

Thus spaketh Aaron B:
> "Sean Bergin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:rb9lh.29302$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Aaron B" wrote in message
>> news:Gj7lh.5335$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb.
>>> However, I can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to,
>>> but getting about 1/8 of what we're paying for doesn't seem right.
>>> Is there anything that can be done to up the speed or are my line
>>> conditions such that 1.1Mb is the best I'm going to get? I'm
>>> connecting via a Netgear router, if this makes a difference.
>>>
>>> thanks very much.
>>
>> Hi Aaron, I'm on Virgin plan 2, does your speed vary or is it
>> constantly on 1.1 Mbps?
>>
>> I'm no expert, unlike others on this group, but the following is my
>> experience.
>>
>> If it is constant at 1.1 Mbps I would say your on "classic" broadband
>> rather than ADSL MAX.
>>
>> I had a constant 1.1 Mbps sync on "classic" (my brother is on the
>> same plan and gets 2.2 Mbps, I assume because he's closer to his
>> exchange). Because the speed check on the BT website said I could
>> get up to 2.7 Mbps I asked Virgin to put me on ADSL MAX as I thought
>> I would then acheive this speed. Once it went to MAX my speed varied
>> between 526 kbps (if memory serves me right) up to 2.8 Mbps.
>>
>> Now this may sound okay but it affected my download speed badly as my
>> local exchange set my profile according to the lowest speed.
>> Therefore I have just requested to be put back on the stable
>> "classic" connection.
> Very helpful, Sean.
>
> It is constantly 1.1Mbps and has been ever since they upgraded from
> 512kpbs to the current speed a few years back, so what you say is
> probably true. I'll bear what you said in mind before requesting a
> transfer to ADSL max - are the problems you had common with ADSL max
> on Virgin?
> Thanks again.
>
> Aaron


Common with ADSL MAX with anyone that re-sells a BT ADSL MAX service.

All dependant on your line quality.

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"{{{{{Welcome}}}}}" <bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:jFclh.22702$(E-Mail Removed). uk...
> Thus spaketh Aaron B:
>> "Sean Bergin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:rb9lh.29302$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "Aaron B" wrote in message
>>> news:Gj7lh.5335$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> We're on Virgin.net plan 2 which advertises speeds up to 8Mb. However,
>>>> I can never get more than 1.1Mb. I know it says up to,
>>>> but getting about 1/8 of what we're paying for doesn't seem right. Is
>>>> there anything that can be done to up the speed or are my line
>>>> conditions such that 1.1Mb is the best I'm going to get? I'm
>>>> connecting via a Netgear router, if this makes a difference.
>>>>
>>>> thanks very much.
>>>
>>> Hi Aaron, I'm on Virgin plan 2, does your speed vary or is it
>>> constantly on 1.1 Mbps?
>>>
>>> I'm no expert, unlike others on this group, but the following is my
>>> experience.
>>>
>>> If it is constant at 1.1 Mbps I would say your on "classic" broadband
>>> rather than ADSL MAX.
>>>
>>> I had a constant 1.1 Mbps sync on "classic" (my brother is on the
>>> same plan and gets 2.2 Mbps, I assume because he's closer to his
>>> exchange). Because the speed check on the BT website said I could
>>> get up to 2.7 Mbps I asked Virgin to put me on ADSL MAX as I thought
>>> I would then acheive this speed. Once it went to MAX my speed varied
>>> between 526 kbps (if memory serves me right) up to 2.8 Mbps.
>>>
>>> Now this may sound okay but it affected my download speed badly as my
>>> local exchange set my profile according to the lowest speed.
>>> Therefore I have just requested to be put back on the stable
>>> "classic" connection.
>> Very helpful, Sean.
>>
>> It is constantly 1.1Mbps and has been ever since they upgraded from
>> 512kpbs to the current speed a few years back, so what you say is
>> probably true. I'll bear what you said in mind before requesting a
>> transfer to ADSL max - are the problems you had common with ADSL max
>> on Virgin?
>> Thanks again.
>>
>> Aaron
>
>
> Common with ADSL MAX with anyone that re-sells a BT ADSL MAX service.
>
> All dependant on your line quality.
>
Thanks.
With my line is the only way to get a decent speed to use cable or are there
any ISPs that would provide a better speed, without getting involved in LLU.

Aaron B wrote:
> With my line is the only way to get a decent speed to use cable or are there
> any ISPs that would provide a better speed, without getting involved in LLU.

Even with LLU, how do you think the connection is going to get from your
premises to the exchange? Same bit of wire more often than not.

First thing I'd suggest is to find out whether you are on IPStream MAX
or IPStream Home 1000 or some other product. You can do this by asking
your provider. You can guess at this by looking at your upstream *and
downstream* line rates on your router.

"Paul Cupis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:4595d6df.0@entanet...
> Aaron B wrote:
>> With my line is the only way to get a decent speed to use cable or are
>> there any ISPs that would provide a better speed, without getting
>> involved in LLU.
>
> Even with LLU, how do you think the connection is going to get from your
> premises to the exchange? Same bit of wire more often than not.
>
> First thing I'd suggest is to find out whether you are on IPStream MAX or
> IPStream Home 1000 or some other product. You can do this by asking
I've checked and we're not on ADSL MAX.
Do you think that I should
(a) try ADSL MAX with virgin.net and see what happens
(b) try ADSL MAX from BT
(c) stick with what I've got
(d) move to cable. I'm not very keen on this as we were with Telewest a few
years back, found it awful and moved back to BT sharpish.

Thanks.

Aaron B wrote:
> "Paul Cupis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:4595d6df.0@entanet...
>> Aaron B wrote:
>>> With my line is the only way to get a decent speed to use cable or are
>>> there any ISPs that would provide a better speed, without getting
>>> involved in LLU.
>>
>> Even with LLU, how do you think the connection is going to get from your
>> premises to the exchange? Same bit of wire more often than not.
>>
>> First thing I'd suggest is to find out whether you are on IPStream MAX or
>> IPStream Home 1000 or some other product. You can do this by asking
>
> I've checked and we're not on ADSL MAX.

That would explain why your line speed is 1Mbps, then. The quoted
possible 3Mbps will be for IPStream MAX and will be dependent on your
line length/quality and the quality of your internal wiring.