Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed - Page 157

Kushan · 25-12-2013, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

So for most of the 3 years since the 10:1 upload ratios were announced, they haven't actually had 10:1 upload on most packages. But they still keep pushing download speeds higher and higher.

You can see where there priorities are...

Can you blame them? Most people wouldn't know the difference between upload and download speeds and most people would only notice their download speed increasing anyway.

qasdfdsaq · 25-12-2013, 21:22

I can blame them, yes.

I recall them saying (or at least giving the impression) all future packages would maintain a 10:1 ratio.

They didn't even maintain a 10:1 ratio to the end of the rollout!

jb66 · 25-12-2013, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

I can blame them, yes.

I recall them saying (or at least giving the impression) all future packages would maintain a 10:1 ratio.

They didn't even maintain a 10:1 ratio to the end of the rollout!

Coming soon..... blah blah

SnoopZ · 25-12-2013, 21:45

Still waiting for my 6mb upload of my 60mb, can't see that ever increasing.

Chrysalis · 26-12-2013, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kushan

Can you blame them? Most people wouldn't know the difference between upload and download speeds and most people would only notice their download speed increasing anyway.

Actually most wouldnt notice the latter and higher upload will be more noticeable.

The average joe aint going to feel the difference between 30mbit and 100mbit.

However social media and the cloud becoming more and more popular upload bandwidth is now playing a bigger role. The difference between 2mbit upload and 10mbit upload as a comparison is way more noticeable.

Jayster · 28-12-2013, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Actually most wouldnt notice the latter and higher upload will be more noticeable.

The average joe aint going to feel the difference between 30mbit and 100mbit.

However social media and the cloud becoming more and more popular upload bandwidth is now playing a bigger role. The difference between 2mbit upload and 10mbit upload as a comparison is way more noticeable.

This, I think even extreme power users would be hard pressed to need more than 100 down, but would definitely use more upload speed.

telfordcable · 28-12-2013, 19:29

10:1 ratio are to staying until 2020 say virgin media

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 19:44

Staying requires them to actually be here in the first place.

General Maximus · 28-12-2013, 19:54

exactly. It has been nearly a year since VM officially started the speed doubling program so it has been a year since everyone's ratios were 10:1 and even before that it wasn't for long. It took the forever to upgrade me from 50/1.75 to 50/5. I think I had it for 5 months before I upgrade to 100/10. Statistically speaking I think everyones connection have spent more time non-10:1 than they have been 10:1 so it isn't something VM should be able to state/advertise because it isn't true.

SnoopZ · 28-12-2013, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

exactly. It has been nearly a year since VM officially started the speed doubling program so it has been a year since everyone's ratios were 10:1 and even before that it wasn't for long. It took the forever to upgrade me from 50/1.75 to 50/5. I think I had it for 5 months before I upgrade to 100/10. Statistically speaking I think everyones connection have spent more time non-10:1 than they have been 10:1 so it isn't something VM should be able to state/advertise because it isn't true.

Still only 60/3 here has anyone been upgraded to 60/6 yet?

Kushan · 28-12-2013, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Actually most wouldnt notice the latter and higher upload will be more noticeable.

The average joe aint going to feel the difference between 30mbit and 100mbit.

However social media and the cloud becoming more and more popular upload bandwidth is now playing a bigger role. The difference between 2mbit upload and 10mbit upload as a comparison is way more noticeable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayster

This, I think even extreme power users would be hard pressed to need more than 100 down, but would definitely use more upload speed.

I think you're both overestimating the technical know-how of the average user. Most don't even realise that their connection is asymmetrical, they just see one big number and assume that the bigger number is faster than the other ISP's number. Uploading is definitely becoming more and more common, but it's still not common enough that most people will realise that it could be faster. They might notice if you increase upload speeds, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll notice that Virgin's is slower than BT's or whatever.

telfordcable · 28-12-2013, 23:03

BT FTTPoD will beat virgin media very easily!

qasdfdsaq · 29-12-2013, 00:42

Virgin Media FTTPoD is 10 Jigabiggeruberbits!

Chrysalis · 30-12-2013, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kushan

I think you're both overestimating the technical know-how of the average user. Most don't even realise that their connection is asymmetrical, they just see one big number and assume that the bigger number is faster than the other ISP's number. Uploading is definitely becoming more and more common, but it's still not common enough that most people will realise that it could be faster. They might notice if you increase upload speeds, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll notice that Virgin's is slower than BT's or whatever.

Well have a think of common internet activities.

Streaming video - so youtube, netflix, iplayer and the like. The user doesnt have to wait for a download, they just have to wait for the initial buffering, if they on a good isp thats it, no more waiting. A 30mbit connection will handle all those services without an issue at HD quality as long as there isnt congestion screwing it up. I am able to watch netflix super hd on a 2.4ghz 20mhz wifi channel no problem.
Uploading video - things change, its waiting time if you want to upload your own videos.
downloading/uploading photos - yes one has to wait but downloading a photo at 30mbit/sec, the wait should be short and sweet, however uploading high res photos at say 2mbit/sec not so sweet.
Browsing websites - internet shopping, twitter, banking, news sites, forums etc. all these should be a doddle at 30mbit/sec, 100mbit/sec wont make one bit of difference, of course in this neither does upload bandwidth, unless of course you are uploading 'whilst' browsing, then browsing becomes a laggy process. Not if you have say 20mbit/sec of upload bandwidth and your provider has a few gbit of shared upload capacity tho, then its barely noticeable.

Common activities even shows how upload capacity of both the end user and provider can affect things.

However I do agree with you that some users been so dumb lets VM off the hook they dont think isp congestion/limitations is the cause of their slow service. Instead VM tech bods have them fooled its their temporary internet folder clogging things up.

Kushan · 31-12-2013, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Well have a think of common internet activities.

Streaming video - so youtube, netflix, iplayer and the like. The user doesnt have to wait for a download, they just have to wait for the initial buffering, if they on a good isp thats it, no more waiting. A 30mbit connection will handle all those services without an issue at HD quality as long as there isnt congestion screwing it up. I am able to watch netflix super hd on a 2.4ghz 20mhz wifi channel no problem.
Uploading video - things change, its waiting time if you want to upload your own videos.
downloading/uploading photos - yes one has to wait but downloading a photo at 30mbit/sec, the wait should be short and sweet, however uploading high res photos at say 2mbit/sec not so sweet.
Browsing websites - internet shopping, twitter, banking, news sites, forums etc. all these should be a doddle at 30mbit/sec, 100mbit/sec wont make one bit of difference, of course in this neither does upload bandwidth, unless of course you are uploading 'whilst' browsing, then browsing becomes a laggy process. Not if you have say 20mbit/sec of upload bandwidth and your provider has a few gbit of shared upload capacity tho, then its barely noticeable.

Common activities even shows how upload capacity of both the end user and provider can affect things.

However I do agree with you that some users been so dumb lets VM off the hook they dont think isp congestion/limitations is the cause of their slow service. Instead VM tech bods have them fooled its their temporary internet folder clogging things up.

I'm certainly not debating the pros and cons of Virgin, just that some people (In my opinion, most people) are simply unaware of factors outside of the headline download speed. I certainly had to explain upload speeds more than a few times when I was there, though it was incredibly rare occurrence that upload speeds were ever mentioned.