Virgin Broadband & anytime £19.99 Free Wireless Router

griff.

My broadband was turned on this morning sometime around 10am.

My bb speed is currently testing out at 7mbs d/l and 2mbs u/l - which is okay.

I've checked the virgin site - and it seems that they won't be sending out the wireless router until the activation of the line is made - which is today - so I expect to get it in the next day or so.

The anytime talk package is being processed.

As well as being able to track your progress on-line they are pretty good at telling you on the phone what's happening.

I think the free router or free virgin tv only became available from 02/04 temba. I was going to place the order on the 30/03 - but they kindly told me to wait until the Monday - to get the free router !

griff.

There may be a problem...

I have run Dal Elwell's Broadband speed test, and the results are poor, but the speed test doesn't have the settings to compare Virgin 8mb - so not sure about this. There are two things I need to rule out before I can say it's definetely a problem with the new service:

i) My modem is a speedtouch 330 now 4 years old - I've updated the software - but just not sure how effective this is - so need to wait for the new one
ii) I understand from some other posts that it can take upto a week for the connection to settle down and get tweaked if there are problems - has anyone else had this experience ?


Hope that helps

free4440273

...oh dear, i am due to go live on the 17th april. really hope their broadband is not like talktalk...thanks for the feedback thus far

avfc4life

I have a wireless router its a wireless ADSL and was just wondering if i would need virgins wireless router to use the wireless internet for my laptop aswell as my pc or would i be find just using the wireless router i have? any help is appriecated. Thanks

BexTech

The ADSL service and free calls require BT line rental. This is good as you can use VM for the free calls and route other calls via 18185.

You can have cable TV and cable broadband without phone service.

VM phone service is the dearest going and should be avoided (Except if getting the free calls with the ADSL broadband, as you can route the calls that VM rip you off on - which are all calls that aren't free, elsewhere).

VM rip you off on calls to mobiles, international and calls that aren't free.

If you are having cable broadband and TV and need a phone line, don't move phone to VM, keep it with BT and use Primus Saver 2 and 18185.

BexTech

avfc4life wrote: »

I have a wireless router its a wireless ADSL and was just wondering if i would need virgins wireless router to use the wireless internet for my laptop aswell as my pc or would i be find just using the wireless router i have? any help is appriecated. Thanks

Will you be joining their ADSL service or cable service?

BexTech

griff. wrote: »

There may be a problem...

I have run Dal Elwell's Broadband speed test, and the results are poor, but the speed test doesn't have the settings to compare Virgin 8mb - so not sure about this. There are two things I need to rule out before I can say it's definetely a problem with the new service:

i) My modem is a speedtouch 330 now 4 years old - I've updated the software - but just not sure how effective this is - so need to wait for the new one
ii) I understand from some other posts that it can take upto a week for the connection to settle down and get tweaked if there are problems - has anyone else had this experience ?


Hope that helps

VM ADSL service along with other providers use a BT ADSL Max service, this requires the BT system to do some training on the line, to see what it can best achieve, this can take several days. If you do a search for ADSL MAX you should find webpages which explain this in detail.

BexTech

free4440273 wrote: »

that is absolutely correct as far as the cable option. for myself (non-cable) i will still have to pay the line rental to bt on top of my £19.99 to virgin - a shame but i just hope virgin's service is good re the broadband/phone.

Just use VM on the phone service for the free calls, as VM are the dearest going for call charges. As your line rental is still with BT, you can still use BT for calls (dial 1280 before the number) or use a service like 18185 (Once registered - no monthly fee, dial 18185 before the number).

Definitely don't use VM for calling mobiles or internationally - put those through 18185, don't use VM for calls to 0845 and 0870 VM charge several times the price that BT do, VM also block calls to 0844 numbers, so route those over BT.

It's due to the expensive call charges that Virgin are losing thousands of customers per month, in the last quarter Virgin lost overall 64,300 landline customers.

free4440273

BexTech, thanks for all the really useful info, especially regarding the teething problems one may experience with regards to broadband speed (i don't expect them to deliver 8mb but i do expect something 'reasonable' like, say, 2/3mb - i will just have to wait and see). also i will have to do a search on google regarding 18185 - is it a pay for service one has to sign up for? thanks and have a good weekend also

BexTech

No worries.

https://www.call18185.co.uk You do need to register your landline, but there is no monthly fees, you just pay for the calls you route through them.

You may find they say they are to capacity in your area and the registration fails, simply sign up using your mobile phone number, then when the registration OK comes through, log in and add your landline number.

When you want your call to go via 18185, you simply dial 18185 then the number you wish to call. For example on VirginMedia they charge 25.55p per minute daytime to a 3 mobile or 15p per minute to call any other UK mobile, the same call via 18185 is 6p per minute. VirginMedia for example charge 10p per minute to call the USA, yet 18185 charge 0.5p per minute.