Richard Lennox
- does anyone know if Windows 7 starter (netbook) can use an external projector?
- Why do some e-commerce platforms get Javascript so wrong? http://bit.ly/awXZvZ from @econsultancy
- Just registered for Developer Day Scotland! http://bit.ly/6V2IPH #dddscot
Virgin Media Broadband Speed Testing
I am convinced I am not getting my money’s worth from Virgin Media’s broadband service! For those who don’t know, Virgin Media is a Cable provider (the only one?) in the UK. They have the adverts with Samuel L. Jackson hinting at the 50 mbps service provided using their fibre optic network! I pay for the full XL package which provides me with TV, phone and Broadband at a reasonable price for the bundle. This is their most expensive package that gets me:
- up to 20mbps braodband
- their full (non-HD) TV package and
- Unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines.
20 mbps, No way!
Ok it says up to, but what would you say is fair? 18 mbps? 15 mbps? At least over the 10 mbps on the next package down, right? Well I am certain I don’t get more than 5 mbps!
So I am going to test this an post my speed test results here for prosperity!
The setup form my test is my standard home setup for my desktop, but removing all other network traffic:
- Computer: Windows Vista Ultimate, Intel Core2Duo 6600 (2×2.40GHz) processor, 4 GB of RAM (32bit Windows only uses and recognises 3.5 the rest is utilised by the hardware!).
- Router: Netgear 54 Mbps Wirelss Router – WGR614 v6 with fully up to date firmware.
- Cable Modem: Motorola – S85100 Surfboard Cable Modem
As many Windows processes as possible have been killed without killing Windows iteself, including for this test the Firewall and Virus Protection. The wireless has been switched off and the only connections are wired and between the computer and the router and the router and the modem (which is obviously plugged into the outside world!).
Day 1 results (21:45):
www.speedtest.net – download: 4508 kbps (4.5 mbps); upload: 678 kbps.
http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/ – download: 4912 kbps (4.9 mbps); upload: 577 kbps
This isn’t very scientific but I will continue to post my results as and when I test the broadband speed. Let me know your thoughts.
Hi Richard, I have been a coustomer of Virgin Media since August 2009, My package with Virgin is, 10gig broardband, XL tv package V+, and I have had nothing but trouble with the service since it was put in,
1) on the day of instalation, it took me 8hrs on the phone to get the service up and running, I even had a customer service operative that put the phone down on me,
2) the majority of the channels to do work properly, they keep freezing, or are unavailable to to high demand in my area, and there is a delay between using the remote to change programs and actual changing of the program of between 30secs and 2 mins.
3) I get an overwhelming amount of cold calls on the phone, even though I have notified the TPS, and this has only started since changing to Virgin Media.
4) I only went with Virgin Media because of the 10gig broardband, which I know I am not recieving, as it is always going down and I can not get online.
I have been in touch with customer services on many occasions, been promised that a manager will ring me back to sort out the problems, but no one has, I have found that virgin customer services, are very unprofesional and lie to you just to get you off the phone, and have had the phone put down on me, because the customer services person could not figger out what my problem was, in my opinion virgin media is a cowboy company, that fobs you off with any explanation just to get you off the phone, they are unprofesional, and make promises that it has no intention of keeping, and when you try to cancel the service due to their inability to put it right, they say it will cost you £180 to terminate the service, even though its them that are taking money for a service they are not supplying, What can I do to terminate with Virgin, without it costing a fortune ?