STB v Modem

[ultimate]

As a response to my complaints to VM, they are going to install a modem next week, I am using the STB at the moment.

My question is this...I read somewhere here that you can "switch" back to the STB from the modem, (I cannot remember which thread), is that possible? do they still keep the BB on the STB? or do they switch it off once the modem is in place?

[tweetiepooh]

It may or may not work. When I switched the STB remained active for 'net for a while but don't rely on it. Processes have changed so it may be decommissioned at the same time the SACM is activated.

[IT Lemming]

I switched over 2 months ago, tried the STB connection a couple of days ago and it was still active.

I needed my PID & password, but that was all.

Dont expect faster speeds though, my STB connection running at 3.9Mb (4Mb Connection) and my 20Mb Modem connection running at:

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:47:39 UTC

1st 512K took 1891 ms = 270.8 KB/sec, approx 2231 Kbps, 2.18 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2344 ms = 218.4 KB/sec, approx 1800 Kbps, 1.76 Mbps
3rd 512K took 3218 ms = 159.1 KB/sec, approx 1311 Kbps, 1.28 Mbps
4th 512K took 3094 ms = 165.5 KB/sec, approx 1364 Kbps, 1.33 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1677 Kbps, 1.64 Mbps

[Begize]

We got a SACM a few years back after constant lock ups of the STB when broadband was under stress.

When the guy installed the modem, he explained that both would stay on for a while whilst I was switched over. He got it up and running but I had to call in to get my account changed - it was such a mess though. After 2 hours constant calling to various call centres (they still had the one in Cardiff then), I finally spoke to a guy who sorted me out and said they would now turn off the STB broadband.

The broadband on the STB stayed on for a few months I think (I checked it occasionally and even toyed with the idea of rigging up both at once) and was only "turned off" when the old STB failed and was replaced.

I'm not sure why you would want to go back - the modem hardly ever needs restarting (once a month maybe as opposed to once or twice a day with the STB). The other benefit was the TV was more reliable too - red button actually sometimes worked, there was less pixellation and the TV guide responded!

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by IT Lemming

I switched over 2 months ago, tried the STB connection a couple of days ago and it was still active.

I needed my PID & password, but that was all.

Dont expect faster speeds though, my STB connection running at 3.9Mb (4Mb Connection) and my 20Mb Modem connection running at:

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:47:39 UTC

1st 512K took 1891 ms = 270.8 KB/sec, approx 2231 Kbps, 2.18 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2344 ms = 218.4 KB/sec, approx 1800 Kbps, 1.76 Mbps
3rd 512K took 3218 ms = 159.1 KB/sec, approx 1311 Kbps, 1.28 Mbps
4th 512K took 3094 ms = 165.5 KB/sec, approx 1364 Kbps, 1.33 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1677 Kbps, 1.64 Mbps

There's no reason that should be, apart from signal levels!

[ultimate]

I just want to keep my back door open in case this SACM doesn't work out or it performs worse than the STB. BTW the guy on the phone says all new customers are not doing STB anymore and VM might not support STB connection in the future, I do not know how much is that is BS.

PS When they install the SACM, do they run a new wire from the "brown box", I am just deciding where I should place the modem and drill some holes in advance.

[Rob]

Where the cable is taken from to the modem location will depend on the installer and the routing. It's more usual for the installers to add a splitter at your current internal cable isolator box, or even where your STB is located, than run another cable from the external wall box.

If you are a new broadband customer, you will always get a modem installation, not STB, even if you were in a STB enabled area. For all but the lowest speed services STB broadband has become obsolete, so Virgin Media are phasing it out. Certainly having moved to a modem a month ago, I've found my connection is much more stable than the STB ever was.

[piggy]

stb v modem
i came across a interesting problem in our student area there was a stb downstairs doing 3.6mbs no problem the modem upstairs also on 4mb wouldnt go above 1.2mbs, i rang 2nd line faults they said it was oversubscription for the modem problem.
when i pointed out the stb was fine he just said they were routed different and that was the end of that!! its the first time ive witnessed a stb outperforming a modem but it can happen.
@ultimate
in our area the modem gets placed ontop of the stb with a cable slitter you might have to bribe the installer with tea and biscuits to get him to run another cable

[ultimate]

I think with my setup he will have to run a separate cable, the brown box is in the garage. from there a cable goes into the lounge into the STB, then from there a cable runs back into the garage, goes upstairs into my study into my router, the quickest way and shortest way therefore is to run a separate cable from the brown box into my study cos my study is on top of the garage. Tea and biscuits are on the menu sure.

[IT Lemming]

Originally Posted by Zeph

There's no reason that should be, apart from signal levels!

Signal levels are fine, within the bands mentioned on other links in this forum.

Just ran the to speed test simultaneously and got :

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:27:56 UTC

1st 512K took 1062 ms = 482.1 KB/sec, approx 3973 Kbps, 3.88 Mbps
2nd 512K took 1079 ms = 474.5 KB/sec, approx 3910 Kbps, 3.82 Mbps
3rd 512K took 1140 ms = 449.1 KB/sec, approx 3701 Kbps, 3.61 Mbps
4th 512K took 1375 ms = 372.4 KB/sec, approx 3069 Kbps, 3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 3663 Kbps, 3.58 Mbps


and :

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:27:48 UTC

1st 512K took 1265 ms = 404.7 KB/sec, approx 3335 Kbps, 3.26 Mbps
2nd 512K took 1453 ms = 352.4 KB/sec, approx 2904 Kbps, 2.84 Mbps
3rd 512K took 1407 ms = 363.9 KB/sec, approx 2999 Kbps, 2.93 Mbps
4th 512K took 1390 ms = 368.3 KB/sec, approx 3035 Kbps, 2.96 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 3068 Kbps, 3 Mbps

Of course the STB is top, but not much in it.

I will try later on at peak, and see how they compare then.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:33 ----------

Originally Posted by ultimate

I think with my setup he will have to run a separate cable, the brown box is in the garage. from there a cable goes into the lounge into the STB, then from there a cable runs back into the garage, goes upstairs into my study into my router, the quickest way and shortest way therefore is to run a separate cable from the brown box into my study cos my study is on top of the garage. Tea and biscuits are on the menu sure.

My new cab modem is direct off the brown box.

I was not in when it was installed, but the tech said it was the easiest install he every had to do! I think it was because in the old days we used to have a dedicated phone line for the pc, so he just stripped out that cable and put in a new one.

[ultimate]

I have the 20M connection installed today, the STB connection is still working, day time the 20M was really good, but after 4pm, my STB is faster than the modem, I give it a few weeks then I'll cancel. There isn;t much more I can do or they can do.

[xpod]

I have the 20M connection installed today, the STB connection is still working, day time the 20M was really good, but after 4pm, my STB is faster than the modem, I give it a few weeks then I'll cancel. There isn;t much more I can do or they can do.

Our 1Mb stb has also remained on since upgrading to sacm last year and indeed our 1Mb stb often runs faster than out 20Mb sacm

We were initially led to believe that they had left our stb bb on as a goodwill gesture.They even called me to tell me it was still on at the time.
It has become very obvious over the months though that many peoples stb broadband remains on,even after an upgrade to sacm so it seems it was just told more bulls**t at the time, to shut me up.

Oh well,It`s certainly a handy back up and has even remained on in the past when the 20Mb itself has been completely down.They were both down together though for the first time today.
We`re hoping it was something to do with the "work" that was allegedly happening in our area today.

Is`nt it something to do with EX NTL areas if it stays on

---------- Post added at 18:20 ---------- Previous post was at 18:15 ----------

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:17:02 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 734 ms = 1395.1 KB/sec, approx 11496 Kbps, 11.23 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 551 ms = 1858.4 KB/sec, approx 15313 Kbps, 14.95 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 479 ms = 2137.8 KB/sec, approx 17615 Kbps, 17.2 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 885 ms = 2314.1 KB/sec, approx 19068 Kbps, 18.62 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 15873 Kbps, 15.5 Mbps


To repeat this test from the source server click here.

Mabey there was some work went on after all.
I`ve not seen that kinda result for about 6 weeks mabey.
Certainly not on a speedtest and certainly not at this time of day.

mmmmm???

[darkrage]

Originally Posted by Zeph

There's no reason that should be, apart from signal levels!

id look at the time the test was done - there is a big reason its that slow.

[xpod]

id look at the time the test was done - there is a big reason its that slow

I`m certainly not holding my breath but thats two days now that we`ve had decent results at this time of day.I forgot to check them early this morning before i left the house.
I`m getting slightly more than the speedtest indicates with a few proper downloads of course but not tooooo bad either way....atm.
A whole lot better than we have been getting this last few weeks anyway.
Or should a say for the last 6 months now,with the few week period in the middle when we did see the elusive 20Mb,on occasion.

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:57:41 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 697 ms = 1469.2 KB/sec, approx 12106 Kbps, 11.82 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 594 ms = 1723.9 KB/sec, approx 14205 Kbps, 13.87 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 529 ms = 1935.7 KB/sec, approx 15950 Kbps, 15.58 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 1079 ms = 1898.1 KB/sec, approx 15640 Kbps, 15.27 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 14475 Kbps, 14.13 Mbps


To repeat this test from the source server click here.

Sure beats 0.3Mb

[ultimate]

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:15:48 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 4968 ms = 206.1 KB/sec, approx 1698 Kbps, 1.66 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 5094 ms = 201 KB/sec, approx 1656 Kbps, 1.62 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 5469 ms = 187.2 KB/sec, approx 1543 Kbps, 1.51 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 9750 ms = 210.1 KB/sec, approx 1731 Kbps, 1.69 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1657 Kbps, 1.62 Mbps