Virgin Broadband - do i have cable/adsl already?

johnny_c

Hi
help.!

I have moved into a house recently with what seems to be a Virgin cable connection, and also a Virgin telephone line type connection already in place . Both the cable connection and telephone type connection are plugged into a blue NTL modem.

Does this mean i have both Virgin cable internet and adsl internet?

Firstly , do i have both a cable AND adls interent going into the modem - SUrely one overrides the other?

Secondly i want to connect to the internet..I understand that with virgin cable, you are tied in to 'only' using Virgin as an internet supplier, but if you have adsl connection then you could change provider - i.e. plusnet which i beleive from the site is the cheapest?

DOes this mean i am already to go and choose my own cheapest ISP, providing i use the adsl connection , and simply ignore the cable?

ALso i note there are normally 'set up' fees whereupon you get a modem, or the box connected when you set up an account- i already have the hardware. DO i have to pay again for 'installation'??

penrhyn

It is most unlikely that you have both cable and a BT line.
Virgin equipment is rented to you.

johnny_c

It seems to me that i might.. !?!

there are two white plastic Virgin branded boxes coming into the house side by side.,.,One has a cable (looks like a TV ariel lead), and the other has the BT phone line lead coming from it.

What confused me is that they both go into an NTL modem box.


What would it mean for me in setting up a new account, that the equipment is rented?

diamonds

NTL/Telewest merged to become Virgin so its a junction box the NTL

Both are attatched to NTL as one is cable tv socket the other a Virgin phone line, both fed from NTL junction box.

eamon

Let google help you and go shopping. VM and the adsl providers offer great deals for new customers. Its a case of finding a package that is right for you. Personally I prefer cable I find it much more robust and generally better than adsl. But equally many others dislike it. For many people though the key factor is the problem resolution aspect and I suspect that for all the players in the market the bar is set low.

diamonds

Call Virgin & they maybe able to activate the equipment (TV box you mean?), failing that a new install.

Is there not another BT style master socket (for ADSL) in the property that is BT marked or otherwise ?

johnny_c

diamonds wrote: »

one is cable tv socket the other a Virgin phone line, both fed from NTL junction box.

does that means that the cable connection will be suitable ONLY for tv?

and because i have an ADSL conection i can go and check out any ISP that i want..?

penrhyn

The phone is a cable phone. Its not connected to a BT exchange.

johnny_c

i dont want the TV , and i dont see Virgin listed as being particualarly cheap for broadband only, so i think i'll use the adsl connection to find a new isp..

Buzby

ADSL cannot be provided via a Virgin telephone port - the technology simply isn't there (as BB is provided down the coaxial cable, NOT the telephone socket.

You talk about a modem, but no telephone connection goes near this - a modem only has a a power lead and a co-axial connection (for the cable). This also serves a TV box or Tivo via a splitter.

You can have BB with no other service, but if you want TV, phone service is charged for whether you want it or not.

johnny_c

penrhyn wrote: »

The phone is a cable phone. Its not connected to a BT exchange.

Oh, just read this, so this means i WILL need to get a BT line in, in order to get an ISP other than Virgin ?
YOu reckon its cheaper to 'reconnect' the virgin, or get a BT landline and find a new provider...

I dont know if i'll be renting this place forever, so the BT installation cost would be money lost, no?