View Full Version : [Merged] Virgin National ADSL speed/congestion issues
Are any Virgin National (ADSL) users experiencing issues with their download speeds at the moment?
Here's the speed test I just ran:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/14.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the DSL stats in my router so I think I'm right in saying this isn't a local line quality issue. They look like this:
DSL Status: UP DSL Modulation Mode: GDMT DSL Path Mode: INTERLEAVED Downstream Rate: 3040 Kbps Upstream Rate: 448 Kbps Downstream Margin: 4 db Upstream Margin: 17 db Downstream Line Attenuation: 60 Upstream Line Attenuation: 31 Downstream Transmit Power: 0 Upstream Transmit Power: 0I know attenuation is pants, but that's normal for my line. I'm a long way from the exchange.
The BT speed test site confirms my BRAS profile hasn't nose-dived either; it's set at 2500k, which is where it has been for a few months now. However it does seem to think the speed is below the acceptable minimum for my line...
dilli-theclaw
21-02-2010, 20:08
Actually now that you mention it.... I am having problems today.
Supplementary question:
Does anyone know what password to use with the BT speed tester when your router insists on using one? The instructions are only valid for people who are changing their connection settings in IE; they're no use when your Linksys router refuses to save connection settings with the password field blank!
I have the test username already, it's bt_test_user@adsl.virgin.net, but a default password would be nice!
Ignitionnet
21-02-2010, 21:19
Looking in this very forum Chris there seems to be a bit of a spike of issues.
From what I'm reading there may be something up with the traffic shaping, pings aren't too bad but speeds suck for people.
http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/virgin_adsl/t/3804613-re-has-it-got-far-worse-for-anyone-else.html
http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Broadband-down-your-phone-line/Poor-speeds-on-Virgin-National-service/td-p/27792
Looking in this very forum Chris there seems to be a bit of a spike of issues.
From what I'm reading there may be something up with the traffic shaping, pings aren't too bad but speeds suck for people.
http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/virgin_adsl/t/3804613-re-has-it-got-far-worse-for-anyone-else.html
http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Broadband-down-your-phone-line/Poor-speeds-on-Virgin-National-service/td-p/27792
Bummer.
Well, I just checked again and got this:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/13.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
I never seem to be able to find my way to the details for VM's ADSL service, I always end up on their cable pages. What are the terms of traffic shaping on ADSL, anyone?
I know I'm certainly not tripping the thing myself, we get nowhere near what you'd describe as heavy downloading in this house.
moaningmags
22-02-2010, 00:12
http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller
should help
Scrap that, it doesn't, still looking though
I went to www.virginmedia.com ten clicked Help at the top right hand side.
Then selected National, than All Broadband Connection Help and it's on page 5.
Hmmm
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/12.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Completely normal. :scratch:
Mags - I had a look there but may have got lost along the way. I'll keep trying though.
Meantime, does anyone know what password to use with bt_test_user@adsl.virgin.net when you have a router that will not allow you to leave the password field blank? There are a number of forum posts on this around the 'net, most are unanswered and one or two suggest you can put anything in, as it will be ignored. Tried that last night and it didn't work ...
Ignitionnet
22-02-2010, 09:50
If it's congestion related as a number of people suggest Chris it'll degrade as time goes on and people come online. Pretty low usage on broadband networks still at this time.
See how it goes when the little ones are back from school ;)
moaningmags
22-02-2010, 17:36
I followed the steps that I followed last night and :shocked: it's gone!
So I checked again and found it here:-
http://www.virgin.net/allyours/faqs/trafficManagementFAQ.html
It's still showing as virgin.net but it's the only one I can find.
See how it goes when the little ones are back from school ;)
Well, here we go:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/10.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
:mad:
It is never normally this bad at this time of the evening. Normally I can stream SD content from the iPlayer no problem during the evening, but with these stats, no way.
Am I being STM'd? I shouldn't be, there is absolutely no way my downloading could get me anywhere near the threshold (not that the threshold is very clearly defined in their terms).
dilli-theclaw
22-02-2010, 20:15
Well, here we go:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/10.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
:mad:
It is never normally this bad at this time of the evening. Normally I can stream SD content from the iPlayer no problem during the evening, but with these stats, no way.
Am I being STM'd? I shouldn't be, there is absolutely no way my downloading could get me anywhere near the threshold (not that the threshold is very clearly defined in their terms).Well i AM being traffic shaped (as I am supposed to be at the moment 'cause of what I've been downloading). So here is my test for comparison.
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/02/11.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
I still get 6.2mb/s spot on during the day.
You gotta love the way they route traffic on their National service, Speedtest thinks I'm closer to Milton Keynes than you. :D
It does look like the muppets are throttling me though. Any ideas how I can take this forward? I can't be doing with phoning them up if I'm just going to get a 'computer says noooooh' line from someone who assumes that if I'm being throttled, I must therefore have done something to deserve it ...
A comment on Rory Cellan-Jones' blog made me remember this thread yesterday. It was a user claiming he had phoned VM National tech support to complain about his download speed, and been told that VM had under-estimated customer growth this year, resulting in congestion and poor download speeds. Also that this should be rectified within a couple of weeks. Does this sound likely?
My downloads continue to fall off a cliff every evening. Half an hour ago I had about 750k down, now I have this:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/55.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
... which is a great big pile of old pants.
I used to be able to download a one-hour programme from iPlayer (approx 650MB) in about an hour, or else have immediate viewing by streaming it in reasonably good quality. But it has been several weeks now since this was possible. I downloaded something last night and the iPlayer was predicting more than four hours. :rant:
fireman328
09-03-2010, 21:29
Mine is usual, poor.
pip08456
09-03-2010, 22:32
Can't really blame VM for that as distance from the exchange is a problem for all ADSL packages.
Can't really blame VM for that as distance from the exchange is a problem for all ADSL packages.
Err .. when I have a sync of 3200kbps, a BRAS profile at the exchange of 2500kbps and real-world speeds in the morning and early afternoon of up to 2.4Mb, then yes, I can and do blame VM when my speed frequently drops below 512Kb in the evening.
Further to the above, this is the normal speed for my line:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/54.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Turkey Machine
10-03-2010, 13:14
Further to the above, this is the normal speed for my line:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/54.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Congestion on both on-net and off-net. Why am I not surprised..... :)
Ignitionnet
10-03-2010, 13:41
Can't really blame VM for that as distance from the exchange is a problem for all ADSL packages.
http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php
Enough said.
Ignitionnet
10-03-2010, 17:12
Slow Speeds 02/03/10@10:47
During 2009 the Virgin Media network was not able to support enough customers streaming video content such as iPlayer. To address this we have re-engineered the network to support a much greater volume of customers using video streaming. The volume of traffic now supported at peak times has increased dramatically - there is still more work to be done to address the peak time experience. We are working to try and address this and aim to deploy more improvements over the coming weeks.
They're saying they don't have enough capacity and have changed the shaping to prioritise streaming. They're going to mess around with the shaping some more to see if they can make it suck less.
That there is nothing about adding additional capacity is deeply reassuring.
You gotta love ISPs, selling access to a network that has done nothing but devise new and bigger ways to hoover up bandwidth since the day it was switched on ... then acting all surprised when pesky new technologies come along and screw with their business model by ... ta-da-daaaahhh ... demanding more bandwidth.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the daily vacuum is just beginning to be felt:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/53.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Mick Fisher
10-03-2010, 19:12
It's scandalous that this scam, for that is what it is, is allowed to happen. One would think that ISP's are an endangered species by the liberties they are allowed to take.
Just another example of regulation that hasn't a clue or is just in the back pocket of the Industry it is supposed to be regulating. Another prime example is the Power Companies being allowed to blatently fleece the populace and the Regulator bleating he can't do anything as he has been stripped of the power to regulate pricing. WOW!! How damn conveniant.
What is the damn use of regulators who haven't the power to regulate.
We are all so screwed!!!!!!!
Ignitionnet
10-03-2010, 19:14
Be useful to see if BenMCR is suffering also given that he's on the LLU product, he is conspicuous by his absence in this thread thusfar.
fireman328
10-03-2010, 19:57
Mine is pants and I am looking at my exchange in Redhill
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/50.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
:rolleyes:
dilli-theclaw
10-03-2010, 20:53
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/50.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
:rolleyes:HHHmmm indeedy
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/51.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Ignitionnet
10-03-2010, 22:24
Unless you're still under contract no-one is forcing you to stay with Virgin, and with that kind of service I'm not sure why you would.
Because it's cheap and I'm broke. :shrug:
dilli-theclaw
11-03-2010, 10:54
Unless you're still under contract no-one is forcing you to stay with Virgin, and with that kind of service I'm not sure why you would.What is the point in changing if (as is the case here in potton) there isn't anything better.
cowcaddens ubr problem? everytime i try to upload to rapidshare my internet dies for 30-60 seconds, refuses to load a single web page. this beyond a joke.
it's so bad it ranges from 218kbps to 710kbps then down to 210 kbps.
Ignitionnet
11-03-2010, 17:32
What is the point in changing if (as is the case here in potton) there isn't anything better.
There's quite a lot of services that don't go down to sub-0.5Mbit at peak periods.
http://www.plus.net/
http://www.zen.co.uk/
http://www.xilo.net/adsl_broadband/
http://www.titan-adsl.co.uk/broadband.html
http://www.ukfsn.org/home/internet/adsl/
Etc.
So yes, there's plenty that's better.
I'm guessing the issue is affecting LLU as well given BenMCR has been around but has not commented on this thread - Ben?
---------- Post added at 17:32 ---------- Previous post was at 17:29 ----------
Because it's cheap and I'm broke. :shrug:
See above, http://www.plus.net for example. There's a few options that have large unmetered usage periods.
dilli-theclaw
11-03-2010, 19:12
There's quite a lot of services that don't go down to sub-0.5Mbit at peak periods.
http://www.plus.net/
http://www.zen.co.uk/
http://www.xilo.net/adsl_broadband/
http://www.titan-adsl.co.uk/broadband.html
http://www.ukfsn.org/home/internet/adsl/
Etc.
So yes, there's plenty that's better.
I'm guessing the issue is affecting LLU as well given BenMCR has been around but has not commented on this thread - Ben?
---------- Post added at 17:32 ---------- Previous post was at 17:29 ----------
See above, http://www.plus.net for example. There's a few options that have large unmetered usage periods.I just looked at all your links and they all say I either can't get them here OR they are not unlimited (ie have a usage cap). But it was an interesting read - thank you.
Ignitionnet
11-03-2010, 19:30
I just looked at all your links and they all say I either can't get them here OR they are not unlimited (ie have a usage cap). But it was an interesting read - thank you.
Those are all, without exception, available to all ADSLMax exchanges - I checked that bit before I provided them. None are LLU only all should be IPStream and LLU though some will have LLU-only options.
I'm aware they have usage caps. Sadly if you demand 'unlimited' service, are out in the sticks, and don't want to pay too much you're going to be stuck with a service that's spotty at best and at worst, well, your speed tests tell the story. Those on O2 Access and Sky Connect are in the same situation.
Do consider at least checking out your usage - you may find it's either largely off peak or below the usage caps for some of those services.
dilli-theclaw
11-03-2010, 19:35
I realise I'm in danger of taking over Chris' thread hear but a quick reply before I move on.
I do get my full estimated speed 6.2mb during the day and off peak, midnight till 4pm. I schedule ALL my downloads to be done during this time so in theory I shouldn't be shaped outside this time.
Most of my usage wouldn't exceed 150gb say in a month.
Still I will no doubt have another look when my current 12months are up :tu:. Mind you I am also looking at moving back into Sandy or Biggleswade where I will be able to get cable so I guess it's just a case of seeing which happens first.
Cheers :) - Dilli
Further to Ig's post, it might be worth looking at some of the Entanet resellers. When I was with ADSL24 some 18 months ago, the standard ADSL package had a peak allowance of 30GB, and unlimited off peak usage. Now I'm not a heavy downloader, but I'd say those are pretty generous allowances. Only reason I left them was because Be LLU became available at my exchange.
Ever since early January I've been experiencing awful download speeds on evenings. In comparison, at 6am I can download a podcast at 800kb/s but in the evening it appears to max out at around 70kb/s. this prevents me from watching youtube vids at anything higher than 360 and makes live streaming video almost impossible. I signed up to the skyplayer (web based) and had to cancel as it wouldn't play without buffering every 30 secs even on the low quality setting.
At first I thought it was down to traffic management but it still happens from 7pm even if I've been out all day with the PC switched off. I figured it might be down to my local rural (non LLU) BT exchange being over subscribed but my parents live just down the road and are with BT broadband and theirs is fine all evening. I'm not sure what I can do aside from waiting in a queue for 60min on an 0845 number and then speaking to someone who will go through a script asking me to reboot my router etc. It appears to me that my ADSL route into VM is probably oversubscribed. Could someone point me in the direct of a VM support newsgroup where maybe someone could look into this?
Have a look here (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33661869-virgin-national-adsl-speed-congestion-issues.html). It appears you're not alone.
Ignitionnet
20-03-2010, 10:59
There is no support newsgroup for the National service, there's a link in the thread above to the ongoing thread on the official VM forums.
Thank guys, glad I'm not alone
@Swipe
I work for Virgin Media Swansea - There is an issue on the IPSTREAM Network at the moment which we are trying to tackle.
“During 2009 the Virgin Media network was not able to support enough customers streaming video content such as iPlayer and YouTube. To address this we have re-engineered the network to support a much greater volume of customers using video streaming. While the volume of streaming traffic now supported at peak times has increased dramatically there is still more work to be done to address the peak time experience. We have started to deploy new functionality that starts to address this and aim to deploy more improvements over the coming weeks”.
Thanks,
Ezay
Swansea National Tech Support
I've seen that statement doing the rounds ezay ... the ominous thing about it is the one thing that it doesn't say. Namely, no promise of improved capacity, which is the one and only sure-fire means of solving the problem.
---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:41 ----------
Thank guys, glad I'm not alone
You're definitely not alone. Here's what I'm getting right now:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/27.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
I've seen that statement doing the rounds ezay ... the ominous thing about it is the one thing that it doesn't say. Namely, no promise of improved capacity, which is the one and only sure-fire means of solving the problem.
---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:41 ----------
You're definitely not alone. Here's what I'm getting right now:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/27.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Unfortunatley that is all we have been given to feedback to the customers, We are trying to fix this problem ASAP. I am a frontline agent who has to take calls from people with this problem everyday.
Thanks,
Ezay
National Technical Support
Kellargh
20-03-2010, 17:27
Unfortunatley that is all we have been given to feedback to the customers, We are trying to fix this problem ASAP. I am a frontline agent who has to take calls from people with this problem everyday.
Thanks,
Ezay
National Technical Support
The issue is that they haven't purchased enough bandwidth to cover, not this meaningless stuff you're having to say. The statement is another way to cover up the big mistake that they made. I would really advise anyone who isn't happy to move to another supplier, Virgin National is a terrible service with no process or experience...and very little support for the guys who have to speak to the extremely irate customers caused by this mess.
Cobbydaler
20-03-2010, 17:37
Guess I must be one of the lucky ones (touch wood!), haven't had any problems over the last 3 months. Steady 5 - 6 Mb/s...
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/25.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
Guess I must be one of the lucky ones (touch wood!), haven't had any problems over the last 3 months. Steady 5 - 6 Mb/s...
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/03/25.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
You are more than likley on the LLU SMPF Network.
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.