Virgin Modem Upgrade...

Trox · 15 Apr 2009 at 17:53

I just received an email from Virgin saying that my modem is due to be upgraded... Currently it's the Surfboard 4200, which does my 20Mb well.

Does anyone know what they are upgrading them to?

Werewolf · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:00

The Virgin (Ambit?) 255 or 256 models, which can cope with the changes they are making to the network that older models may not work well with (if at all).

IIRC it's to do with them changing from one (very old) standard to a newer more efficient one, and also trying to standardise the user equipment as at the moment they have something like 12 different models of modem in use, some of which haven't been supplied by them for about 10 years.

Trox · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:02

Ahh i see,

I was thinking there was some catch in it as my SB 4200 is working fine and has done for years... If it aint broke... lol

trackrat · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:49

I have a Surfboard 4200, and it is still working faultlessly after 8 years.
I have had no notice of any change yet, but generally the West Midlands are the last ones to be upgraded.

Ironic Namesake · 15 Apr 2009 at 20:53

I still have a Surfboard 4100 which handles the 20mb connection fine, have had this for ages

Would it be worth trying to get this upgraded, or not much point if it works fine?

Dist · 15 Apr 2009 at 21:37

4100 here, works fine on my 20Mb. My only issue with it is the poor way it handles logs. It uses an annoying timestamp and the log information not very helpfull when there is an issue.

Considering that the biggest problem it has is just a logging problem imo, that goes to show that even though its a very old modem it is still very capable of 20Mb without any important problems.

Diddyman · 16 Apr 2009 at 14:19

I recently reported a very minor fault and the first thing they did was send me one of these VM branded modems.

I currently have a Motorola SB5101E which has always work flawlessly and the new one, from appearences seems unbranded and cheap.

I'm just gona not install the new one and have it activated until I have to.

HAz · 16 Apr 2009 at 18:52

Werewolf said:
The Virgin (Ambit?) 255 or 256 models, which can cope with the changes they are making to the network that older models may not work well with (if at all).

IIRC it's to do with them changing from one (very old) standard to a newer more efficient one, and also trying to standardise the user equipment as at the moment they have something like 12 different models of modem in use, some of which haven't been supplied by them for about 10 years.

PPl had cabel in 1999? i had 56k on a dacs line back then. 3k a sec downloads

OCdude · 17 Apr 2009 at 07:52

They're basically making sure everyone is using DOCSIS 2.0 compatible modems and getting people off of the older DOCSIS 1.1 ones.

Something like that anyway!