Virgin.net 12 minute disconnections and throttling

I have been a virgin.net customer (for my sins) for over 2 years now,
and despite other peoples' problems, haven't had many. Until now!

I noticed that large downloads weren't completing (podcasts, even
larger youtube movies). So I investigated. It turns out that the
router's DSL itself remains connected, but the PPP session gets
disconnected every so often. So I called tech support on their premium
rate number [ugh], and got a very informative chap who told me 2
things. One, virgin ARE throttling p2p traffic (but that shouldn't
cause my disconnections), and two, that I am not alone, others have
been having this for the last 2-3 days and they don't know what's
causing it!

I mentioned obtaining a MAC, and he said 'Don't bother, all isps will
be throttling p2p by the end of the year, and there's nothing you can
do about it'.

Any other virgin users getting problems? And any recommendations for
new isps? Cost is not my main driving force, reliability is. I am
quite prepared to pay double the 14.99 of virgin for reliable service,
is this asking too much?



--
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those
which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
- Helen Rowland

"Chip" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) n.net...
>I have been a virgin.net customer (for my sins) for over 2 years now,
> and despite other peoples' problems, haven't had many. Until now!
>
> I noticed that large downloads weren't completing (podcasts, even
> larger youtube movies). So I investigated. It turns out that the
> router's DSL itself remains connected, but the PPP session gets
> disconnected every so often. So I called tech support on their premium
> rate number [ugh], and got a very informative chap who told me 2
> things. One, virgin ARE throttling p2p traffic (but that shouldn't
> cause my disconnections), and two, that I am not alone, others have
> been having this for the last 2-3 days and they don't know what's
> causing it!
>
> I mentioned obtaining a MAC, and he said 'Don't bother, all isps will
> be throttling p2p by the end of the year, and there's nothing you can
> do about it'.
>
> Any other virgin users getting problems? And any recommendations for
> new isps? Cost is not my main driving force, reliability is. I am
> quite prepared to pay double the 14.99 of virgin for reliable service,
> is this asking too much?
>
>
I am just coming to the end of my 12 months as a Virgin bundle1 £19.99
customer which I became after being with Ntlfreedom for many years. Virgin
started not so good but then they got it sorted out and it was good for a
while, but for the last two weeks it has got worse by the day. 433kbps
download 186kbps upload this evening and it had been down to 156kbps
download at teatime.
Don't like swapping about due to email address's etc but I think come 4th
November I will be moving. I've had a quick look to see what others are
recomending and as a pretty light user with no p2p or media downloads it
seems adsl24 are a pretty good bet and only slightly dearer for what I want.
Does anyone know if I have to return the speedtouch back to virgin or does
that become my property after completeion of the 12 month contract?

Mick

On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:43:50 GMT,it is alleged that "Paddy"
<(E-Mail Removed)> spake thusly in uk.telecom.broadband:

[Snip]

>I am just coming to the end of my 12 months as a Virgin bundle1 ?19.99
>customer which I became after being with Ntlfreedom for many years. Virgin
>started not so good but then they got it sorted out and it was good for a
>while, but for the last two weeks it has got worse by the day. 433kbps
>download 186kbps upload this evening and it had been down to 156kbps
>download at teatime.

Yes, I'd noticed the same slowness, but I put it down to my elderly pc
struggling to run firefox... guess I was wrong.

>Don't like swapping about due to email address's etc but I think come 4th
>November I will be moving. I've had a quick look to see what others are
>recomending and as a pretty light user with no p2p or media downloads it
>seems adsl24 are a pretty good bet and only slightly dearer for what I want.

I am considering the office1000 product from webtapestry.net. It's not
the cheapest by a long way, but neither is it the most expensive, and
it's a business rated product, so support should be a little more
clued up when the inevitable does happen and it goes wrong, does
anyone have any experience (good/bad) of them?

>Does anyone know if I have to return the speedtouch back to virgin or does
>that become my property after completeion of the 12 month contract?

I believe it becomes your property. I wouldn't swear to it, but I
can't see a large corporation paying the return postage of an item
with next to zero resale value.


--
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those
which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
- Helen Rowland

In message <qmvRi.11985$(E-Mail Removed)>, Paddy
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Don't like swapping about due to email address's etc but I think come
>4th November I will be moving.

why not get your own domain? then you wouldn't need to worry.

--
dave @ stejonda

"dave @ stejonda" <no$spam!delete&abuse%(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:3T67OkImu5FHFAo$@privacy.net...
> In message <qmvRi.11985$(E-Mail Removed)>, Paddy
> <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>Don't like swapping about due to email address's etc but I think come 4th
>>November I will be moving.
>
> why not get your own domain? then you wouldn't need to worry.
>
> --
> dave @ stejonda
Hi Dave
I have my own domain name - had it for a good few years but tried to keep
personal emails address seperate. Now I have been told that 'Post Office;
have broadband offer which more or less matches Virgins - £27 per month
including line rental but only evening & weekend free calls against 24/7
free calls. As I use 18866 for all overseas or premium rate numbers I don't
see it making a lot of diffrence.
It looks like it will make sense for me to swap but not sure of pal who
lives in cable area. I talked him into going with ntl cable a few years ago
as it was the same company I was with. Got to go see him in the next week or
so whilst on holiday and decide what would be the best for him. I have to
see to his PC's and I live over 500 miles from him, at 83 year old he is not
wanting to have to sort out any problems himself.. He only really needs adsl
connection and occasional phone call but all on one bill. Any helpful
suggestions would be most gratefully accepted.
Mick