Virgin Media: Legends

[ukaskew]

After giving us Setanta Sports for free completely out of the blue, I noticed yesterday that they've now also unlocked the complete 'Music on Demand' section for XL subscribers. Spent hours on there, hundreds and hundreds of vids and quite a few full concerts thrown in as well.

Anything else on the way?!

 

[Pettsi]

I think andywright works for Virgin Media. He usually drops the odd hint.

 

[tommyboy]

result! I want to get virgin media but seems a bit pricey?! all I want is sky sports because of the poxy champions league leaving ITV....

 

[AhmedRSi]

How about they take the caps off there downloads and stop throttling me... w*****s.

 

[ukaskew]

Don't find it too bad, the folks have XL TV (+ Movies and everything), Medium Phone and Medium Broadband (but that's 8MB for us now I think as we've had it for about 6 years) for about £60 per month I think.

When I move soon(ish) we are just getting the £20 package, 2MB broadband, landline and basic TV package (35 channels + Virgin Central)

 

[tommyboy]

Don't find it too bad, the folks have XL TV (+ Movies and everything), Medium Phone and Medium Broadband (but that's 8MB for us now I think as we've had it for about 6 years) for about £60 per month I think.

When I move soon(ish) we are just getting the £20 package, 2MB broadband, landline and basic TV package (35 channels + Virgin Central)

how much more is it to have sky sports on top of the basic package?

 

[ukaskew]

How about they take the caps off there downloads and stop throttling me... w**kers.

They don't cap at all, just throttling for the top 5% of heaviest users. As far as I was aware, if I download more than 750MB between 4pm and midnight it goes down to 2MB/s instead of 4MB/s, but there are no limits. Technology has a limit, and I personally think this is a reasonable way of dealing with it, better than thousands suffering a slow connection because a minority are using it heavily.

 

[BenWall]

How about they take the caps off there downloads and stop throttling me... w**kers.

They dont cap. I should know, I download silly amounts on the 20mb service.

 

[AhmedRSi]

How about they take the caps off there downloads and stop throttling me... w**kers.

They don't cap at all, just throttling for the top 5% of heaviest users. As far as I was aware, if I download more than 750MB between 4pm and midnight it goes down to 2MB/s instead of 4MB/s, but there are no limits. Technology has a limit, and I personally think this is a reasonable way of dealing with it, better than thousands suffering a slow connection because a minority are using it heavily.

With 5 computers in the house... 750mb is used up in no time, about 1 hours worth of leasurely surfing/checking e-mails/ watching the odd video clip or even downloading a patch etc.

Then 5 computers are left to share 2mb. cack.

 

[Bloooor]

How about they take the caps off there downloads and stop throttling me... w**kers.

They dont cap. I should know, I download silly amounts on the 20mb service.

^ I'm the same, No Limits here.

 

[BenWall]

They don't cap at all, just throttling for the top 5% of heaviest users. As far as I was aware, if I download more than 750MB between 4pm and midnight it goes down to 2MB/s instead of 4MB/s, but there are no limits. Technology has a limit, and I personally think this is a reasonable way of dealing with it, better than thousands suffering a slow connection because a minority are using it heavily.

With 5 computers in the house... 750mb is used up in no time, about 1 hours worth of leasurely surfing/checking e-mails/ watching the odd video clip or even downloading a patch etc.

Then 5 computers are left to share 2mb. cack.

to be fair its pretty hard to use up 750mb by seaching the net, emails etc. downloading p**n maybe?

 

[AhmedRSi]

only what your mother sends me.

There still crap. But i suppose they can be described as the least crap of all the crappy service providers out there. Shame it isnt like the good old days of ntl broadband

 

[Daz]

750MB = 768000 KB
So, say you get 3Mbit on Virgin Media (which is 1Mb under the 4Mb limit taking into account various network stuff, so in fairness, you probably get more, but it's good to go under on estimates ).

3Mbit is roughly 384kB/sec throughput.

So, 768000 / 384 = 2000 seconds.
2000 seconds = 33 minutes.

So, if you use your connections full capacity for 33 minutes, within an 8 hour peak period, they drop you down to 2Mb.
Now, 2Mb is perfectly acceptable IMO, but, I'd hate to think what they'd do you if you maxed that for another hour or so..

750MB on a 4Mbit service is not much.. Heh.

If I paid for 4Mbit but could only use it for 33 minutes at peak times.. it's not really 4Mb is it? :rasp: It's more like 2Mb, which is cool, unless you're paying a premium for "4Mb"

Anyway.. I prefer xDSL.. so..


(This is based on the information above in this thread.. I've not checked if this is the case, but I have no reason to not believe it.. )

 

[AhmedRSi]

Daz your spot on... this is what ive been trying to say.. cheers

Paying for 4mbit, but in actual fact we are only getting 2mb. Since everyone is at school or work so only use the internet during 4pm-12am (peak time!).

Once on 2mb you can max it out all you want, you just stay on 2mb (EVEN past 12am!!!) I think it might be for 2/3 hours after you max it out. Not too sure though.

 

[Spiezels]

i want setanta and am on virgin how did you sort it mate aaaaaaaaahhhhh

 

[Munson]

The VM service works great for me personally. The time that it does spend at 5mb after I exceed my peak time allowance is still as quick, if not quicker, than most other domestic services ever get, and it helps the network to run smoothly so it's good for everyone. Over any given 24h period, the 20mb service simply rocks. Cut and dice the numbers all you want. Granted, on the slower tarrifs, you probably do end up getting slightly owned on 2mb for a few hours :clown:

If anyone finds that it doesn't suit their habits (and I'm sure it genuinely doesn't for some), simply move to another provider. If there isn't another provider in your area that offers something you think you might prefer using, then that indicates that the VM service must be the best available to you. Surely, otherwise, one would vote with his/her wallet. In short - have a coke & a smile and shut the f**k up :rasp:

 

[AhmedRSi]

i suppose they can be described as the least crap of all the crappy service providers out there.

 

[Munson]

What? So, are they crap or are they good? Which is it?

 

[fulhamfcboy]

Ive always supported Virgin (and Telewest in their previous incarnation)....Their broadband speeds are constant and awesome. Never have outages (touch wood) and I can theoretically download a film quicker than the time it takes to walk to blockbuster (10 mins!)

Ive never noticed a threshold, and my newsleecher folder is brimming with rars!

 

[BenWall]

Ive always supported Virgin (and Telewest in their previous incarnation)....Their broadband speeds are constant and awesome. Never have outages (touch wood) and I can theoretically download a film quicker than the time it takes to walk to blockbuster (10 mins!)

Ive never noticed a threshold, and my newsleecher folder is brimming with rars!

Mine too lol. Although Grabit extracts most of the RARs for me

 

[AhmedRSi]

I agree there xl package is good. But you can see why 4mb is a bit of a con lol.

Wernt virgin media ntl ? not telewest?

 

[BenWall]

ntl/telewest same thing.

 

[AhmedRSi]

minge

 

[andywright182]

They plan to have Virgin 1 released in the next couple of months and there are some pretty decent programs on there.

VoD will get a whole upgrade soon, more choice and even more music for free.

Extra HD content isnt too far off either

If trials are successful, and this is at a VERY early stage the broadband will be rebranded as follows

2mb connection will be 10
4mb will be 20
20mb will be 50

like I say it is very very early and may not happen until the beginning of next year if at all.

And finally the most boring, but probably the most beneficial is that there will be only 1 billing system by the end of Q1 next year which will cut down on mistakes, and make it easier for the customer. They ahve cut down from 4 to 2, but moving about 6 million accounts takes time!

 

[KDF]

20mb will be 50*

You forgot the small print...

"Heavy users who download more than 1MB between 00:01 and 23:59 will be capped to 0.5 mbit permanantly"

 

[AhmedRSi]

lol ^^

 

[andywright182]

you forgot the small print

people who pirate and download the equivilant of 750 songs in a couple of hours will have their speed cut to a speed which is still faster than most ADSL connections

 

[Dink]

no i hope they don't correct the billing as at the mo my mum only pays 73 a month for the vip package

 

[KDF]

you forgot the small print

people who pirate and download the equivilant of 750 songs in a couple of hours will have their speed cut to a speed which is still faster than most ADSL connections

Such a typical response.. 750 songs.. why is everything measured in songs ?? and why immediatly if you download a lot are you a pirate.. oooarrrr !! walk the plank arrrr..!


lets measure things in 4 Gig linux distro's mmmkay..

 

[andywright182]

thats fine, I will measure in that. So my next questio would we why download it during peak times when you know you would be throttled and how big is you hard drive if you download 4gb every day?

 

[AhmedRSi]

thats fine, I will measure in that. So my next questio would we why download it during peak times when you know you would be throttled and how big is you hard drive if you download 4gb every day?

Why? because were at work / college the rest of the day! Peak time is called that for a reason!

Secondly, its not 750 songs for us 4mb people... its 750mb. And I have over 1 terrabyte of storage.

 

[KDF]

thats fine, I will measure in that. So my next questio would we why download it during peak times when you know you would be throttled and how big is you hard drive if you download 4gb every day?

Exactly as mentioned.. im at work during the day. I like to work on my hobby (computers) after work. And to be frank why when i'm paying £35 a month should I wait to download ?

Its not going to change, I know that. Doesnt stop me from having a moan.


PS. At home I'm on just over 2TB. I store everything you can think of on it, my photo's alone take up 10-15GB.

 

[fulhamfcboy]

thats fine, I will measure in that. So my next questio would we why download it during peak times when you know you would be throttled and how big is you hard drive if you download 4gb every day?

Exactly as mentioned.. im at work during the day. I like to work on my hobby (computers) after work. And to be frank why when i'm paying £35 a month should I wait to download ?

Its not going to change, I know that. Doesnt stop me from having a moan.


PS. At home I'm on just over 2TB. I store everything you can think of on it, my photo's alone take up 10-15GB.

Maybe I sucked the right c*ck at Virgin, but I seriously never noticed this cap. I download all evening, at least 2 - 3gb a night, and I get a throughput of 1.5mb per second every time. This figure never changes, regardless of time.

 

[KDF]

Exactly as mentioned.. im at work during the day. I like to work on my hobby (computers) after work. And to be frank why when i'm paying £35 a month should I wait to download ?

Its not going to change, I know that. Doesnt stop me from having a moan.


PS. At home I'm on just over 2TB. I store everything you can think of on it, my photo's alone take up 10-15GB.

Maybe I sucked the right c*ck at Virgin, but I seriously never noticed this cap. I download all evening, at least 2 - 3gb a night, and I get a throughput of 1.5mb per second every time. This figure never changes, regardless of time.

If your on 20mbit which I assume you are if you are getting 1.5mb then you have to download 4 gig to get capped.

 

[fulhamfcboy]

Maybe I sucked the right c*ck at Virgin, but I seriously never noticed this cap. I download all evening, at least 2 - 3gb a night, and I get a throughput of 1.5mb per second every time. This figure never changes, regardless of time.

If your on 20mbit which I assume you are if you are getting 1.5mb then you have to download 4 gig to get capped.

4gb a night? SO if you hover just below this you wont get capped? Thats cool with me then, if not a little annoying.....

 

[KDF]

4GB between 4pm and 12am. So yes, if you stay below that you wont get capped.. if you go above it drops to 5mbit (and half upload speed aswell).

 

[andywright182]

KDF, then just set it up to download while you are at work and then it is there for when you get home and also avoids going over the cap. For 95% of the people, it is not an issue tbf