Virgin ... what do you think?

I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I
am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.

I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about 9db,
the connection speed over 6mb.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.

"Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:a_yqj.2623$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
>through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
>2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
>200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
>400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
>line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that
>I am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>
> I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
> have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
> difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about
> 9db, the connection speed over 6mb.
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
> probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
Read the comments posted here:
http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist...rd=virgin_adsl
or here:
http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist...d=virgin_cable

You would have to get 'em well below the age of consent!
Not worth the hassle.

Ron wrote:
> I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I
> have been through the settling down period during which speeds would
> sometimes run at 2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much
> lower, 300kbs, or even 200kbs. I expected that. Now I am
> consistently on a speed a little above 400kbs, the "minimum" level
> which is considered acceptable, and since the line clearly can
> support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I am being
> given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
> I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference.
> I have already done all the things normally advised, none of which
> make any difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line
> noise about 9db, the connection speed over 6mb.
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there
> are probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.

Are you using the provided USB modem? If so, then dump it as they're really
crap. Get yourself an ADSL Modem/Router like the Netgear DG834.

My dad did this and his connection speed more than doubled, instantly.



--
Carl Waring
DigiGuide:
Full: http://getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=1495
Freeview (free): http://getdigiguide.com/?p=4&r=1495
Web-based: http://getdigiguide.com/?p=3&r=1495

"Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:a_yqj.2623$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
>through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
>2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
>200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
>400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
>line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that
>I am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>
> I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
> have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
> difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about
> 9db, the connection speed over 6mb.
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
> probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
>
>
I went down exactly the same road as you with NTL dialup which I had for
about 7 years to Virgin (ADSL) and have just changed to PLusnet as my 12
month conract was up. I am 300 metres from the exchange and sync is 7mbps.
Virgin gave me up to 6.6mbps but quite often far lower and even down to
150kbps with the average in the last few weeks with them being about 1Mbps.
Same setup and same modem gives me between 6.5Mbps and 7Mbps. The only
queries I have had with Plusnet was regarding my webspace and this was
addressed within an hour or so unlike Virgins a week or two.

Mike

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:06:30 GMT,it is alleged that "Ron"
<(E-Mail Removed)> spake thusly in uk.telecom.broadband:

>I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
>through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
>2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
>200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
>400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
>line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I
>am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>
>I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
>have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
>difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about 9db,
>the connection speed over 6mb.
>
>If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
>probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
>
My experience of virgin when it comes to dsl is they are either
criminally incompetent, or just want to convince dsl customers that
their lines are bad.

The VM dsl service is absolute crap. I was syncing at 1Mbit, (roughly
once every 12 mins, as their service wouldn't stay connected) they
claimed that was the max the line could do, which was a blatant lie,
as the same line is now reaching 4Mbit. Despite syncing at
1Mbit/second, I was getting downloads estimated at ~256k or less by
speedtesters, and below dialup speeds at peak times. They also do
'traffic shaping' without actually informing anyone (unfortunately
most isps seem to think this is acceptable these days).

I am still persuing the claim from them for the money spent on their
premium rate 'support' line (on the grounds they didn't know how to
fix it, so 'support' was a misdescription).

Yes, I'm extremely biased against them due to experience, but I have
to say, that was just with the DSL. I have no idea what their cable
service is like, apparently it's quite good for some people and quite
crap for others judging by comments here

My advice is to run a mile from VM Dsl. Apparently Sky have a good
reputation but I'll leave that to people with experience thereof, I
switched to a professional supplier (WebTapestry) who charge 3x as
much, but provide 300times better service. Nearly 30 pounds/month is
out of most peoples' budget however.

--
_
( ) ASCII ribbon campaign against html e-mail
X and usenet posts
/ \

Ron wrote:

> I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
> through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
> 2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
> 200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
> 400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
> line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I
> am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>
> I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
> have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
> difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about 9db,
> the connection speed over 6mb.
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
> probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.

Virgin are rubbish.

Graham

Carl Waring wrote:

> Ron wrote:
> > I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I
> > have been through the settling down period during which speeds would
> > sometimes run at 2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much
> > lower, 300kbs, or even 200kbs. I expected that. Now I am
> > consistently on a speed a little above 400kbs, the "minimum" level
> > which is considered acceptable, and since the line clearly can
> > support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I am being
> > given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
> > I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference.
> > I have already done all the things normally advised, none of which
> > make any difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line
> > noise about 9db, the connection speed over 6mb.
> >
> > If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there
> > are probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
>
> Are you using the provided USB modem? If so, then dump it as they're really
> crap.

That WIL NOT explain his poor download speed Mr Virgin Media Apologist.

BTW, why do VM supply a CRAP (according to you) modem ? Your words - not mine !

Graham

On 7 Feb, 12:25, Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelati...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Ron wrote:
> > I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I have been
> > through the settling down period during which speeds would sometimes run at
> > 2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much lower, 300kbs, or even
> > 200kbs. I expected that. Now I am consistently on a speed a little above
> > 400kbs, the "minimum" level which is considered acceptable, and since the
> > line clearly can support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I
> > am being given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>
> > I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference. I
> > have already done all the things normally advised, none of which make any
> > difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line noise about 9db,
> > the connection speed over 6mb.
>
> > If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there are
> > probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
>
> Virgin are rubbish.
>
> Graham

I think that just about settles it!! *big grin*

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> Carl Waring wrote:
>
>> Ron wrote:
>> > I recently upgraded from a NTL dialup to a Virgin 8mb package. I
>> > have been through the settling down period during which speeds would
>> > sometimes run at 2, 3 or even 4mb. At other times they were much
>> > lower, 300kbs, or even 200kbs. I expected that. Now I am
>> > consistently on a speed a little above 400kbs, the "minimum" level
>> > which is considered acceptable, and since the line clearly can
>> > support a much higher speed, I feel a little annoyed that I am being
>> > given what seems to be the minimum VM can get away with.
>> > I have ordered a new microfilter to see if that makes any difference.
>> > I have already done all the things normally advised, none of which
>> > make any difference. The downstream attenuation is about 34db, line
>> > noise about 9db, the connection speed over 6mb.
>> >
>> > If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested, though I realise there
>> > are probably thousands of people in exactly the same position.
>>
>> Are you using the provided USB modem? If so, then dump it as they're
>> really
>> crap.
>
> That WIL NOT explain his poor download speed Mr Virgin Media Apologist.
>
> BTW, why do VM supply a CRAP (according to you) modem ? Your words - not
> mine !

Most USB modems *are* a pile of crap. Anyone will tell you that.

How else do you explain the increase in my fathers line-speed when I
replaced his crap USB Modem for an ADSL Modem/Router as mentioned in my
original post?

Just to recap, as you conveniently snipped it!

He *was* getting about the same speed I am (2MB) despite being on an 8MB
service; and this is from within spitting distance of the local exchange,
btw! When the USB was replaced with a Modem/Router this immediately shot up
to around 6MB.

--
Carl Waring
DigiGuide:
Full: http://getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=1495
Freeview (free): http://getdigiguide.com/?p=4&r=1495
Web-based: http://getdigiguide.com/?p=3&r=1495