Is this the right forum for NTL/Virgin ADSL questions?

[Virgin-Rez]

As the title asks, can I ask questions about the NTL (now Virgin) ADSL service my mate is receiving?... and if so which sub-forum is most appropriate?

Thanks!

Rez

[bopdude]

Yes it is, and I would have thought here would do, if not, a friendly mod will move it to the right spot, what's the issue ?

[Virgin-Rez]

Thanks Bopdude! :)

He's living in Ripley and so the only broadband avaialble to him is ADSL. He went with NTL a few years ago on the up to 2Mb service. I've sat at his PC, I've done the speed tests and he was getting 2Mb.

At the tail end of last year he gets a call from Virgin Media to say that they were going to have to close his NTL account and re-start with a Virgin Media account, with new e-mail addresses etc. As a sweetener they bumped him up to the 'Up to' 8Mb service.

Since then his broadband connection has been beyond pathetic. Right now I believe he is getting in the region of 4-500kb download speeds. He's rung to complain about it, pointing out that he is only 6-800 yards down the road from the Ripley exchange and that he WAS getting 2Mb and has suffered a drastic reduction in service. The response from VM appears to be that it's not their fault, it is only an 'Up to' service and that the fault lies with the BT line.

Basically he's getting nowhere with this. Any knowledgeable folk able to offer suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Rez

[Mick Fisher]

I can't recall ever hearing about anyone who was happy with their VM ADSL service. It appears to be rediculously oversubscribed most everywhere. My suggestion is to look for another supplier.

[spiderplant]

I can't recall ever hearing about anyone who was happy with their VM ADSL service.
Perhaps because happy users don't post. I'm happy with it (now).

It used to be really oversubscribed here. This is from a year ago:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/02/50.png

But last autumn it got sorted out, and now I get this:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/02/51.png

So they are working on improving the problem areas, but it sounds like Ripley has yet to be done.

[Virgin-Rez]

But that's the irony isn't it... he was getting good service till they upgraded him!

I've reccomended the move to a different ISP... I'll re-iterate that reccomendation.

Thanks guys!

Rez

[Mick Fisher]

But that's the irony isn't it... he was getting good service till they upgraded him!

I've reccomended the move to a different ISP... I'll re-iterate that reccomendation.

Thanks guys!

Rez
Hmmm..you can't discount the notion that his telephone line is so poorly it cant support higher speeds than he was getting before the upgrade.

From my own experience with ADSL, first time was a 2meg service but I only got 256k on a good day, second time is a 24meg LLU service but once again I only get 6meg. Conclusion, although I'm only reported as being 900m from the exchange my line is so poor and/or is routed in some imaginitive BT way and/or has a DAC on it that I can only ever, reliably, recieve 25% of what's on offer. As per usual request's that BT check the line fall on deaf ears. :(

[Virgin-Rez]

I get the concept that he might not be able to get higher speeds than previously reported but you'd expect to get the old speeds at the very least surely?

Another issue he raises is that since he signed up to the 'Up to' 8Mb service shortly before xmas, what are his chances of getting out of the recently renewed 12 month contract?

Thanks again!

Rez

[Mick Fisher]

I get the concept that he might not be able to get higher speeds than previously reported but you'd expect to get the old speeds at the very least surely?

Another issue he raises is that since he signed up to the 'Up to' 8Mb service shortly before xmas, what are his chances of getting out of the recently renewed 12 month contract?

Thanks again!

Rez
Probably zero. :(

[spiderplant]

Has he really got a 12 month contract?

http://www.virgin.net/allyours/faqs/broadband_faqs.html#cancellations says
"When you join Virgin Media, you won't have to sign a 12 month contract. However, if you wish to leave our broadband service, you'll need to give us 30 days' notice. Please note that we reserve the right to apply a £50 cancellation charge if your service is cancelled within 12 months of activation."

[bertles86]

Guys I'm using this (http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3YRS&CategorySelectedId=11177&NavigationKey=11177,4294959958,4294959957) router, will it support 10mb when I get it?

I use the router for both wired and wireless access.

[lostandconfused]

Guys I'm using this (http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3YRS&CategorySelectedId=11177&NavigationKey=11177,4294959958,4294959957) router, will it support 10mb when I get it?

I use the router for both wired and wireless access.

yes should be capable of up 2 54mb

[lordy]

Perhaps because happy users don't post. I'm happy with it (now).

It is generally regarded as one of the poorer ADSL offerings on all the big ADSL forums. Most people recommend moving if possible.

So they are working on improving the problem areas, but it sounds like Ripley has yet to be done.

Just under 2Meg , whats your attenuation?

With BeValue I'm getting just under 4Meg with 62dB attenuation (ie a long line compared to most)

---------- Post added at 09:47 ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 ----------

Guys I'm using this (http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3YRS&CategorySelectedId=11177&NavigationKey=11177,4294959958,4294959957) router, will it support 10mb when I get it?

I use the router for both wired and wireless access.

Isn't this meant to be a new thread or is it related to the VM ADSL post?

[superbiatch]

But that's the irony isn't it... he was getting good service till they upgraded him!

I've reccomended the move to a different ISP... I'll re-iterate that reccomendation.

Thanks guys!

Rez

I'm in the same boat, and contemplating dropping down to the '1 meg connection' which as I read it is guaranteed as opposed to the other 'up to 8 meg connection' which i regularly get less than 1 meg :rolleyes:

[Virgin-Rez]

Thanks for all the responses. He's spoken with Virgin again today and they are now telling him that because he got the phone line in the bundle that he is tied in for the remaining 10 months or a 12 month contract and that he'd have to pay £97 to buy himself out.

:mad:

Rez

[Stuart]

As the title asks, can I ask questions about the NTL (now Virgin) ADSL service my mate is receiving?... and if so which sub-forum is most appropriate?

Thanks!

Rez

Yes. This sub forum is most appropriate.

[dilli-theclaw]

I must admit I am so not looking forard to virgin's adsl.

I hope someone can post something positive ?

Anyway, can anyone tell me the time scale for it being up and running from when they call me to arrange it (Tomorrow I hope)?

[spiderplant]

I hope someone can post something positive ?
I get 100% uptime.

Not too dreadful performance. This is what I get after disconnecting the ring wire (compare with my earlier post) :

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/08/8.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Anyway, can anyone tell me the time scale for it being up and running from when they call me to arrange it (Tomorrow I hope)?About a week, but I was transferring from ntl:freedom so I don't know whether that compares.

[dilli-theclaw]

Cheers :tu: oddly they called just after I posted and tell me I should be up and running weds next week.

[whydoIneedatech]

Cheers :tu: oddly they called just after I posted and tell me I should be up and running weds next week.

They know who you are and saw your post:LOL:

[dilli-theclaw]

:) I am being watched ;)

[chickendippers]

Didn't fare too well in the Samknows Performance Monitoring report: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/news/now-available-our-first-performance-monitoring-report-417.html

[whydoIneedatech]

:) I am being watched ;)

They know who you are and saw your post:LOL:

Must be reading your Blog.

[CrowmanUK]

Bite the bullet and pay the 97 quid, move to https://www.bethere.co.uk/homebroadband.do, 18 quid a month and up to 24 meg, I was getting around 4meg on Pipex and Virgin, now hitting 11-13meg on the unlimited package and am very happy, when I moved to Virgin from pipex I still got the same speeds I was getting on Pipex, not sure why the speeds would drop like that, have a read of this, and see if it applies to your mate, you might be able to tweak a bit more out of the adsl connection if it does

http://www.beforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8152

You could try arguing that the speeds are way below expectations but I wouldnt hold your breath as to them letting you out that easily, I had to get in touch with http://www.ispa.org.uk/ to get out of my contract with no penalties, I'd only been with them 6 weeks and had to get out, it was bloody awful.

[dilli-theclaw]

HHHmmm well after a good couple of days my netgear router they gave me keeps dropping my adsl connection.

I'm hoping this is just it settling down or something, but we shall see.

I get 100% uptime.

Not too dreadful performance. This is what I get after disconnecting the ring wire (compare with my earlier post) :

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/08/8.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

About a week, but I was transferring from ntl:freedom so I don't know whether that compares.

[CrowmanUK]

I think it was 10 days for the connection to "settle down", in that period they wouldnt answer any questions about it as it was "settling down", I think I got stm'd in the first week and when I rang up I just got the old settling down runaround.
Has it "settled down" now?

[dilli-theclaw]

Update - I have attached a screen shot of what I get after a week or two of settling down.

[CrowmanUK]

Thats not bad at all mate, you must be squatting in the exchange ;) Just make sure you dont fall foul of the draconian stm thats in place eh