Thinking...

of joining Virginmedia. I'm currently with BE and I get on average 11MB download. BE has been fairly stable for a long time BUT of late Virginmedia has really appealed to me in terms of the 50MB connection and their TV package. Is the 50MB connection worthwhile and will they do traffic shaping on this?

I do have spurts of download frenzy when I may download a couple of DVD's or software and music, but then I could be very quiet for weeks on end.

Worthwhile? Very subjective. I've got a few friends that get a cracking service and say it's worth every penny. Others on here get a substandard service. Others think it's overpriced. It's down to what you value it at, and if you'd be happy paying for it and getting less than 50mb speeds.

Traffic shaping? No. There are apparently plans to STM it at a later date but at the moment it's unlimited and unshaped.

Everything VM offer is shapped appart from the premium 50mbps connection. But, it comes at a hefty price. Only get it if you plan on requiring such a fast connection alot of the time.

Also virgin have the worsed customer service of any service i've ever had to deal with. I would stick with BE unless you truly require 50 meg. From the sounds of it you dont.

Edited by deleted (Mon 08-Jun-09 12:19:42)

Edited by deleted (Mon 08-Jun-09 13:41:25)

Thanks guys. One of my colleagues has the 50MB service and swears by it. His speeds are fairly high and the connection for him has been stable.

When I initially started with BE the service was appalling; however they have really improved and they now provide a first rate service.

I have now signed up to Virgin and installation is set for 10 days from now.

Let's see how it goes...

Many thanks again for all of the helpful replies; greatly appreciated

Thanks for the info. Currently I have a Belkin Wireless N Router which worked fine with my MAC computers. Recently bought a Vista laptop which has a Draft N card. The two constantly clash!

That said I'm looking forward to the 50MB - Can't wait!

I take it the speed issues that you were unhappy about previously have been resolved?

In reply to a post by pcoventry76:

I do about 300GB a day. no issues

Probably going to regret asking this but what can you do with 9TB/month of downstream? I can't even see 300GB of English language Blu Ray on Usenet today.

Called up Virgin to add the TV service to the installation of the Broadband. Told yes it can be done. They go off to put the wheels in motion with another department. A while later I receive an email from them stating that the TV will be installed a week after the broadband but i need to call them to pay £99 for V+, despite Sky doing HD for £49 or FREE if you go via Simply Digital.

Anyhow, I give Virgin a call to pay and after giving the girl my details (Kana Number) she tells me that the person who I talked to before cancelled both Broadband and the TV Service for some unknown reason and now I've lost the dates. I was so livid that I told her to forget the whole thing..... How incompetent, even before I have the service!!

Forgive me for commenting, but is it not these "excessive users" which slow everyhting down for everyone else ??

Yes, that's why the STM is put in place to limit the effect they have at peak times.

1. STM - what is that?

2. Are torrent d/ls capped?

Subscriber Traffic Management - details of it are here:
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/traffi...

There have been stories that Virgin were/are/will be limiting torrent downloads, but I've not read anything concrete. One example here from Dec 2008 said it would be "next year"
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/virgin_bitto...

OK. Thanks for info.