50Mb Broadband from VirginMedia

Messa · 26th December 2008

How many of you can get this in your area and how many don't think its worth it?

I think if traffic management is enforced then it will more than likely be a waste of money...

Thoughts?

othellotech · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messa

I think if traffic management is enforced

Its ntl/blueyonder/virgin - traffic manglement comes as standard

They cant maintain speeds on a 2Mb connection, so the real "buyers" of a 50Mb service will be those compensating for something ...

2dayhost · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Sorry, 50Mb broadband isn't available in your home yet

Currently have 20MB broadband from Virgin at home, but the actual speed had never been higher than 14mbps

gavint · 27th December 2008

I'm pretty happy with my 20Mbit Virgin Media connection for what I pay.

What I'd really like is more upstream so I may upgrade when 50Mbit comes to Bristol, but usually for upgrades Bristol is about 9 months behind the early adopters.

Not sure about their bizarre "£5 cheaper if you take a phone line" plans though. Suppose you don't have to plug a phone in (haven't had a land line for 2 years and can't really say I want one now but I suppose if someone wants to pay you...).

Gavin

M8INTERNET · 27th December 2008

I still don't see why people need massive broadband packages, for residential use
I have never taken any meter readings just to see what my usage is, but I find my 2Mb connection is remarkbly stable
When I first had TeleWest it was 1Mb and I've not noticed any difference since VM upgraded it last year
Rumour has it that it is to be upgraded again, from 2Mb to 4Mb
However, I may request that I am downgraded instead, back to the basic connection in favour of upgrading my TV package

Virgin Media are always offering attracive integrated packages to remain competitive with BT and mobile phone companies
BT have now started to offer fixed price phone line packages, which previously had a tiered pricing structure, so that no matter how little or much you use for voice calls you pay the same monthly price, although how long that will last is another matter!
Yes you can move your phone line to Virgin Media and never use it

I myself found that between land line and mobile phone calls it was cheaper just to cancel the land line altogether and spend the £5 on mobile phone calls instead

I have a relative that still has a BT account, makes no phone calls, but wants to keep the account active so that they keep the phone number
It's costing £140 a year, which to me is just money down the drain!

PeteK · 27th December 2008

50Mb/s sounds impressive when downloading from newgroups or somewhere that can provide continous bandwidth but lets be fair, it is pointless with torrents and similar as there isn't enough upstream on other peers for it to be useful.

None the less you haven't a hope in hell of acheiving this on VM in any case so yet again its marketing spiel only..

JamieBeeston · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteK

50Mb/s sounds impressive when downloading from newgroups or somewhere that can provide continous bandwidth but lets be fair, it is pointless with torrents and similar as there isn't enough upstream on other peers for it to be useful.

I'd dispute that.. when I've torrented in the office before (CentOS DVD's etc) I've routinely maxed out my 100mbit connection.

With literally thousands of people in swarms (tens of thousands in the illicit 0-day swarms) you can easily max out any non-industrial sized connection.

J

Messa · 27th December 2008

I Read somewhere that traffic management wasn't being enforced at first, but hey that is no doubt wrong.

50Mb is available in my area apparently, i just don't know whether to get it.
I'm on 10Mb from them now and lately i've had quite a bit of trouble with extremley slow / no internet access.

PeteK · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieBeeston

I'd dispute that.. when I've torrented in the office before (CentOS DVD's etc) I've routinely maxed out my 100mbit connection.

With literally thousands of people in swarms (tens of thousands in the illicit 0-day swarms) you can easily max out any non-industrial sized connection.

J

Isn't mirror.ac or similar more efficient than a torrent tho? I'm sorry but if we didn't have such stashed locally I would look for an ftp source, not torrents..

JamieBeeston · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteK

Isn't mirror.ac or similar more efficient than a torrent tho? I'm sorry but if we didn't have such stashed locally I would look for an ftp source, not torrents..

they're was a stage during which they took the DVD image off-line and on torrent form only (to save their b/w bills I'm sure)

Either way, I wasnt advocating the use of torrent for downloads, simply rejecting the statement that you cant max out a home DSL line on torrents.

M8INTERNET · 27th December 2008

It looks like only existing customers will be offered this initially
As far as I can work out a modem upgrade will be essential
Even my Motorola SB5100 will have to be replaced (maximum 38Mbps)

The upstream is 1.5Mb, increasing to 2.5Mb towards Spring 2009, which seems excellent to me, yet some forums are already full of grumblings that that is too low!

Sadly at £52 per month I won't be upgrading, I don't see any benefit

Messa · 27th December 2008

its £35 / month if you have a landline too.. so not all bad, and 2.5mb upstream could be quite awesome

JamieBeeston · 27th December 2008

In what way? You wont be able to host of it

M8INTERNET · 27th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messa

its £35 / month if you have a landline too.. so not all bad

That's the XL broadband upgrade promotion (2 for £35)
£35 for first 6 months
£42 per month thereafter
Minimum 12 months

Virgin Media pricing is bonkers!
Take out one service only and it can be more expensive than if you take out two or more

I am still on an old pricing promotion, which is cheaper than the current one, or having them separate
I was about to contact them in early December, then worked out it would cost me an extra £3 per month, so why bother!

UH-Matt · 28th December 2008

Im a fairly new Virgin customer and must say the service has impressed me no end. I have XL 20mbit broadband and can almost always max it out when I need to, ive had not one disconnect or outtage in the first few months ive been with them, and speed has always been absolutely perfect for me in my area.

I won't be upgrading to 50mbit as I really dont need it, the value I got for my 20mbit deal made it worth while, but not the 50mbit for now.