Traffic Shaping Affecting All Tiers

[DarkGashX]

Originally Posted by Morden

Games wont be affected none of the games I play shift 3 GB in a night.

What games are you playing or do you mean downloading maps ?

Thats a good point. Some games (like Svep CO-OP for HL1) often download maps and custom sounds. That wont be easy on the bandwidth.

[downquark1]

Originally Posted by Morden

Games wont be affected none of the games I play shift 3 GB in a night.

What games are you playing or do you mean downloading maps ?

http://secondlife.com/ Textures, models, audio and movies are streamed to your computer. I haven't done an bandwidth exact analysis but its alot for a game.

If you combine that with video streaming services (which again you can only watch when your not at work) and you could end up with a problem.

I am not particulary angry at the changes, I'm merely pointing out that some people have different circumstances and it isn't as simple as people make out.

[DarkGashX]

Originally Posted by downquark1

http://secondlife.com/ Textures, models, audio and movies are streamed to your computer. I haven't done an bandwidth exact analysis but its alot for a game.

If you combine that with video streaming services (which again you can only watch when your not at work) and you could end up with a problem.

I am not particulary angry at the changes, I'm merely pointing out that some people have different circumstances and it isn't as simple as people make out.

^^ Agrees.

*thinks of Playstation Home that is soon to be and its constantly downloading HD adverts*

[ldavey]

I don't mind the speed capping, but these download limits before capping are ridiculously low ...... especially the 2 meg which is way too easy to use up, they could have at least made it 700meg for the 2meg so someone could download at least one cd size of data, i.e the latest linux distro or software or something ... or what about people who take work home for the evening and normally transfer a few large files ...... what planet do they live on !

I don't mind living with it, but be realistic and up the bottom packages just a bit PLEASE ! .. at least let us download a cds worth of data in the evening before penalising us !

[RXP]

Originally Posted by Morden

Free markets work this way

Unfortunately the ISP market is an oligoplistic market over the UK as a whole. For free markets to work there should be no minimum contract, because that would delay people switching over to more efficient firms.

[BlackAle]

Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling

...it's more about the fact that VM have oversold in a lot of areas and it only takes 5 x 2mb users to use up the same bandwidth of a 10mb user, so if the UBRs are as badly oversold as some people think

I find it funny when people go on about Virgin overselling, do people think when they buy a 20mbit service at £37, that they are getting a 1:1 connection, i.e do they think the service is provisioned on that basis. Sheesh if it was, you'd be paying a few thousand a month.

Home broadband services have also been budgeted for bursty bandwidth usage, not continuous downloading. Overnight continuous usage is less of a problem as the demand is alot lower, though during peak time, everyone have a right to a slice of the pie so to speak. I wholly commend the changes Virgin are implementing.

[ldavey]

LOL, my firewall reports nearly 50MB (that is mega bytes) recieved by just browsing this forum, checking email and doing 5 speed tests........ i did 5 due to the first 3 telling me i was on 5 meg last two said 9.6 meg though ...... i thought for a min there i might have been shaped yet i only turned my PC on at 6pm and it is now only 6:45 but did nothing except check email and this forum....

Shows how easy it will be to use much of that 350 cap or whatever by doing nothing but browse forums and checking emails - i am also going onto the 2 meg soon with the 3 for 30

[Rik]

Originally Posted by BlackAle

I find it funny when people go on about Virgin overselling, do people think when they buy a 20mbit service at £37, that they are getting a 1:1 connection, i.e do they think the service is provisioned on that basis. Sheesh if it was, you'd be paying a few thousand a month.

Home broadband services have also been budgeted for bursty bandwidth usage, not continuous downloading. Overnight continuous usage is less of a problem as the demand is alot lower, though during peak time, everyone have a right to a slice of the pie so to speak. I wholly commend the changes Virgin are implementing.

Spot on post

[mertle]

Originally Posted by ldavey

LOL, my firewall reports nearly 50MB (that is mega bytes) recieved by just browsing this forum, checking email and doing 5 speed tests........ i did 5 due to the first 3 telling me i was on 5 meg last two said 9.6 meg though ...... i thought for a min there i might have been shaped yet i only turned my PC on at 6pm and it is now only 6:45 but did nothing except check email and this forum....

Shows how easy it will be to use much of that 350 cap or whatever by doing nothing but browse forums and checking emails - i am also going onto the 2 meg soon with the 3 for 30

Well said and precisely my argument visit roughly 6-8 websites and thats your lot for £18. Yes some will argue thats the price of bottom tier. The problem lies with VM god knows how many 2meg users are only paying that £10 bargain with there 3 for 30 for for 40 and 2 for 20 deals.

However those who pay more I respect your complaints but not all 2meg user pay £10. I pay £18 thats half the cost of top tier but it seems VM don't want to give me a fair deal.

I still say there should be 4 tiers.

bottom £10 2megs 400 meg peak restriction
£18 4meg 2meg peak
£25 6meg 3meg peak
£37 10meg 5 meg peak

Why in the world should I be treated the same as someone who pays nearly half my cost. I even can see that VM might at some point put a sub charge out for those who want full bandwidth at peak times.

[starsailor123uk]

Originally Posted by RXP

Unfortunately the ISP market is an oligoplistic market over the UK as a whole. For free markets to work there should be no minimum contract, because that would delay people switching over to more efficient firms.

You could call it an oligiplistic market but in terms of market it is becoming more dynamic. There are still two dominant player in BT (ASDL) and VM (Cable) but the Sky / Be / Carphone etc are making the market more flexible and the proof is in people moving but sometimes that just inertia

The minimum contract is used in most free markets in one form or another

Electricity firms don't do it but sometimes to get the best benefits you get a rebate after 12 months (no commitment but throwing money away if you leave)

Mortgages best deals are usually fixed except for excessive exit clauses (something that in theory you can do with VM/Sky drop to the lowest possible package and then pay for unused service)

The use of minimum contract is often used as an excuse for not changing but

1.Most people who complain are outside the mimimum contract so its not a factor

2. A Mimimum contract is negotiable if you are prepared to be a pain in the ****. I have got out of gym and dvd contracts before the contract minimum term by being a pain!

3. The lack of a minimum contract does not preclude a free market. If it did we would not still have over the population paying for gas and electricity from their host provider and paying a three figure sum each year for then priviledge

[dav]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

The stance I took in that article is neither pro nor anti virgin.

I'll concede that the word 'stance' implies you may be adopting a position on this on behalf of the site. That wasn't my intention. I'm sure your integrity remains unaffected.

[buba3d]

i think i may have found a way round this stm and so far it works.

STM is in place

Originally Posted by buba3d

i think i may have found a way round this stm and so far it works.

STM is in place

Good job i dont work on that side of things now

[buba3d]

Originally Posted by Bill C

Good job i dont work on that side of things now

it's not a hack, no modifcations required so it's quite legal

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by buba3d

it's not a hack, no modifcations required so it's quite legal

Is it by any chance "Schedule your downloads" ?