Tethering

[tucker61]

Been reading the community forum and people are discussing that tethering is no longer allowed. I can anyone confirm this?

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...3/td-p/1677100

I have a Samsung galaxy s2 and use it frequently as a hotspot so I can connect my laptop to the Internet.

If I can't do this, then need to look at other options.

[Dash: CF noob]

http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/gener...r.sm068#Virgin Media Mobile Acceptable Use Policy Pay Monthly

For new & upgrading customers from 24 January 2013: If your tariff includes data, then this is for mobile internet services and data consumption actually on your handset. It does not include using your handset as a modem to connect other devices such as laptops and tablets - also known as "Tethering".

Virgin Media reserves the right to impose network protection controls which may reduce your speed of transmission if your data usage is excessive and not in keeping with that reasonably expected of a private individual.

For customers who joined Virgin Media after 25 June 2012 excessive use over 3.5GB of data per calendar month will result in their maximum bandwidth being restricted to 3G speeds (384kbit/s downstream, 200kbit/s upstream) on our network between midday and midnight. For customers who joined before 25 June 2012 excessive use over 2GB of data per calendar month will result in this restriction being applied. This policy will apply until the end of the calendar month, when it will be automatically removed. We reserve the right to review these usage levels from time to time. At this reduced speed, customers will still be able to browse web pages, send/receive emails, and stream audio and video all at 3G data speeds, but peer-to-peer and large file downloads/uploads will be slower than normal.

---------- Post added at 08:46 ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 ----------

Live chat response just now

"We currently don’t offer tethering service. If your tariff includes unlimited data, that will cover mobile internet services and data consumption of the handset. It does not include using your handset as a modem to connect other devices such as laptops and tablets."

[tucker61]

Thanks, I am on a 1gb package, and have never gone over this. My contract was renewed in September last year, so I wonder when it will effect me.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Dash: CF noob

http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/gener...r.sm068#Virgin Media Mobile Acceptable Use Policy Pay Monthly

For new & upgrading customers from 24 January 2013:

Thankfully i upgraded in December 2012 so it means i can still tether if needed, i think i have done it 2 or 3 times when needed if my cable modem goes down during a network outage or fault.

[Qtx]

Their limit was 10GB a few months ago so 3.5GB is quite a cut in allowed data before being slowed to the slowest 3G speed. Especially if some took up the service in the last 3 or 4 months due to the 10GB limit.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Qtx

Their limit was 10GB a few months ago so 3.5GB is quite a cut in allowed data before being slowed to the slowest 3G speed. Especially if some took up the service in the last 3 or 4 months due to the 10GB limit.

Been on a Virgin mobile for a good few years but hardly ever tethered. The ability to tether for me is mainly as a backup in case my main connection goes down and that has only ever been a couple of times over the past few years. i have never used more than about 1 gig in all that time tethered i would say

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Been on a Virgin mobile for a good few years but hardly ever tethered. The ability to tether for me is mainly as a backup in case my main connection goes down and that has only ever been a couple of times over the past few years. i have never used more than about 1 gig in all that time tethered i would say

My tethering usage is similar to yours, simply for broadband downtime. Not everyone has the same needs though and if they looked in the last 6 months they may have signed up to virgins unlimited due to its 10gb threshold, which has now been reduced to 3.5GB.

I am fairly sure a few months ago virgin were saying on their forums that tethering was allowed when asked. So the policy on tethering as well as data limits appear to have radically changed.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Qtx

My tethering usage is similar to yours, simply for broadband downtime. Not everyone has the same needs though and if they looked in the last 6 months they may have signed up to virgins unlimited due to its 10gb threshold, which has now been reduced to 3.5GB.

I am fairly sure a few months ago virgin were saying on their forums that tethering was allowed when asked. So the policy on tethering as well as data limits appear to have radically changed.

I cannot understand why they have changed it so much in such a short time ?

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by Sirius

I cannot understand why they have changed it so much in such a short time ?

Maybe due to advertising it as unlimited, people took that at face value and tried to use it in an unlimited way. Virgin couldn't handle that use?

If someone wants unlimited mobile data with tethering that they can make heavier use of they usually choose Three. It seemed like Virgin wanted some of that pie then changed its mind. Might be a way out of contract as the change is significantly different to what some signed up for.

[Qtx]

There is a distinct lack of 'Ben's reply here. Mirrors the way VM have seemed to ignore a fair amount of tethering related questions on their own forum lately. One has to wonder if they don't wish to announce their new tethering rules and new 3.5gb data limit on their unlimited plan...

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Qtx

There is a distinct lack of 'Ben's reply here. Mirrors the way VM have seemed to ignore a fair amount of tethering related questions on their own forum lately. One has to wonder if they don't wish to announce their new tethering rules and new 3.5gb data limit on their unlimited plan...

Well they have said this on there support forum

Changes to our Acceptable use policy for Pay Monthly/Sim only customers
[ New ]
Options

on ‎28-01-2013 14:58

Hi all,



Following changes to our acceptable use policy, from 24 January 2013 new and upgrading Pay Monthly/Sim only Mobile customers will only be permitted to use their data allowance to access the mobile internet on their handset. This means you are not permitted to use your mobile as a modem to connect other devices to the internet, also known as 'tethering'.



Existing customers who have joined before 24 January are not affected by this change; but as previously mentioned whilst it may possible to tether on your mobile device, Virgin Media does not provide the technical support for tethering.



In addition, customers who joined after 25 June 2012 will see a change to the excessive usage threshold of our acceptable use policy. Like other mobile networks we sometimes have to review usage in order to ensure the majority of customers remain unaffected by the minority using high amounts of data. You can see the changes to the acceptable use policy here.



We hope this clarifies the situation on tethering for everyone. We'll keep this page updated with any changes should they arise.



Many thanks.

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...y/td-p/1679688

[Qtx]

So they finally posted that a few days ago then. Makes sense now as to why they had been ignoring questions on the subject. Still no mention of the 10gb limit being moved down to 3.5gb though.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Qtx

So they finally posted that a few days ago then. Makes sense now as to why they had been ignoring questions on the subject. Still no mention of the 10gb limit being moved down to 3.5gb though.

You could of course accept that you're no longer a VM customer and it's time to move on. You'll find life much more enjoyable if you don't scour the internet looking for ways to have a dig at every opportunity. I used to be with sky - I left and moved on. I used to be with vodafone - I left and moved on. I used to be with tmobile - I left and moved on. When I left it was because I'd issues of one kind or another. Since leaving I've seen news that these companies have been having problems - not once have I felt a compelling urge to post about it - I've contented myself with the knowledge that it's no longer my problem!

I think we've all realised by now that you've moved to pastures new. I do feel for anyone having issues, but your constant digs do nothing other than diminish any credibilty that your posts carry.

No doubt you'll say I'm being predictable, but if we weren't bombarded with pedantic nit-picking I wouldn't feel that you needed pulling up on your posting style.

Cheers

Grim

Mod Comment - let's stick to the topic, and keep on personalities.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Qtx

Still no mention of the 10gb limit being moved down to 3.5gb though.

That is this bit:

In addition, customers who joined after 25 June 2012 will see a change to the excessive usage threshold of our acceptable use policy. Like other mobile networks we sometimes have to review usage in order to ensure the majority of customers remain unaffected by the minority using high amounts of data. You can see the changes to the acceptable use policy here.