Should I go with VM cable Broadband....

[nm2011]

Hi I am currently with BE and am about to move to Manchester in a VM cable area. Instead of getting the Broadband, TV and phone from three different providers which I get currently, I am thinking of trying a VM package. But, feel unsure as there are plenty of negative experiences on VM broadband reviews on the net. I wonder if this experience varies geographically and is any better in Manchester. Don't want to get tied to 12month contract if the service is poor. Any suggestions / info would be welcome. Thanks!

[Failswitch]

This is a support forum so the vast majority of threads/posts you will read are of complaints or problems with the service. This forum is in no way representative of Virgin Media's actual service.

I have been with Virgin Media for almost 10 years (ex NTL customer) and in all those years have experienced only a handful or 2 of problems with my service. I would happily recommend Virgin Media.

VM have a 28 cancellation period, termed the "Happiness Guarantee" so if for any reason you're not happy with any part of your service, you can cancel your contract provided you do so within 28 days of activation.

[carlwaring]

The above post pretty-much nails it for me too.

[smallethic]

I too have been with Virgin (and NTL before) and can confirm that for me the service over more than eight years has been extremely reliable. Unless you have special and complex needs I wouldn't place too much weight on what you read in forums like this. Interesting yes, but representative no!

[Xtinguish]

I too have been with VM for over 10 years since NTL days etc. and have had virtually no problems with VM. However, you should consider the adverse effects of application throttling and network management before you decide. These are available on the VM website and can make a real impact on your use of the network. My daughter currently uses BE and has no application throttling or network management and although on a lower overall speed (7 meg) , this is consistent whereas the VM quoted speeds are not. As soon as you go over your VM data limit for any set period, you are capped to one fifth of your speed for 5 hours. This can be detrimental and makes some downloads ony possible between midnight and 10am the next morning if you want to maintain your full speed. The choice is yours but check the VM site first.

[cnewton2k]

I have been with Virgin for about 8 years now and tbh the service I receive is fantasic. My BB is always rock solid.

[dazed&confused]

Been with VM & before that NTL. After all the problems with BT in the past, Virgin's internet is excellent. All broadband connections suffer the occasional hitch, but IMHO they are sorted out quickly.

Recommended

[Peter_]

Manchester is a pretty solid area so the connection should be ok, I have been a customer for around 16 years in all the various guises without any major issues.

[Ken W]

I have been with Virgin for many years and I find their Broad Band Cable very good, I am on the 10 meg teir and I get get at least 9.8 meg.

[Sirius]

Hi I am currently with BE and am about to move to Manchester in a VM cable area. Instead of getting the Broadband, TV and phone from three different providers which I get currently, I am thinking of trying a VM package. But, feel unsure as there are plenty of negative experiences on VM broadband reviews on the net. I wonder if this experience varies geographically and is any better in Manchester. Don't want to get tied to 12month contract if the service is poor. Any suggestions / info would be welcome. Thanks!

I live in Warrington not to far away and i get this sort of speed for 99.9% of the time



https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2011/04/23.png

[Kymmy]

I think the question should be where abouts in Manchester.. The student areas do tend to get hit with over subscription (not sure if it's still the case with docsis3 though)

All other services should be OK.. You could just do a knock down your new street introducing yourself as a neighbour and asking if there is any issue if they use VM. (advice not recommended in M16, M12, M15, M22 and M23 postcodes :rofl: )

[haydnwalker]

I have been with Virgin (was Telewest when I joined) for 5 years now, and I've only had 1 issue with my broadband, and one issue with my phone service. Both were promptly sorted out.

The only thing I find annoying, is the indian call centres, as its pot luck which kind of support agent you receive (ie, helpful or not bothered). However there's ways around that by calling in UK office hours :)

Overall, I'm very happy with VMs service, and I'm fairly sad to be moving away from them soon, as the area we're moving to DOESN'T have VM cable services :(

[gjbxxx]

I have been with VM ever since the NTL days and my own experience is that they have been pretty abysmal on the whole. Until I upgraded recently to the 50MB service I have NEVER had the speed I was paying for, indeed thats the primary reason I kept upgrading. The local infrastructure always seemed to be oversubscribed.
Currently on a 50MB service I cannot play on-line games with any measure of reliability as they are "traffic managing" P2P traffic which although aimed at large bandwidth pirates has netted all gamers too despite their BW usage being minimal.
I also cannot watch Youtube vids at anything over standard def without constant buffering and stops.
To be fair apart from the current gaming issue the service rarely goes down, availability is pretty high, its just the performance that has been a constant issue for me.
If you do have a problem its hit and miss whether you get a UK answer (very good service) or as is usual the Indian Call centre where typically they haven't a clue.

[Chrysalis]

I too have been with Virgin (and NTL before) and can confirm that for me the service over more than eight years has been extremely reliable. Unless you have special and complex needs I wouldn't place too much weight on what you read in forums like this. Interesting yes, but representative no!

I dont think its that simple.

less technical minded people may have problems on their service but they just havent noticed that problem so in their mind its fine.

so if eg. a bad traffic shaping defenition file is shaping all WoW traffic then its logical to assume the entire customer base is affected but because not everyone plays WoW and that not everyone uses online forums you will only see a snapshot complaining. I have seen people with router issues thinking its their laptop so likewise superhub issues could be placed on laptop's as well especially if tech support tell them like that.

I am not saying many people arent happy they probably are but rather a silent customer doesnt mean they have no faults/issues.

[carlwaring]

I dont think its that simple.
No. You can twist it as much as you like but it is that simple.
so if eg. a bad traffic shaping defenition file is shaping all WoW traffic then its logical to assume the entire customer base is affected but because not everyone plays WoW and that not everyone uses online forums you will only see a snapshot complaining.
That sounds very illogical to me. Surely those not playing WoW won't be affected by any shaping measures if such measures only affect those playing Wow? :confused:

[murphy666]

Had XL TV, M Phone 10MB BB for several months. No problems at all for P2P or online gaming ( For the love of god Sony, get it sorted !!! ) :)

[Mick Fisher]

You really must sort out which services performs best, according to your needs and just as importantly at your address.

For me it's a BT phone as the cable phone (albeit back in the cabletel days) was useless.

For me it's Sky TV as their bundles are more suited to my needs and I find I get a more reliable and better quality reception that I ever did with Cable.

For BB, I have VM 30mbps. I am not a gamer and not an exceptionally heavy downloader so the almost constant throttling (of one type and/or the other) has little effect on me. My main gripes are the poor quality Hub they (ATM) FORCE you to use and the absolutely abysmal Indian support center which I find is very difficult to circumvent.

I also have a Be connection that can only manage 10mbps on a good day due to distance and poor quality lines. :( However Be's BB is vastly superior in every other respect (no throttling, ping, jitter, reliabilty) except for speed. Be are a much nicer Company to deal with and their support staff (although outsourced) are knowledgable and efficient.

Be also give the impression that they value your custom. VM give the impression of just not caring. This I find is usually the par for big Company vs smaller more specialist Company.

[carlwaring]

For me it's a BT phone as the cable phone (albeit back in the cabletel days) was useless.
It still is, pricewise :p:

[markie1966]

Hi I am currently with BE and am about to move to Manchester in a VM cable area. Instead of getting the Broadband, TV and phone from three different providers which I get currently, I am thinking of trying a VM package. But, feel unsure as there are plenty of negative experiences on VM broadband reviews on the net. I wonder if this experience varies geographically and is any better in Manchester. Don't want to get tied to 12month contract if the service is poor. Any suggestions / info would be welcome. Thanks!

depends on what you want from a provider

in my experience with VM over the years its been a steady reliable service....until recently

if your a gamer then beware...there IS something wrong with the network

for all other things then ive no complaints

[nm2011]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot to everyone for your replies and sharing your experiences with me. I pay £ 14 (up to 12Meg) for my current BE value package and get not more than 3.2Meg which is sufficient for me. So, apart from speed I have never had any problems, and have never had to contact BE in the last one year or so I have been with them.
Masque, I am moving to M8 area. Hope the VM BB is ok there.
Does the network management /throttling also apply to 10MB Cable BB? Thanks.

[Peter_]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot to everyone for your replies and sharing your experiences with me. I pay £ 14 (up to 12Meg) for my current BE value package and get not more than 3.2Meg which is sufficient for me. So, apart from speed I have never had any problems, and have never had to contact BE in the last one year or so I have been with them.
Masque, I am moving to M8 area. Hope the VM BB is ok there.
Does the network management /throttling also apply to 10MB Cable BB? Thanks.
Traffic Management applies to all tiers as listed in this link.

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tm-table-su-large.jpg

[pip08456]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot to everyone for your replies and sharing your experiences with me. I pay £ 14 (up to 12Meg) for my current BE value package and get not more than 3.2Meg which is sufficient for me. So, apart from speed I have never had any problems, and have never had to contact BE in the last one year or so I have been with them.
Masque, I am moving to M8 area. Hope the VM BB is ok there.
Does the network management /throttling also apply to 10MB Cable BB? Thanks.

I would suggest that if you have had no problems with your current provider and they can provide you with a service where you are going then stay with them.

Why change?

Better the devil you know than the one you don't.

[Biffs]

I've had cable TV since the West Wing, and only converted to broadband/phone a little over a year ago. Have NEVER regretted it. Solid, reliable, easy. Only one issue with emails a few weeks back which was sorted within hours. Great service in mho.

[TuesdayWildchild]

I been on cable since the days of Diamond Cable (took over by NTL now virgin) way back in the dark ages and have found it to be the best am just about to move and taking cable with me.

[Ignitionnet]

I've struggled with cable.

First used it way back when, we're talking 2000/1, reliability was not ideal, dead for a week every couple of months.

Then there's a bit later on in a different franchise and area, where likewise it was mostly great when it worked but died for a week. Some minor congestion but nothing too scary.

6 months in another franchise, broadband was absolutely fine, phone failed for 5 days due to a poor install.

Then yet another franchise, initially on 20Mbit, reliable but speeds were all over the place at peak times. Moved to 50Mbit and reliability was simply abysmal to the point where, after 8 months on 50Mbit, I left early and VM were, to their credit, fine with it. Think I calculated the availability at around 90%. It sounds fine until you consider that that's equivalent to nearly 2.5 hours of downtime each and every day.

About to try them again, can't have a satellite dish and although I would get decent ADSL here want to give them yet another chance, must be a masochist.

This area is due to be overbuilt which should reduce the reliability issues. It's not far off tin cans and string at the moment.

TLDR: I can't really give you advice. Nor can most other people in this thread. Cable is so regional due to differences in construction quality and local maintenance.

[Chrysalis]

you plan to use superhub or ask for a vmng300?

[pip08456]

I should imagine he will have to start with a SH. Can't see them installing with a VMNG300.