Virgin Media speed problems Options

[Sherlock]

The speed of my Virgin Media cable broadband has been seriously downgraded over the last few days. Until about 5 days ago speed checks gave about 10mb/s but it dropped to about 4 three or four days ago and is less than 2mb/s this evening.

I spent about 45 minutes talking to a very helpful support person yesterday who tried everything under the sun but couldn't find anything wrong with my PCs and he was certain that the line is OK. The service hasn't been throttled - no reason why it should be - so I was wondering if anyone else is having problems.

[user23]

I wonder if you have a neighbour who's recently signed up to Virgin?

[Nothing Much]

No. I think they have had a problem. Been off line for 24 hours.
I am pavement cabled so I don't think theft is as simple as that.
That is London for you....
ce

[Guest_xjay1337_*]

Join Sky.

[Vodabury]

My experience in brief:

In early 2010, BT told me I would get 6MB in central Newbury, so I signed up.

Indeed, I had 6MB for about 6 months then it went to 2MB.

After many phone calls and emails, I got a discount on the bill and now get about 3.6MB.

But, if I pose as a new customer, BT tells me max 11MB, average 8MB.

I have asked about Infinity and have been told it is imminent, but no date yet.

At the end of the day, the local loop is managed by BT and they appear to be able to do what they like.

[JeffG]

I have asked about Infinity and have been told it is imminent, but no date yet.

That's surprising if you're in central Newbury. I have Infinity now and I am about half a mile from the town centre. You can enter your phone number to check on this page, if you've not done that already.

[NWNREADER]

I'm signed up for 10mbps and have just tested at 9.6. That is fine in my book.....

[Sherlock]

Thanks for the replies, folks. It's back to 9/10Mbps this morning so it'll be interesting to find out whether it slows down again this evening.

Re. your point, User, is it possible that a throttle applied to a neighbour could also hit me?

Incidentally, I've come across a useful broadband speed monitor app for my phone: see speedtest.net at the Android market. Other smartphone versions may be available.

.

[Sherlock]

Slightly off topic, but I came across the following rather excellent new(ish) thing which I had to watch all the way through, purely in the interests of testing my broadband you'll understand.

Rather amazingly it features ce/Nothing Much starting at 2mins 30secs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...;v=JKdLZ9P9RdQ#!

Quality stuff, IMO.

[user23]

Re. your point, User, is it possible that a throttle applied to a neighbour could also hit me?

Probably not, but in many cases you share you broadband connection with a number of your neighbours.

It's called a contention ratio, ask your ISP what yours is.

Don't forget, if you're interested in Superfast Broadband in Berkshire register your interest here.

[Nothing Much]

Thanks for the morning wake up call.Sherlock, I even have the same fireplace.
"Huston, Nothing Much has lift Off".
ce

[Jayjay]

That's surprising if you're in central Newbury. I have Infinity now and I am about half a mile from the town centre. You can enter your phone number to check on this page, if you've not done that already.

I am outside the town centre and on Infinity. Just tested and 30.3 download, 1.5 upload.

[Vodabury]

That's surprising if you're in central Newbury. I have Infinity now and I am about half a mile from the town centre. You can enter your phone number to check on this page, if you've not done that already.

Have done again today. Am now told available 31 March.

[JeffG]

Yes, that's a real eye-opener. I thought just because I have it, the whole of Newbury must be enabled. Just to check, I put in the phone number of the Volunteer Centre, which is in Northbrook Street, and sure enough, Infinity is not available there.

[Sherlock]

Meanwhile I'm back at home again and the speed is back down to 5mbps. Fine in the early hours of the morning but it drops right down during the day. Will call round to the neigbours this evening to find out which of them is downloading gigabytes of porn (the only possible explanation).

[Nothing Much]

I am a long neck of ze woods from votre connection.
Virgin do run down speeds after perhaps 5pm.
I pay for a good service. ( No Jokes, Please)
ce

[Guest_xjay1337_*]

Meanwhile I'm back at home again and the speed is back down to 5mbps. Fine in the early hours of the morning but it drops right down during the day. Will call round to the neigbours this evening to find out which of them is downloading gigabytes of porn (the only possible explanation).

You may share a "connection" but their rate limits will not apply to yours as it's dished out on a per IP basis, or depending on ISP, a combination of Home Router MAC address and IP address.
I download Gigabytes of the stuff (and other shows) and I'm fine.

What you're experiencing through the day is probably called "fair usage", basically it's ISP's excuse for crap speed during the daytime. That lots of people are using it blah blah blah..

[Nothing Much]

I Think for once, xjay has "explained" the problem.Succinctly.Virgin is good.
Between 3 and 5 pm you can downlowd what you wish. 4 ever
After that you are etoufeed.. Franglais. Sherlock
ce
Yes I do know I post rubbish,

[Sherlock]

I download Gigabytes of the stuff (and other shows) and I'm fine.

What you're experiencing through the day is probably called "fair usage"

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean by fair usage in this context. Do you think I might be exceeding a fair usage limit?

I've used a bandwidth monitor for the last few says and I'm averaging about 2gb a day downloaded (and about 150mb a day uploaded) which doesn't seem excessive.

[NWNREADER]

Meanwhile I'm back at home again and the speed is back down to 5mbps. Fine in the early hours of the morning but it drops right down during the day. Will call round to the neigbours this evening to find out which of them is downloading gigabytes of porn (the only possible explanation).

9.64/1.01. No complaints ever with the service I have