Virgin Media 20mb broadband upgrade from May 07'

simate

I got a letter today from VM saying that from May 10mb broadband customers will be upgraded to 20mb with an increased upload speed of 768kbps which is a bit slow really. The price is also going up to £37 a month.

It also says that in some cases a modem upgrade may be required to get the speed increase and to go to this site to check although there's no info yet and won't be for a few weeks.

My gripe is that is says 'To get the most from the new speeds some customers may require a modem upgrade, at a cost of £25.'
How wrong is it that! they upgrade the service, put the price, up yet to be able to use the service your already paying for you may have to fork out £25 to fully use what your paying for each month! The modem should be free in my opinion.

The letter says '....so you'll have the fastest broadband in the country'. That isn't the case though, as there is faster out there for less money.

I'm on half price 10mb broadband with VM but only for another 3 months because I was told they'll only do it half price for 12 months then that's ya lot. So after the half price period I am considering a move to Be Broadband, £24 a month for up to 24mb, even if I only get 15mb for example I'll be £13 a month better off and still have a descent connection. I've read nothing bad anywhere about Be, so it will probably be a good move.

albertross_2

There's just no pleasing some people. Half price for a year, then £2 extra for a doubling of speed, and you still feel ripped off.

If you move to BE, you'll need to pay BT line rental, and will be exposed to the problems of ADSL2 limitations, and may get nowhere near the speed you expect. You'll still need a new router, paid for by your £24 connection charge. This is all assuming that BE is available in your area.

rockabilly_spike

as pointed out it will be the fastest TRUE speed in the UK.
as ADSL can advertise UP TO whatever Mbps but you're unlikely to get near what you pay for unless you live verynear the exchange.

funkmasterpete

Look for some postings by a guy named Alex Brown (he's from Virginmedia) on the virginmedia.feedback and virginmedia.discussion.broadband newsgroups. The official line seems to be that the £25 charge applies only if they need to send a technician out - £FREE if they just post you a modem and you plug it in (very easy).

HTH
Funkmasterpete

epz_2

i got a free modem cause had an old surfboard 5100, i even offered to fit it myself but the wouldnt let me, insisted on sending a tech.

silly thing is the tech turned up at 8am when sheduled between 9-12 and never even registed my mac, just handed me a cd as thought that would work, fortunatly i have been a beta trylist on broadband for almost a decade so just called the helpdesk and told them to change the mac on my account.

in terms of technology ntl is ahead of anything bt or other copper lines suppliers even have on the drawing board. 24meg is the absoulute max you could get if live next to the exchange but most people will be on a LOT less.

the upload is pretty poor by comparison to asdl but its a limitation of the tech, its still got low latency and will be capable of over 100megs if they deploy it.

im looking for a house at the moment and am activly seeking ones with cable as the idea of being stuck on 2-4meg in a few years time when virgin customers can stream hidef signals etc isnt one i like.