Virgin Media - Crap/Not Crap
- Thread starter UnderOpenSky
- Start date
pinkychukkles
Feed Your Head
Me too, so fuckin tiresome.
As I think I've said before, I wish there was another fibre supplier where I live as I would just switch between each one whenever the contract came to end and take advantage of whatever 'new' customer deals there were. However that relies of (BT) OpenReach pulling their finger out of their arse and upgrading the network here, which doesn't look likely (in East Herts).
pinkychukkles
Feed Your Head
Am on a 100mb connection at the moment, wouldn't want to go lower than that especially with WFH these days. Not saying you can't get by with less but add in kids streaming video and all the other demands, 100mb doesn't leave much headroom. Remember 100mb/s is actually 12.5mB/s too.
Oh yeah that's a point. I guess if multiple people are sucking data at the same time you need much more bandwidth. I've really only ever had to supply myself on my connection(s).
pinkychukkles
Feed Your Head
Feel like that's our minimum. If you do the broadband checker with our postcode, the max the BT line will supply allegedly (and it isn't even connected AFAIA) is 60mb and that's only the best case scenario, there's no guarantee you will get that speed anyway!
Have had a 200mb Virgin connection before… which was nice but not essential. However there's only one way that consumption of data is going and that's up…
anyway, got the letter through from them informing me that they're hoiking the prices up from the start of March so actually, I can ask to leave now and start the game of chicken with their retentions department to see where it gets me… or actually leave and sign up as a 'new' customer with my partner's name. 
Have had a 200mb Virgin connection before… which was nice but not essential. However there's only one way that consumption of data is going and that's up…
anyway, got the letter through from them informing me that they're hoiking the prices up from the start of March so actually, I can ask to leave now and start the game of chicken with their retentions department to see where it gets me… or actually leave and sign up as a 'new' customer with my partner's name. 
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I could probably manage with less then 100 if I'm honest, but what would make me nervous about leaving Virgin is I almost always get at least that. If I changed I'd be worried I might get way less then was actually advertised.
cybershot
Well-Known Member
Probably not. I left a 200Mbps VM connection for a 70Mbps BT FTTC. It's fine. I can do everything I need and I don't notice the difference.
However, the price I'm paying (£33pm) for 70Mbps compared to the £40ish I was paying VM shows a bit of a disparency with pricing. I can't get VM where I am now, but if I could get 200Mbps for a few quid more, obviously I'd go for that.
BristolEcho
Well-Known Member
You all using the standard VM router? Im thinking of getting a new one.
I use a TP-Link router, with the VM one in modem mode.
For most people they can’t tell the difference between 50Mbps and 1000Mbps, and money would be far better spent on top of the range wifi than the 1000Mbps too
cybershot
Well-Known Member
Indeed. Most of my house is cabled though, so everywhere has the option of ethernet and my NAS which does a fair bit of automation downloading of movies and tv makes full use of the available bandwidth. However majority of that stuff comes down overnight anyway so it's not like I'm sitting there waiting for a download, and if I am, I just do something else for for a bit.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I'm just using it as a modem, with a wired router and a seperate WiFi access point. PCs are wired. If I'm honest I didn't really have any issues with the standard one, I just wanted one with more features to play with as I was studying. Should pay dividends when I move though as I'll just add another access point as the house is bigger.
The Virgin router in my house is used in modem mode purely to get the connection in to the Asus router. I also have a mesh network attached to the Asus router ensuring awesome coverage everywhere in the house.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
That's pretty typical on home connections though. Costs a fair bit more to have your up similar to your down.
cybershot
Well-Known Member
Virgin Media offers automatic discounts to customers waiting on hold and seeking a price cut - but wait to speak to someone in person as you may be able to get a better deal
Virgin Media is offering automated discounts to cable customers put on hold who call up seeking a price cut, MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) has learnt, although we've heard of users securing far better deals if they stay on the line and haggle in person.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Can I ask for advice please - I need to get reliable internet coverage up into an attic room. The Virgin box is in the living room so we'd be looking at going up two floors. Doesn't need to be incredibly fast but looking for reliability as it's for work - so as long as you can stream a zoom meeting that's fine but don't want it dropping out. Would a mesh network be the thing?
pinkychukkles
Feed Your Head
Get a couple of powerline adaptors.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Pay to have a cable installed and put a WiFi access point on the other end. By far the best method.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
Powerline adaptors would almost definitely be cheaper though. Are they known for being unreliable? What about a Mesh network?
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
I have an old powerline adaptor and it's not the most reliable tbh but maybe a more modern version might be up to the task? In terms of wiring that was the plan but it's a bit pricy plus the guy who quoted for it seems to have gone to ground and getting someone else will be a hassle, so if I can find a quick cheap option I'd be well up for it.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Good mesh networks aren't cheap though and even then they aren't as reliable.
souljacker
innit
I had some powerline adaptors that were shit but did the job I needed them for. Used them for years until, about a month ago, one of them was playing up so I ordered some new ones from Currys. They are TP-Link AV1000s and they are fantastic. I get my full broadband speed out to the office in the garden and can easily stream video around the house.
ruffneck23
front left
I do , I have a 500Mb/s connection which is overkill but I couldnt do my work on a BT line ( up 80Mb/s)
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I got the dreaded email that as off Monday, the office will be my normal place of work. The owner is open to home working, but I need to get a static IP and of course I can't get that on a domestic package. 
So looking at their business lines. Would mean moving up to 350mbs, which of course I can live with, but also taking my line rental from £21 to £47 a month. Owch.
So looking at their business lines. Would mean moving up to 350mbs, which of course I can live with, but also taking my line rental from £21 to £47 a month. Owch.
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