Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I don't think there is any thing new in this but a new press release has been made by VM to-day regarding the trial. http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...473&highlight=

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

signed up

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Anyone know how to use the wifi on the new kit.
My laptop is still connected to the wifi on my existing router and its throwing off the results.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

You're supposed to be using the wifi of your existing router, the new one is not a router it's just bridging. It should do its' thing and be invisible on your network.

Have you read any destructions, emails, etc, that welcomed you to the trial?

Also so long as the new it is between your modem and your own router, as it should be, it's not affecting anything.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Yes I know what the new kit is and what its doing. I just dont see how its detecting traffic on my routers wifi. I was downloading something last night and it ran some tests during my downloading obviously causing horrible results. Only thing I can think of is that because there was no traffic running through it so it thought it would be a good time to run the tests.

And why would it ask you to attach the antennae if its not going to use them.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

and the prizes are? :dunce:

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/im...stallation.pdf

Wireless connectivity is unchanged.

Q. What is the purpose of the wireless antennas?
A. Completing step 3 in the installation instructions allowed the unit to see if your
wired network was busy so that it could alter its testing schedule accordingly.
However, no such steps are required for wireless. The unit will automatically
passively monitor your wireless network for activity and will reschedule its
testing if you’re using the wireless network. If you do not have a wireless
network then this feature will be redundant.

Q. Do I need to modify my wireless settings?
A. Absolutely not. The unit does not provide wireless access.

---------- Post added at 22:15 ---------- Previous post was at 22:09 ----------

That made absolutely no sense at all and was wrong into the bargain. Go me. If only I could neg rep myself for that one...

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

That explains the antenna bit. Wasnt in any of the documentation I received. I still cant explain why it ran a test while I was downloading though.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I believe the Linksys device only has port 22 open.

Anyone want to bruteforce a box? :angel:

@broadbandings Any idea how it can passively monitor a wireless network connection it doesn't know you're connected to? How would the device know which wireless network someone is using when it's not been told an SSID or any auth details?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It will be able to detect the signals from your own router and will then run tests when the throughput drops.

---------- Post added at 22:39 ---------- Previous post was at 22:35 ----------

It does not transmit a signal, try looking for it the is no signal to detect but it requires the antenna to passively detect the throughput of your own router so it can run tests without interfering with your connection so replace them.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

IIRC WRT54GL's have JTAG support onboard, although on some versions, you need to solder some pins in.

That would give you some pretty messages on startup.

I'm obviously not advocating trying to hack it.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

If the wireless card is in promiscuous mode it's just a case of looking at what the highest power wireless network is. Given that this box would likely be next door to your existing wireless router it's a fair bet that the highest strength signal is the one it should be watching. From there it just monitors any stations associated to that BSSID.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

In that case maybe deathtrap3000 is using an 802.11n network at 5Ghz? Unlikely he is but could that stop the Linksys box seeing the network as it only works on 2.4Ghz?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I would love to. The whole reason i signed up for the trial was to mess around with some new equipment. i don't' suppose anyone knows the username/password?

Kris

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

You need to get out more ;):p:

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I can't disagree with that. :D

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Why are people that have chosen to take part in the broadband quality trial trying to mess with the hardware? Why bother to sign up?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I'm not looking to interfere, just wanna have a look about the system. See what processes are running, etc...

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

But why?
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/07/6.jpg

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

...have you pinched broadbandings avatar? :erm:

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

No, this is the phrase that Mr. Broadbandings on Fonejacker uses.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I signed up but have not heard from them yet, they must not want me

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

is there any news on this i had an email from them saying the following on the 16th

A Message regarding the Virgin Media Broadband Trial

Hello there,

Remember you volunteered to take part in the Virgin Media Broadband Trial? We’d like to take this opportunity to say hello again, and give you an update.

Things are moving along quickly, and we are busy processing all the applications

You will hear from us again once we have finished this work and we’ll tell you what happens next.



Once again, thanks for volunteering!

The Virgin Media Broadband Team

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I never had an acknowledgment of my having volunteered. I would have liked to known for certain that my corner of the Baguley server was represented in the trial.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

All areas should be part of the trial.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Well if VM play fair my area will be represented but being some what cynical, and not having seen anywhere that VM aren't the ones choosing who to use, I suspect that VM will not have missed the opportunity to load the results in their favour.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

how do u say they will load the results in their favour? In the results that will be shown surely it will show what areas were tested etc etc and if some are missing then people will start asking questions to why.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

If full details so to how the testers have been chosen are given, and I can be reassured that there has been an attempt to cover all areas and all BB levels then, when the results are published, I may be willing to accept the findings.

However, for any tests to be a fair representation of any firms product I would not expect that firm to be the one choosing the test subjects the trial will be based on.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

thast the whole point to this to cover all areas so i would think that if areas were missing then questions would be asked.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It's not a question of them just covering an area it's also a question of whether they cherry pick connections within a large Hub? such as Baguley to ensure that they get the best results.

LOL I wish I could explain what I mean in a clearer way but this where I really show up my lack of technical jargon/knowledge.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Basically you do not want them to pick connections that are "under-saturated" on the network, to make them look good.

You want them to pick a fair cross-section, perhaps at random.

For example, maybe one piece of equipment serves a medium sized area, thus straining it. Whereas several pieces of equipment serve a large area, but are within capacity.
You want to make sure they don't cherry pick the large area with lots of capacity free.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

You star Druchii. https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/07/3.gif That's exactly what I mean. You have interpreted my poor excuse for an explanation and all my unseen hand waving brilliantly. ....

<jo now sits back and waits to be reassured that her suspicions are unfounded>

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I got an email telling me that I had been selected, and asking me to confirm that I still wanted to participate. I confirmed, nothing since.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

milambar when did u get that email

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I just got my kit this morning

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

just got mine

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I don't think this is classed as discussing results - but does anyone know if there is a minimum download and upload speed? For example, 20Mb is upto, but what's the least you should be receiving?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I think anything below 16Mb is going to cause for concern

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

what about 50 meg????

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

45Mb

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

So customers on 20Mbit should expect 80% of performance, customers on 50Mbit 90%?

Just for clarity this isn't an official number is it? Trying to save some emails to the trial support guys there ;)

Looking at my old speed tests rare that my 20 even reached 80% by the way :p:

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Thats the speed that to me would cause concern I never said they was official figures.
However getting something above those speed or even getting those speeds people don't complain, someone getting lower than those speeds will cause people to complain.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Is anyone else using the silver unit (on 50mb) having problems with it dropping out the connection to the router?

at the mo i've got the it set up like this: (ALL using CAT6 cables)
Virgin 50meg Cable modem -> Netgear router -> Virgin Trial equipment, (which has 3 ethernet ports, 1 as input from netgear and...(the 2nd of the 2 spare ports has a IP CCTV camera connected to it, the other ethernet port goes to a GIGABIT router, where i have my PC, Server, PS3, connected.

The problem im having is that every 45mins or so the connection from the Virgin trial box, to the netgear is lost and sometimes comes back after a few mins, (although the connected light is still on where i've plugged it in on the netgear), if not then i restart the virgin trial box and it resets and works again.

I've tried different cables etc. I wouldn't mind this too much, however i have my server connected which is important that i can access files remotely, and i can't trust this trial unit to ensure im able to reach the server.
I could try plugging swapping the server around and plug it in where the IP camera is...but i need it to be on GIGABIT and i think the virgin trial box is 10/100.

If i connected the pc/server etc directly to the router, then surely it will ruin the test as the box wont know when to test my connection, i.e when its being used or not.

I also find that the unit gets EXTREMLY hot! It's in an open space, so whats that all about?

Any suggestions? :(

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Does anyone know what happens to the equipment after the trial, whether you would get to keep it. because I'll jump at the chance if there's ever another trial.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

the equipment is a wireless G router with firmware dedicated to the trial - why would you want to keep it???

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

As it may be a wrt54gl with linux os you could reflash it with tomato or dd-wrt firmware... ;)

(That's if it's the same hardware as they used last year in a wider trial)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It is a wrt54GL - but shirley wireless G is not really the kit to have for use with 20Mb & above connections??

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Always used to get 18 - 19Mb with my g router when I was on 20Mb :shrug:

Plus as I'm your straight man, don't call me Shirley....

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

ok - brenda, ;) my apologies, I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to wireless routers - it may be that keeping the kit may be useful, after all - thanks :)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It is only 4 metres away so peoples MMV... :)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

You dont get to keep it anyway :)

---------- Post added at 23:43 ---------- Previous post was at 23:41 ----------

VM are not actually running the trial are they ? I thought it was Samknows ?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Anyone know how we return these routers at the end of the trial?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

a long time before you need to worry about that i'd say.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

As far as I know, I signed up on a VM site, from what I have read VM sent out the acknowledgments of the applications and the confirmations of acceptance on to the trial. If these emails came from SamKnows then I apologise to VM for not trusting them.

Although the equipment may well be supplied by Samknows I can find nothing that says their involvement in this trial is anything other than the processing and interpretation of data obtained by the test modems, with nothing having been said about their ensuring that the choice of trialists was a fair representation of VM's BB customer base.

LOL I'm sounding as though I wear an aluminum hat which is not like me at all. I guess this trial has just got under my skin.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I was delivered a nice Linksys WGR54GL in the post today, along with setup instructions...
So the first thing I did was set it up, and nmap'ed it. Its only got one listening port, port 22. All the others are in a closed state. Closed, not filtered.

PS. I hope that they let us keep them, along with instructions on how to reflash the firmware to Tomato or DD-WRT at the end of the trial. I've always wanted a 54GL, all the local stores only sell the new 54G-UK models.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Depending on version of the board, there are some pads on it that you can put a header on and use a JTAG cable.

Personally I prefer some of the GS's, they were a bit better specced.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Just got a really ugly bare metal box with a massive antenna for use with the trial.

Had to hide it in a cupboard - it was making me feel sick just looking at it...

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Are you on 50Mb as everyone else got the Linksys.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Yeah, 50Mb. Is that the reason for having this ugly thing?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Probably as all the smaller packages received the Linksys which is 54g so not powerful enough for a 50Mb connection.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I assumed the wireless bit wasn't even anabled and the reason why the 54GL was being used was that it makes a cheap, handly little embedded system.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Well if it is sensing wireless activity then the 54g wouldn't work for a 'N' router with 50Mbit ;)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It didn't occur to me that it would be sensing wireless activity. I can't see how that would work.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It is a passive receiver so that it only runs test while you are not utilising the bandwidth that is why the antennas must be fitted.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Wouldn't it make more sense for it to sit between the modem and router?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Then it could be acccused of monitoring your usage - would you trust it?!

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Well my equipment is giving me the results from another customers connection!

Logging in to the samknows site and checking the stats shows me a bunch of results from the past week and an IP that is different to mine.

The only thing that is correct is my name... :rolleyes:

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Just had an email through saying do I want to do the trial, about time :D

Hopefully the new equipment won't be long coming.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Received my ugly silver box today :D
A breeze to plug in. :)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Well received my unit today, and it is staying in the box, as I do not have any spare power sockets available that are on 24/7 as the only spare one is on an intelligent plug strip which switches off when the PC is not on.

Had not realised you needed power, so requested they come and pick it up.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I don't leave mine on 24/7. It gets turned off at night when we go to bed along with the modem and router.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Mine is on 24/7
I must be one of the rich people that can afford to pay for all this lovely electrickery ;) or im not afraid of being fried in my bed :D

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Has anyone had any issues regarding the device? Since incorportating the router into my LAN setup, Ive been unable to play World of Warcraft. The game gets laggier and laggier until I disconnect. Yet if I take the supplied "router" out, it plays perfectly normally.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Same here, my computers have always been on 24/7, have been for many years, never had any problems or hardware failures :D

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I applied to take part in this trial weeks ago, not even had an acknowledgement yet!!!

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I also applied weeks ago with now acknowledgement until yesterday when they asked me to join.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

No news for me either.

What email address did you receive your confirmation from as it may have been filtered by my spam filter.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

if we can't say if we are on the trial or not

for example then: if i am on 20mb now and increase to 50mb on 22Aug will this mean i need a new trial router ?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Maybe that is something you should ask the people running the trial! - which no one here does ;)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

i go this today...

Hello there,

Thanks for volunteering to take part in the Virgin Media Broadband Trial. Unfortunately on this occasion all the triallist slots have now gone.

Please keep an eye out for future trials, as we hope you’ll apply again!

Once again, thanks for volunteering.

The Virgin Media Broadband Team

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I have removed the offending antenna as the box is in my bedroom.

My connection goes thus.

MODEM> SAMKNOWS linksys> ROUTER linksys> (1 connection from router to girls PC and 1 to boys pc + 1 to 8 port switch) 8 PORT TO MEDIA CENTRE + 8 PORT TO BELKING 54g ACCESS POINT for 2 laptops.
All routers\switches + modem on 24\7 (Mrs keeps an eye on the best leccy deals so we switch often if needed)

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

And this works?

Thought the samknows router was supposed to be between your router and all your stuff?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I haven't got the kit yet, tbh by the sounds of this I wish I hadn't applied.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Because people are confused about what the antenna is for?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Just received the same myself...

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Because it reads like you use it a a router. (in which case it's going straight back).

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Just received an email detailing my bill reduction for assisting in this trial ;)

LOL I wish :D

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It's just arrived, and it is going back.

My router does more than just routing, and has an LACP bonded group to the rest of the network, I don't want to (barely noticably) slow down my network to take place in a trial.

There is also a considerable amount of network traffic that goes to the router that isn't internet bound, so it may have difficulty finding time to do any tests.

---------- Post added at 09:09 ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 ----------

It sits between your router and every wired device on the network (which for me is everything except my mobile phone, and a media player).

I think I'd rather it sat between the modem and the router, (transparently).

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Not to be unkind, but why apply to go on the trial in the first place then?

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I assumed it would be designed to have as little impact as possible.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I would have assumed for most people plugging it into a spare port on a router would be just that

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

It doesn't want you to plug it into a spare port on a router, that would be fine. The instructions tell you that all your kit needs to sit behind it too.

Shame, it looks like good kit. (an ALIX box, probably a 2D1 board and whatever mini-PCI Wireless card they bought).

Assuming it is a 2D1, the network ports will all be 10/100 too (even better reason not to use it).

From the Instructions.

"6. Disconnect any other wired network devices from your router. Plug them into the 2 spare ports on the rear of the performance monitoring unit and restart those devices."

So if you have a 10/100 router and are only using 2 ports on it, then it would probably have no impact whatsoever.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I really don't see why they've asked for it to be set it up this way.

It'd make much more sense to have it between your modem and router, that way it can monitor all traffic rather than having to sniff for when you're not using the wireless, and wouldn't effect people's home networks in any way. As it stands if you're on a gigabit network you're getting told to switch to 100mbit, which I'm just not willing to do.

Luckily I've got a seperate switch so my setup for it is modem -> router -> performance monitor -> gigabit switch -> everything else, so it doesn't effect my network, but if I didn't have the seperate switch there's no way I'd be using it. They seem to have gone for the most inconveniant method of monitoring.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Copy of Email received today:

Guess they are definately fully subscribed, at least for now. Will sit back and see if i'm called at a later date. Guess its no major loss if not lol

Phil

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Snap!!!!

You got there before me, I was just going to post a similar reply as I got exactly the same email today!

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Also have that in my inbox. Would like to have helped but will wait for now.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

You're still in with a chance of winning a prize first time around if you applied but aren't accepted for the trial.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

I've just had that email too, which is fair enough, but if I'm not good enough first time I'm not good enough second time. If they do get people backing out, I don't want to know.

Re: Broadband Quality Trial
 

Well i got mine today and i am a little confused on how to connect it!

I was under the impression that it plugged into a spare ethernet port! But the instuctions say thast everything has to go through it!!

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Would it be possible to just to connect it to a spare port? I am running a D-Link DIR 655 and use the Gigabit lan and wouyld really want to go back to standard ethernet!

Cheers