Looking for advice on changing provider

Hello there

I'm after some advice. I live in cambridge and have been with Eclipse Internet for nearly 6 years now. Don't get me wrong, they've been great but my connection speed is a little rubbish - I've mostly lived with 2.7mb down and around 0.07 up (latest speedtest.net). I get 50gb / cap except for between 11pm and 8am when I can download anything at all.

Cambridge is pretty much last on the list for any new tech regarding provider and my only other real option is Virgin (already have Virgin TV).

My connection is mostly general use, some work from home and a fair bit of MMO' gaming. I do tend to d/l a lot overnight.

I was hoping someone could give me some thoughts on my options, such as they are. I've not really looked into different broadband all these years.

many thanks

Neph

0.07 up sounds wrong, unless you were uploading something at the time.

What are the routers from the actual ADSL router? Which telephone exchange are you connected to?

If you already have virgin cable TV, then the cable broadband is a fairly attractive price, particularly if happy to download over night

I'd probably move to Virgin Cable BB if it's the speed your after and you're an existing customer, see what they can offer you.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

0.07 up sounds wrong, unless you were uploading something at the time.

What are the routers from the actual ADSL router? Which telephone exchange are you connected to?

If you already have virgin cable TV, then the cable broadband is a fairly attractive price, particularly if happy to download over night

I wasn't uploading, it was speedtest.net, after a reboot. I have no idea what exchange, sorry.

Do Virgin remove d/l limits as well, then, overnight?

No I meant are you sure that something else was not running in the background that was using upstream bandwidth at the same time as the speedtest was running.

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search will tell us which exchange if you enter your phone number

Virgin Media cable limits run 9am to 3pm and 4pm to 9pm. So no limits at night

Ah ok, no, no extra unknown process' or services run without me knowing

My exchange is:

Girton EAGIR Cambridgeshire East

I like the sound of the Virgin limits as I'm usually at work during those times.

I wonder if he meant 0.7Mbps upstream? That would be right for an 832kbps sync.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 25-Oct-12 22:26:44)

Router stats please?

As your exchange is 20CN ADSL Max only you'll get much the same from all ADSL ISPs.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I wonder if he meant 0.7Mbps upstream? That would be right for an 832kbps sync.

Um yeah i guess I mean that, sorry. I mean, I just ran the test on speedtest.net, nothing more complex.

I guess if I want more, it's means getting virgin then?

cheers all

You may be able to get a bit more from what you have, which is why you are being asked for router stats. Those will tell us. See here for help.

For big speed improvements, then Virgin is the one to go for. Read up on their traffic management/throttling so you know what to expect. Whatever, yes it will be far faster most of the time than what you are on.