Virgin Media Discussion Thread

SMN · 22 Sep 2017 at 12:28

Just cancelled Virgin as my 18 month contract is up. Hate the TV / Tivo box, its slow and awful to use. Fibre is jut way too unstable - sometimes i get 200MB, often I get 70MB, sometimes < 20MB.

Moving to SkyQ (TV) and Zen (Internet), for £20 a month cheaper than my Virgin deal (thanks to a friends-and-family code i got from a relative). tl;dr - Virgin suck.

something daft already!! · 22 Sep 2017 at 12:41

SMN said:
Just cancelled Virgin as my 18 month contract is up. Hate the TV / Tivo box, its slow and awful to use. Fibre is jut way too unstable - sometimes i get 200MB, often I get 70MB, sometimes < 20MB.

Moving to SkyQ (TV) and Zen (Internet), for £20 a month cheaper than my Virgin deal (thanks to a friends-and-family code i got from a relative). tl;dr - Virgin suck.

That sounds like a cabling issue. Have you had a repull? TBH Virgin is the best internet around. TV has much to be desired but who watches TV these days?

Rannoch · 22 Sep 2017 at 12:45

Sky is ahead for TV. Miles behind for BB.

RJC · 22 Sep 2017 at 15:16

Got my letter through this morning, another price hike for me again, broadband going up £2.99 a month.

Vodafone are doing some good deals.

antijoke · 22 Sep 2017 at 17:54

These aren't right are they?

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antijoke · 22 Sep 2017 at 18:25

Are Virgin throttling newsgroups now?

Does this answer my slow download speeds? I was on the gamer package which I understand should've been no throttles or limits at all, has this policy changed?

Steampunk · 22 Sep 2017 at 18:44

antijoke said:
Are Virgin throttling newsgroups now?

Does this answer my slow download speeds? I was on the gamer package which I understand should've been no throttles or limits at all, has this policy changed?

They've always traffic shaped newsgroups and P2P since the introduction of management. If you're not in an over subscribed area, I think it's between about 6pm and 11pm or something like that. Otherwise VM claim there are a small minority that will max their connection 24x7 to the detriment of all the other users on that segment.

antijoke · 22 Sep 2017 at 19:02

Steampunk said:
They've always traffic shaped newsgroups and P2P since the introduction of management. If you're not in an over subscribed area, I think it's between about 6pm and 11pm or something like that. Otherwise VM claim there are a small minority that will max their connection 24x7 to the detriment of all the other users on that segment.

Only reason i asked that is because I am on the Gamer package which doesn't have any, supposedly, but I wondered if that had been changed with the removal of that package, but apparently not according to their traffic management page.

antijoke · 22 Sep 2017 at 19:12

I'm starting to believe there is now traffic management in place, steam downloads at 12Mb roughly, newsgroups wont go above 3.

Unless this is all in place because of an issue in the area, but something is seriously messed up and it's annoying me a lot.

wam7 · 22 Sep 2017 at 20:30

antijoke said:
These aren't right are they?

et al

It doesn't look too good for the SH2ac. These are mine on the 200Mb Gamer in modem mode and Asus AC68U

wam7 · 22 Sep 2017 at 20:35

antijoke said:
I'm starting to believe there is now traffic management in place, steam downloads at 12Mb roughly, newsgroups wont go above 3.

Unless this is all in place because of an issue in the area, but something is seriously messed up and it's annoying me a lot.

There is no traffic management on mine and this would normally only affect uploads anyway.

Steampunk · 22 Sep 2017 at 20:59

antijoke said:
I'm starting to believe there is now traffic management in place, steam downloads at 12Mb roughly, newsgroups wont go above 3.

Unless this is all in place because of an issue in the area, but something is seriously messed up and it's annoying me a lot.

Local congestion.

antijoke said:
Only reason i asked that is because I am on the Gamer package which doesn't have any, supposedly, but I wondered if that had been changed with the removal of that package, but apparently not according to their traffic management page.

Virgin Media say you've got no traffic management. That's not the same as their traffic shaping. You've always got to watch out for the corporate weasel words.

wam7 · 22 Sep 2017 at 22:51

Virgin Media say you've got no traffic management. That's not the same as their traffic shaping. You've always got to watch out for the corporate weasel words.

Exactly this. Though I suspect you have more going on with your line than shaping.

Rainmaker · 22 Sep 2017 at 23:56

I have noticed my main newsgroup provider being throttled to death since last week. Normally I get 45MB/sec no matter what time it is, but since last week I cap between 10MB/sec and 25MB/sec consistently until just after midnight. This provider don't offer port 443 for SSL. If I switch to other providers with SSL (even to the same parent group server) then my speed is back to 45MB/sec. The tests are seconds apart, from the same PC, the same software, using the same NZB and the same number of connections. The only thing that changes is the port. So VM have definitely stepped up their shaping in one way or another. I've had to switch to another provider who offer SSL on 443.

antijoke · 22 Sep 2017 at 23:57

I’ve always maxed my connection any time of day, maybe they’ve implemented something whilst they are trying to fix the problem, it has been awful in this area for two weeks.

Lots of moaning on the local FB group.

The vivid 200 gamer package doesn’t have any supposedly at any time.

Rainmaker said:
I have noticed my main newsgroup provider being throttled to death since last week. Normally I get 45MB/sec no matter what time it is, but since last week I cap between 10MB/sec and 25MB/sec consistently until just after midnight. This provider don't offer port 443 for SSL. If I switch to other providers with SSL (even to the same parent group server) then my speed is back to 45MB/sec. The tests are seconds apart, from the same PC, the same software, using the same NZB and the same number of connections. The only thing that changes is the port. So VM have definitely stepped up their shaping in one way or another. I've had to switch to another provider who offer SSL on 443.

Hmmm, interesting, I’ll try another port. Mine is currently 563.

That interestingly also ties with when my newsgroup speeds nosedived.

Rainmaker · 23 Sep 2017 at 00:04

It's gone midnight now, but test tomorrow @antijoke (first 563 and then 443) and let me know how you get on.

Noughtboy · 23 Sep 2017 at 08:49

Drizmod said:
Ring them and select the option for wanting to leave and tell them you are not happy because of the price rise and want to leave. They will give you a discount right there that will not only cancel out the increase but lower your normal price too.

I second that. Will post again with the details.

Noughtboy · 23 Sep 2017 at 09:01

Following on from my post a few paves up, I was offered my current package (the Fun Bundle with 200Mb fibre and free weekend calls) for £28.96

When I called up to accept, the VM voice said they couldn't offer me that and I would have to pay additional line saver upfront of £196 or another £16pounds a month.

However, she would email the original guy to contact me to discuss. At this point I contacted Miss Chief in the Sky thread and got a FF code.

VM then did offer the original deal and When they sent through the contract, it was now actually £25.96 so less than half price of.the original £55 contract. Signed immediately before anyone changed their mind and thanked Miss Chief and sent the code "back to the pool"

Puzzled · 23 Sep 2017 at 12:29

How does the refer a friend credit work if the person referring only intends to stay with virgin for a few more months. Is the £50 applied as one sum or will it be split over 12 months so they'd only use a bit of it?

Sparx · 23 Sep 2017 at 14:36

MonkeyMan said:
How does the refer a friend credit work if the person referring only intends to stay with virgin for a few more months. Is the £50 applied as one sum or will it be split over 12 months so they'd only use a bit of it?

It gets added on your next bill, 30 days after their service goes live, as a lump sum credit.

How are they only staying with VM for a few months? 12-18 month contracts are they not?