Virgin Broadband really 20mb?

exup

do you need 20MB connection? if you are file sharing or streaming or playing online games (and perhaps sharing the connection with more than one PC) then yes - otherwise its not really worth it. but you are never going to get 20MB throughput - but if you went for the DSL option over the phone line for 16MB you wouldnt get that either.

20 MB is the theortical limit . Although I have the 20 MB for gaming and serving . but I also have TV and phone - which are discounted due to the Broadband speed. If I had a slower connection then my TV and phone price would go up. -

Nilrem

You can get pretty close to the 20mb depending on where you are downloading from outside peak hours - i tend to hit 16-18mb on most speed tests (never trust just one, especially speedtest.net*), and the full 20mb when downloading from some good servers (Microsoft or similar).

The only real downside to Virgin Cable is that the limits during "peak" hours do mean that your average speed spread across the day is lower, but given the choice between the alternatives i'm quite happy with it (I prefer the limiting/shaping during peak hours which means the connection is still usable peak time, compared to the alternatives which could include much higher pricing, or my connection going to hell at peak times).

However as you say on it's own, unless you're planning on downloading a heck of a lot it's not really worth it for a single user, unless it's part of a deal (we get ours as part of our VIP package, which actually saves us money compared to what we used to pay).



*It tends to be overloaded a lot of the time for the UK test servers (I've done repeated tests using about 5 different such tests and speedtest.net tends to give the slowest reading most of the time, often pitifully slow compared to others done straight afterwards)

stphnstevey

Thanks for all your replies!

I will be using tis for work (where I am on the computer most of the day) but also use it alot of an evening.

When on BT Broadband they said I was a heavy user so bumped me up to their Option 3 package - 8MB (or actually 4MB in my area) but unlimited usage. However that works out (without taking into account discounts and cashback) at £25 month.

I noticed that for around £31 month I could get Virgin's 20mb service unlimited usage plus phone.

As I am a home worker, I get my broadband refunded from work. As they normally pay the £25 month for Broadband, I could probably get away with the Virgin 20mb service instead.

The only concern I have is that if I ever wanted to go back to BT, I would have to pay around £150 to get the line restarted. Think I might keep a BT line as well.

Anyone know if Virgin supports a VPN???????? It must for me to be able to access my work emails, otherwise work won't refund it

exup

if you can configure your own router for VPN then I should think it will be OK, although I havent needed to configure VPN on my own router as yet.

stphnstevey

I don't know the techie stuff behind it, but I have been told that a VPN is not supported on AOL. I know for sure that it is on BT Broadband. I guess I will give them a ring.

EDIT: Tried their 'Ask before you buy' service and they sadi it definately did support a VPN. Will ring tomorrow to be sure (expensive contract if doesn't support VPN!)

Is the Virgin only by Ethernet cable or by USB as well? It also says there is a minimum Windows XP requirement?

I was looking at other suppliers of fast internet speeds - but is it only cable that you will almost always get somewhere in the ballpark of what they say (ie all other depend on distance from exchange)? Is there a website I can check what my maximum speed would be via ADSL?

gaming_guy

if they supply you with a router it will probably be an ethernet connection.

for example if you have a win98 pc connected to the router via an ethernet cable, they shouldnt be able to tell what OS you are using as the router holds the connection to the internet

spud17

Is the Virgin only by Ethernet cable or by USB as well? It also says there is a minimum Windows XP requirement?

Don't worry about it, that's for their tech support, they have to draw the line somewhere.

I'm on VM and typing this on my "test" PC (lol), 350mhz/128mbRAM/tinyme linux OS/ genuine German keyboard and a mouse out of the Ark.

Guess what ? It's really flying, RP614 router and no AV to worry about.

spud17

2mb service



[URL="[URL=http://www.speedtest.net][IMG]http://www.speedtest.net/result/276112345.png[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

Lokolo

Just to say, NTL are upgrading everyone (I think everyone, I know my house is) on 20mb to 50mb this winter.

Nilrem

As I understand it 20mb will remain a separate service to the 50mb, as that will be an entirely new tier (at the moment they have "bronze" "silver" and "gold", 50mbit is going to be in addition to them).