On Tuesday Virgin Media is coming to install 20mb broadband and a phoneline into my flat. The arguments are over, and they have acknowledged that 1) my flat exists, 2) the street is cabled and 3) the office already has cable.
I shall let you know how I get on :)
The main reason I've gone with cable rather than BT + IDNet is I cannot afford the £150 installation cost of a BT line. To compare, my Virgin Media installation cost is £10 (they gave me the web price because I started my order there :D). The guy on the phone today was nice and helpful, and those in the local area have had no problems with cable internet, so hopefully things will go well.
I'll still be recommending IDNet to those in other areas, though :p
Good luck, Danni. From what I have seen Virgin cable is OK, but definitely not Virgin ADSL. Now just don't go posting speed tests that make the rest of us jealous. ;)
A few people I know have had issues with VM, but have been resolved. In fact I am moving to them for TV as Sky is to darn expensive. Will not take the Internet though as I require multiple IPs.
Quote from: Rik on Mar 05, 2008, 16:20:45
Good luck, Danni. From what I have seen Virgin cable is OK, but definitely not Virgin ADSL. Now just don't go posting speed tests that make the rest of us jealous. ;)
I gotta have some compensation for not being on IDNet :P
And I just noticed- my installation date is only 6 days away... BT made me wait 3 weeks last time!
Good luck Danni, my Daughter has Virgin Cable, hers sucks, very slow speeds and numerous cut offs, but she thinks it is because they have too many connections at her " green box ", I don't fully understand it TBH.
Anyway, it sounds like it is OK in your locality. :thumb:
Quote from: Danni on Mar 05, 2008, 16:23:14
I gotta have some compensation for not being on IDNet :P
And I just noticed- my installation date is only 6 days away... BT made me wait 3 weeks last time!
Oh, go on then. :-*
Hi Danni
These might be of interest if you are moving.
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/
i to have been stung by BT with that charge a few times, it is painful, just out of interest has anyone on here managed to find a way of not paying it, I'm sure I have seen posts on other forums where people have found a way of dodging it.
It's very rare you can avoid the charge since the establishment of Openreach. If you have a dial tone and the line has been out of use for less than 30 days, the charge may be waived. It's also possible to get connected at slightly lower rates with other call providers, eg the Post Office.
Yup- and this building only finished getting built last year, so they'd need to come and put a new line in. I doubt there would be a way to avoid it :(
Thanks for the links, somanyholes. I know it's not gonna be as good as IDNet for support and policy and things, but hopefully the speed (and low cost- £21 for the first 3 months, £31 a month thereafter for 20mb and phone) will make up for it somewhat. Colin will be sticking with IDNet though- he lives in an uncabled area :p
Quote from: Danni on Mar 05, 2008, 16:31:57
Yup- and this building only finished getting built last year, so they'd need to come and put a new line in. I doubt there would be a way to avoid it :(
Almost certainly not, Danni. Don't you just love the way Ofcom's changes always seem to work against us? :mad:
I love it when people say "I've got 20mb cable", the only place you can use it to download is from the ISPs transparent proxy servers. Not many sites on the net that would even have that bandwidth available to them :out:
I've got up to 8Mbps ADSL. ;)
I remember the early days of NTL when they started cable modem connections. It was a pity they only put in a 10Mb network instead of 100Mb, it soon got a bit choked. Things should improve when the big companies start using 10Gb more and start driving hardware costs down. Perhaps in future we may even get to use some of the spare dark fibre companies have layed :D
I have seen speeds of the order of 20 megabit per second from some sites when using university machines so there are certainly websites that can provide data at that speed.
and there are also tools that can download different bits of a file from multiple sources in paralell.
It would be nice to see domestic routers switch to gigabit speeds. More and more people have multiple machines and network them these days, gigabit routers would take that a stage further and increase the takeup of NAS.
Yeah I second that Rik. Would make streaming around the house so much better :thumb:
It has to come, most machines now have gigabit cards...
I know it's an up to, but I suppose where the advantage for me will be that I can do several things with the connection at once at high speed- such as streaming music, downloading updates, playing on SL, doing file transfer to and from my server, talking on IM and browsing websites. I can only manage to do a couple of those together at the moment.
The limiting factor with my connection is me, Danni - I'm not a good multi-tasker. ;)
I should point out at the moment I'm limited to 3G speed (460kbps) so even if I don't get near 20mb, it will be an improvement :p
I'd settle for 5-6Mbps myself, that would be twice what I can get. :)
Quote from: Rik on Mar 05, 2008, 16:20:45
Good luck, Danni. From what I have seen Virgin cable is OK,
That was the case when it was Blue Yonder. Sadly it's one of the worst providers out there now. My mate in St Helens disconnects about 6 times a night, every night. They never EVER reply to his emails. They NEVER sort any problems. Their phone support is a premium number. Their staff have the training and intelligence of a dead squirrel.
Oh I could go on and on for hours about how bad they are now. I've had my mate tell me at length for a long time about how bad they are.
Basically their network was near capacity when they had the old package upgraded to approx 10mb (can't remember the exact speed). Rather than upgrade their infrastructure they piled more and more users onboard and then increased the download speed. This has brought their network to its' knees. How have they solved this? They just announced 50mb lines.
The Amityville line seems appropriate here: Get out!
{edit for typos :D}
Good luck danni - hope it all goes well for you :)
Quote from: Niall on Mar 05, 2008, 20:02:02
Sadly it's one of the worst providers out there now. My mate in St Helens disconnects about 6 times a night, every night. They never EVER reply to his emails. They NEVER sort any problems. Their phone support is a premium number. Their staff have the training and intelligence of a dead squirrel.
That is exactly the experience my Daughter gets with them, I guess it is down to location.
I suppose it all comes down to how much they oversell their capacity. :(
Looks that way Rik, she just doesn't use hers in the evenings now. ???
Crazy way to have to operate, In. :(
Indeed Rik, but she is in the same boat as Danni, no BT phone, has cancelled Sky etc.
So no viable realistic options, it doesn't seem to bother her too much. :o
I manage without most evenings, so who am I to talk. :) OTOH, I know it's there if I need it.
hmmm thought i just come by and wind you up on your own thread. i thought the install cost to get BT into your flat was only like £50 when i was talking to micheal a while ago but atleast you getting cable will result in me getting you to do some of my downloading for me :whistle:
oh
Quote from: Danni on Mar 05, 2008, 18:03:23
doing file transfer to and from my server,
if im not mistaken i own all 3 of the servers hehehe
but ive just thought she goes and does this after i get my net connection nice and stable
darn you danni oh well
Doing some of your downloading for you? I'm still waiting for you to do mine for the last few months. Plus I have to pay for the extra costs of your server due to not understanding your domain name company's site and being ill. I can't see how this is going to work.
Er, we do offer a mediation service... ;)
Quote from: Rik on Mar 06, 2008, 19:26:46
Er, we do offer a mediation service... ;)
and you think me and Jerry are bad >:D ;D
Quote from: madasahatter on Mar 07, 2008, 08:02:24
and you think me and Jerry are bad >:D ;D
Nope just you, Mad ;) ;D
but it's always him who starts it
*stomps upstairs and slams the bedroom door* ;D
You have a bedroom door? I'm impressed. 8)
Quote from: madasahatter on Mar 07, 2008, 09:58:46
but it's always him who starts it
*stomps upstairs and slams the bedroom door* ;D
only teasing, now come downstairs and have your toast :rant2:
Quote from: Rik on Mar 07, 2008, 10:00:28
You have a bedroom door? I'm impressed. 8)
he said
the bedroom door Rik, he didnt say it was his though ;)
This is true...
Quote from: Killhippie on Mar 07, 2008, 10:01:13
only teasing, now come downstairs and have your toast :rant2:
tut - OK then - but only if there's some marmalade on it ;)
Quote from: madasahatter on Mar 07, 2008, 10:05:18
tut - OK then - but only if there's some marmalade on it ;)
Yes, laced with
Ritalin (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html)! ;D
Quote from: Simon on Mar 07, 2008, 11:11:45
Yes, laced with Ritalin (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html)! ;D
:lol:
hoobygalooby - what you trying to say? ;D
Bring back Pogles Wood! ;)
Does this mean they no longer show Muffin the Mule?
Rik, you're pushing the bounderies now :no: ;D
I've heard of Muffin The mule, but Pogles Wood?
Quote from: madasahatter on Mar 07, 2008, 11:25:25
I've heard of Muffin The mule, but Pogles Wood?
http://www.pogleswood.org/ :)
Ah right - i was 3 when it finished - no wonder i can't remember it.
Must admit, whenever I see clips of those old kids programmes, they do seem to have a charm all of their own, which is sadly lacking today :(
I only just remember Pogles Wood. I was 4 at the time. Hector's House, anyone? Clangers?
A bit after my time, I was from the Listen with mother generation...
It had progressed to Watch With Mother for me, Andy Pandy (original), Woodentops, Tales of the Riverbank, Bill & Ben
Quote from: Malc on Mar 07, 2008, 15:12:10
It had progressed to Watch With Mother for me, Andy Pandy (original), Woodentops, Tales of the Riverbank, Bill & Ben
Yep, me too. Torchy the Battery boy anyone?
No, but I do remember Uncle Mac, Larry the Lamb and Journey into Space...
Quote from: Rik on Mar 05, 2008, 16:29:26
It's very rare you can avoid the charge since the establishment of Openreach. If you have a dial tone and the line has been out of use for less than 30 days, the charge may be waived. It's also possible to get connected at slightly lower rates with other call providers, eg the Post Office.
A friend works as a supervisor in a local BT call centre (residential billing) and the only 'way' to avoid this charge is to pay it then call and complain stating you were never advised initially of the charge. Nasty nasty, but better than giving BT money. I cheated even that and bought her a few drinks to ensure my account was refunded accordingly :-P.
Quote from: ducky22 on Mar 08, 2008, 02:26:45
Nasty nasty, but better than giving BT money.
Personally I think it's better to give BT the money.
Quote from: colirv on Mar 08, 2008, 08:27:44
Personally I think it's better to give BT the money.
The consensus at BT (I used to be a consultant for them) is that the charge is bad for business and they wish OFCOM would let them remove it. The OP shows exactly why the thread is bad for business, it lost them a customer to Virgin Media.
Ofcom need a regulator to regulate them, imo. So often, they seem to come up with decisions that fly in the face of both consumer and industry interests. >:(
Quote from: Rik on Mar 08, 2008, 16:12:20
Ofcom need a regulator to regulate them, imo. So often, they seem to come up with decisions that fly in the face of both consumer and industry interests. >:(
yes ofofcom.
Terrible name for anyone with a stutter, Martin. :)
Noggin The Nog, he was great :)
Quote from: The Doctor on Mar 08, 2008, 17:48:22
Noggin The Nog, he was great :)
and captain Pugwash :)
That's set the theme tune off in my head... :eek4:
come on - sing along with me
a diddle de de adiddle de de de de de de de de de de de......... ;D
I've even got it as a MIDI file if you'd like it as a ring tone. :)
i already have it thanks Rik - and the theme form the Wombles, and Chorlton and the Wheelies ;D
I bet you haven't got the full set of tunes for an Eightsome Reel though. ;D
Funnily enough.......
no :o
Neither have I. :) I'm still missing De'il among the tailors.
well, no life can be considered complete without that >:D
This is true, at least for someone with my upbringing. :) I actually thought, at the age of 3 or so, that all gents loos would have a piper in the corner tuning up (it's a long story)...
Quote from: madasahatter on Mar 13, 2008, 19:15:30
and captain Pugwash :)
You forgot Seaman Stains ;D
Suprised Jill didn't think of him ;)
Following that comment, Malc, I expect she'll be calling you Master Bates. ;) ;D
Or the Chineese male monarch 'Wan'
Indeed! Moving swiftly on... ;)
........ or oviously NOT so swiftly as the case may be..... ;D
ahhhhh......
Danni had a visit from the devil Not Tiscali (Virgin media)
we all no how much i like the pair of them
well to make the story nice and short Danni can't get cable. so I'm being nice and lending her the money to pay for the BT line and the IDNet install.
(But i want it back!!!!!!!)
So i think we need a poll Rik set it up please of should i pay the fee or let her rot on evil T-Mobile
opinions please
No poll needed, Colin - pay. :)
Definitely pay the fee. Have to keep Danni sweet. :whistle: ;D
lol fair enough should have her back on IDNet by april
as i have a lot of bills to pay at the end of this month
It will be nice to see her back where she belongs. :)
Quote from: Rik on Mar 14, 2008, 16:22:16
No poll needed, Colin - pay. :)
Nothing like a good old reasoned and well argued debate eh? >:D ;D
I would have to agree, Mad. Though, to be fair, Colin didn't ask for a debate. ;D
Everything on this forum turns into a debate, or, food
Or a series of puns...
...or a song game
Turn, turn, turn - The Byrds :)
You You You - Alvin Stardust ;)
ahhhhhhhhhh noooooooo flash backs of Tiscali
sh*t but my internet works it can't be
Colin- I have £85 for you sitting in my bank account.
I hope you've given it a comfy chair, Danni. :)
I had a letter from Virgin the other day stating that I could get 20mb cable, it said that the street was already cabled. It's strange that no one around here knows that, there was an injunction blocking cable from being layed when the housing estate was built.
Typical VM marketing. Take them up on it and see what happens. :)
lol
Rik that £85 will only be comfy when its sat in my back pocket
::)
VM would probably say that the cable is 1inch to far away from you and so we cant install it
of course they will be running down the street laughing with your money....
I'm moving too, but not virgin media cable (they throttle connections between 8pm to midnight, so no good for on line gaming), no, I'm going to Be where I'll be getting 16meg (out of possible 24meg) LLU connection download speeds and 2.5meg uploads speed.
We're heavy gamers here, PS3 and Xbox 360 users, so getting a service with no download caps, (and now the port blocking & throttling has been officially removed), looks like a good deal at £22 a month.
If anyone is interested, PM me, and I can get your £24 connection fee waived by recommending you :thumb:
hmmm think ill stay with my rock solid connection thats get very close to flat out
7.6mb sync now from 4mb im soooooo happpy
Quote from: Rik on Mar 16, 2008, 10:02:17
Typical VM marketing. Take them up on it and see what happens. :)
All the people that I have spoken to, and their site say that my street is cabled, I may take them up on it and see where we go, but only if I can get the xl package that they offer.
Quote from: Glenn on Mar 25, 2008, 18:15:36
All the people that I have spoken to, and their site say that my street is cabled, I may take them up on it and see where we go, but only if I can get the xl package that they offer.
Glenn, take a look at Virgin Status Page, they have been having serious speed problems since 17th March nationwide, my Daughters Virgin Cable connection is running slower than Dial Up at the moment, has been for weeks, oh and she cannot get BBC 1 on her Virgin TV system.
No worries, I've taken a look at all the virgin forums I can find, I will be staying here I think for the foreseeable future.
A wise decision Glenn, if my Daughters Virgin Cable connection is anything to go by. ;)