Re: New STM Confirmed
 

Then you are not held in high regard as you thought you were. :p:

With you being a current VM employee you are not allowed to confirm or deny the new trial of overnight STM anyway....

VM must be pretty thick if they they think most if not all torrent users and legit broadband users will not switch to night as being there new time to download/upload....Night time STM is inevitable and you know it....

I am also aware of the new future measures that VM want to introduce and with them VM are digging themselves a hole which they will not get out off....

VM, focusing on the Broadband market as there main product - what a joke!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Sky must be loving this

I get 13 meg for £10 month

not caps no reductions

Virgin is just bloody stupid

if they can't sustain 20mb bring it back down to 10

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I totally agree Gordon, but they are bringing in 50mb!! What the hell for, just so as they can advertise the "fastest" broadband. It should follow, "but only at short bursts", or once your stm'd by 75% a constant 12mb connection, doesn't sound as good though does it? especially when you consider its then on par with Sky's top broadband at just £10 a month. It puts me in mind of the old children's story about the "Tortoise and the Hare", maybe VMs board ought to re-read it.;)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

what the <Removed> is the point in having 20mbs and soon 50mbs if you dont get the full speeds all day.

VM are just like the Labour party they **** everyone off.

Mod Edit - Please do not avoid the swear filter.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

LOL

VM hope to stabilize 20mbit speeds when it is placed on the DOCSIS3 platform...Only time will tell if it is successful.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Oh look there goes a big flying pink pig :LOL:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

i wasnt STMd tonight. weird. have been downloading all day. mad. seeing as last week i was stmd in the afternoon.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

19Meg around the clock here since the update, even with all the kids off, providing I don't use it that is. :rolleyes:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

There are quite a few areas that get nowhere near the speeds for which there paying for, obviously you and a few others are lucky. ;)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Must admit i cannot complain here in Warrington

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/06/48.png

Could i be in one of the few areas :) Wonder if there are any other members of the few club :LOL:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

This was one such area after the 20Meg free upgrade, 27k some evenings, which is why I went on the twilight shift, always great after 2AM.
I don't know what the recent network update actually consisted of, but it worked.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

No STM here either, I downloaded 9 movies (8G) during the day today and still 10Mbs

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Well it seems like I'm "one of the few" Sirius down here in Brighton, also more than a few of my friends and family recieve nigh on 20mb.


https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/06/49.png

Re: New STM Confirmed
 

LOL:D I am not a current or past VM employee.. My only links to VM are via technology vendor relationships:).

If you knew anything about how Cisco STM works you would know they can only have two active windows (Peak & Off-Peak).
So if they were going to have Overnight STM they would have to extend one of the other windows by a shed load of hours.. To do this and still stay within the 5% daily capture rate they would have to raise the Volume Threshold by a huge margin which would result in nobody being caught at the times that VM want them to be!:rolleyes:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

If its only got 2 active states how are VM managing to have 3 sessions of stm? I guess it would be 4 if you counted the off peak state as well. This isnt an arsey question either, i'm genuinely curious as to how they can do it.

Re: New STM Confirmed
 

Wrong, wrong and wrong :D

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Spot on Trax, quick visit to Cisco brings this up

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/cabl.../ubsubmon.html

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Please remember that VM are running a DoCSIS 1.0 network! The above is STM for Service Flows in DoCSIS 1.1:)
The feature is very different in this environment.. With regards to current deployment.. Upstream and Downstream are dealt with separately.. So there is 1 upstream window and 2 downstream windows. It is dealt with per Tier.. So if they wanted to they could create more Tiers of service to enable them to deal with different groups in different ways.. But just think of the admin:D

The 20 limit does stand for the current deployment.. However each Tier uses its own rules! So there are currently enforce rules for 2, 4, 10 & 20Mb/s plus Business & Legacy Tiers (512Kb/s etc) so you do the math!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Hi guys, been lurking and reading for a bit, thought i'd just post for once, was looking at some previous posts that showed line speeds, well i just did mine and on two seperate goes i never got much above 800 - 900 kbps on the readout - foremost i am not a heavy user, bar a few tunes from itunes, dont have bbc iplayer etc etc - i'm sposed to be getting the dreaded "up to" 4meg service, last few weeks its just slowed to a crawl, just advice really, amd really ****ed :mad: at not getting what im paying for, i know most of you are all veterans of VM here, im beginning to think its the worst move i made!

Any suggestions on a course of action to tackle VM.s customer service as to why my connection is so bloody slow? and how to at least get it upped to somewhere close to 4meg?

Appreciate any suggestions

The Cap'n

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Have to say I have not seen anymore signs of new STM in my area though no doubt it won't be far off. If I download during the day, I stop everything at 3PM, and don't download anything again until well after 12am if I am still awake. I am not quite sure of the STM hours, I know the VM site says between 4PM & 9PM, so does that mean I can resume my downloads anytime after 9PM without fear of being STM'd, or do I have to wait until after 12am like I usually do?

Besides that this whole STM sucks, and for those that say you should get a monthly allowance, and if you go over then pay extra per gb or whatever, well I just totally disagree with that. I pay my full £37PM as do many for what was advertised to me when I signed up, I do not whine to retentions when I want a few quid knocked off the bill, I do not phone VM everyday and moan and prattle on, I don't download 24/7 even though I believe I have that right at the speed I pay for without being STM'd so I just don't see the point in anything VM do at the minute, it's all bad. I nearly took the TV & phone service a couple of weeks ago, didn't and am very glad, also to be perfectly honest if there was any real alternative to VM in my area I would happily consider others as my 12 months contract is up and I have no ties to them now.

Anyhoo, if somebody would be kind enough to put me straight on the STM hours thing I was on about earlier in my post I would be grateful.:)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Theres the official link mate, best to keep an eye on it just in case it changes again...

http://www.virginmedia.com/help/traffic-management.php

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I have a dedicated server hosted in france for £19.99 a month. For that I get the dedicated server and 100mbit upload and download rate with an unlimited quota and isn't capped or traffic managed at all. Why is it that for £19.99 I can not only get an unlimited and uncapped connecitons at 100mbit, but also get a dedicated server thrown in as well, and Virgin Media, who do even give me a smeggin server and just give me 1/5th of the internet conneciton have to use STM? It is madness, sheer madness.

If you are curious about the server host I use OVH by the way.
http://www.ovh.co.uk/

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Has anyone recieved one of those letters yet about the new STM times?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Nope not yet.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

hi, :confused:

I got the letter 28th May, tried to get out of the contract, it seems they can change the terms, prices & any other thing the desire, but i have to stay until April 09.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

So you are in the top 160,000 downloaders on the VM Network.. Congrats:D

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

hi, :D

There must be others who download house, lost and battlestar every week.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

You have got to be doing more than that to get a letter;)

To get in that list you must be 100+GB per month surely?:D

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Sometimes I get in about 20GB a day. Usenet speeds are AWESOME.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Err no, you get put in the list if you hit STM more than 3 times in a month, actually.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I find it interesting that since a couple of weeks ago, threatening to leave (as a customer since Bolton cable existed) I was contacted by retention and given a £9.00 discount on my 37.00 bill (BB & Phone only). This was on the condition I "Hung on in there" for a month as things would improve.

I even went so far as to configure my torrent client to cut the download speed to only 10kbps during the STM period.

I regularly check my connection speed and over the past 9 months the average has been 7978kbps and the best ever was during the STM period tonight at 12479kbps. Now it is back down to 8756kbps.

ABSOLUTELY brilliant for someone who is being charged for 20Mbps (and yes I do know the difference!).

Now what I would like to know from all the VM lovies out there (you know who you are) is this.

If as advised by tech support I've changed my download habits to suit their STM why am I still not getting what I pay for?

BT wholesale and their resellers have a legitimate answer to this as BT is still on copper from the exchange. NOT so VM.

BE have advised me I should expect a minimum of 16Mbps on their system and what I've read about them I am tending to believe it. It's better than I've had from VM.

I'm off to bed now work in the morning :(

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Wait, W-H-A-T?! I'm on 2MB, so does that mean if I download 500MB+ between 4-9pm on 3 seperate days for example, I may be sent a letter?! Please tell me i've gotten it wrong...

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Nope your right.

Don't use what you pay for :)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

LOL Ok.. I give up.. no more biting to your dodgy info for me:dozey:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Why don't you do the tests that VM Tech Support usually request and copy the results back here or straight to the newsgroup?
You'll find some notes and hints in this post.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

For anybody experiencing slow speeds or ongoing issues heres some tips.

Make sure you call or request support via the news groups and get all the checks done.
Make sure you insist that adequate notes are made on you account regarding the issue.
Once you have identified the fact that there is an issue, call cust care and demand you pay for what you are getting.

The amount of customers I have dealt with that are getting less than half what they pay for and have not demanded a reduction is amazing.

Example, Upgraded to 20Mb,had old dpx100/sb4100 modem,slow speeds for 4 months then new modem ordered. You are owed 4 months of the charge back for the higher speed as the modem is not capable of the speed and sales/cust care will never check this.

VM will never offer you this,you have to ask,often repeatedly.
Never be threatening but always be firm and always demand that a CCCS complaint is raised as this will then generate a follow up, and ask for the complaint reference number or you will just get told it has been done when it has not.

you need to remember that tech support can only diagnose and fix basic stuff,even 2nd line cannot fix an over subscribed ubr,best they can do is move you to a less utilised channel and give you any dates they have for planned work, them giving you a date and a ref number is your proof that there is an issue and is all you need to make that call.

Sorry for waffling on guys,hth.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Just nipped home quickly during my lunch break. Didn't have time to do all the tests but the 4 simultaneous downloads returned at

642kbs
624kbs
443kbs
333kbs

A total of 2042kbs

So according to the recommended test (albeit just one) my speed is about 1/10th of what I pay for.

Before you ask I did exit all programmes accessing the internet first eg mail client, torrent client etc.

Straight after I ran a test at speedtest.net which returned 6559 down 735 up
still well below the supposed 20Mbps being charged for.

Here's a few results going back the last 3 months. I've only edited the IP address


Results History
Test Again
Showing Results For MY CURRENT IP: 81.102.122.xxx - (VIRGIN MEDIA)
Date IP Address Download Upload Latency Server Distance Share
6/5/2008 11:09 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 6559 kb/s 735 kb/s 25 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Close
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6/5/2008 7:56 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 10050 kb/s 388 kb/s 27 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/5/2008 12:00 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 8954 kb/s 729 kb/s 43 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/4/2008 11:23 PM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 12479 kb/s 728 kb/s 26 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/4/2008 7:49 PM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 9625 kb/s 733 kb/s 46 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/4/2008 7:48 PM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 10765 kb/s 727 kb/s 47 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/3/2008 6:31 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 6222 kb/s 718 kb/s 48 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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6/3/2008 6:21 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 6100 kb/s 721 kb/s 49 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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5/25/2008 1:52 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 6540 kb/s 196 kb/s 37 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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5/25/2008 1:49 AM GMT 81.102.122.xxx 5366 kb/s 226 kb/s 42 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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5/13/2008 12:23 AM GMT 81.102.122.209 6821 kb/s 629 kb/s 45 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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5/13/2008 12:21 AM GMT 81.102.122.209 6075 kb/s 630 kb/s 38 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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3/19/2008 2:32 PM GMT 81.102.122.209 8609 kb/s 726 kb/s 36 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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3/19/2008 2:31 PM GMT 81.102.122.209 8175 kb/s 728 kb/s 47 ms Maidenhead ~ 150 mi Open
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Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Don't think I've ever seen a speedtest report that 'over-estimated' a real download trial by that factor before. I suspect that your connection has serious problems.

Recommend you do the other tests when you've got some free time and post the results.
I'd be very interested to see the power levels from your modem.

"When signal levels are poor but not poor enough to provoke the above symptoms [unusual led activity on the modem], you might observe degraded throughput, or packet loss, or poor latency, or failure to acquire or renew a DHCP lease. But poor signal levels are not the only cause of these symptoms, so some diagnosis is required before you blame the signal levels."

(Source: Cable Modem Troubleshooting Tips)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

That is because they have sold your bandwidth to other customers. and to enable them to sell even more bandwidth to more customers they have to take it off those that have already paid for it :D

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Ofcom has written to ISP's and asked them to stop mis-selling broadband on speed:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06...code_practice/

It will be interesting to see what happens especially since Virgin has signed up to obey the new rules!

Personally I would like to have seen Ofcom insist on a MINIMUM speed for each type of service. For example, with a 20 meg service the ISP would be expected to deliver at least 50% of the charged speed ie 10 Meg. Would this be asking too much?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

unfortunately a lot of VM's network cant even supply this,thats why stm was brought in.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

This is a very good explanation of what should be done to resolve broadband price/performance issues. I did something similar a while ago and, whilst my broadband performance did not improve, my costs were cut by £10 per month.

I hope others take your advice and obtain a satisfactory resolution.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

isent vm going a little far with this?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

they basically say that all the people who use there internet just for surfing and for, checking emails are the people they want where as if they were, to try to satisfy the customers that don't just use it for them purposes, they would probably make more money.

i think they are going to far with it they keep offering faster speeds but you just cannot, use it because of the stm rules even downloading legal content gets, you stm'd or even downloading drivers and software that you need for your comp gets you stm'd.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

i should get my letter soon then ive been over the limit like 6 times up to now within 2 weeks of usage, its so easy to hit the limit without realising it, i hate havingto be acrefull of what i dl for the whole day VMreally needto stop capping users

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Has your letter arrived?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

nope nothing, 99% of the time i am on a 5mbit connection and i keep going over without meaning to but i had to security enable my wireless i noticed one day like 6 people where connected :s maybe that explains a few times that i was sure i dident go over and i was capped, luckily my router tells me whos connected so i enabled security and threw them off.. but no no letter which i am suprised, 3 or so weeks ago i did have a letter from them titled a brief word about unlimited downloads but thats while i was on the 2mbit

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I told you, after you hit the limit so many times your put on a rotation list and users are randomly picked, guess your just lucky :)

Though, to be fair they are purposely sending letters out to lower tier people to get them to upgrade right now.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Yes now that i am on 20meg i havent recieved any letter but i do get capped virtually every day so i wont be suprised if i recieve another letter, i have a feeling i am just going to downgrade to the 2mbit anyway im on this 20meg which is a 5 most of the time so an extra 3megs i may aswell be on the 2 again

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

not going to happen...unless I downgrade everything else and then they lose out because I'll be paying less.:)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

So why didn't you security (your words) your wireless when you first got it?
You are responsible for whoever uses your connection and to have 6 unknown people using your connection is just not reckless it's stupid.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

dident think id need to im in a small city anw doesent matter now it has been put security now so no one can loginw ithout the long ass password i put

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Picked randomly for what? To receive a warning letter? (Sorry, I haven't read all 24 pages, so I assume that's what you mean.)

How can they get away with advertising an "unlimited" service, but then warn users for using it too much? Also, it seems odd having a "traffic management" system, if you then expect users to manage their own traffic to ensure that they don't hit the limits too many times on their supposedly unlimited service.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Well put!

Here is a copy of the mail I received from Be. For obvious reasons I've removed my addy and the ticket number and also my name. No I haven't corrected their spelling either!

-------Original Message-------

From: Be member services
Date: 6/22/2008 7:40:26 AM
To:
Subject: Ticket No. updated Successfully

Dear Mr F,

Thank you for contacting us.

Our service is trully unlimited-you can download and upload as much as you want whenever you want,no traffic shaping,throtling etc.

The support is based in Sofia,Bulgaria and it is experienced and able to help you 24/7 and if you are calling from your BT landline number it will be for free.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Regards,
Rudi.

Also the follow-up relating to contention ratios

From: Be member services
Date: 6/24/2008 11:58:51 AM
To:
Subject: ticket ID:

Dear Mr F,

Thank you for contacting us.

The contention ratio for all our packages is 1 to 1.We are trying to keep it this way and if sometimes in the future this is due to change we will notify you on time.

IF you have any other questions please contact us.

Regards,
Rudi

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

That is incorrect. I have seen the Be dslams and they are not running 1 to 1. I think the person who gave you that info is very miss informed. I to will be moving to BE.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Unlimited

10.1 is for business so there is noway they will offer 1 to 1 to a residential customer :LOL:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

You have quoted the services of another company that leases the line from Be.
As to be misinformed the information is from their own tech services and as I have it in writing...........................

Having said that Be certainly gives better service than VM!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Sorry i have worked on DSL products for years and that information is incorrect.

We can debate this all night but at the end of the day why would BE be giving each customer a 1 to 1 connection on to a dslam. they dont offer that to a business customer.

found a page that gives the info

http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/pa...ited-24mb.html


Just emailed them as i was about to sigh up with them but if there tech support does not even know what there contention ratio is then i certainly have no faith in there support. :rolleyes:

Lets hope a differant support agent gives me the correct ratio or i will not be signing up with them.

I have had enough of VM's STM. i have just got home from work turned on my PC and i am STM'd :( The PC has been off all day.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I do not doubt that you have a lot more expertise in this field than me BUT the 10 - contention ratio you quoted was from Vaioni which leases the service from Be and offers businesses 20Mb down and 2.5Mb up at a cost of £140.00 pm.

I take it that this is a guaranteed speed - hence the cost.

When I went to Be all they said was that I could EXPECT a speed of 16Mbps so far they have done better than that! Up until recently I was a cable customer before Nynex. C&W Telewest etc. and before the advent of broadband, or even the internet.

Everything was as sweet as apple pie until the advent of Virgin Media, Then everything went downhill which is why I jumped ship and went to be, the best move I ever made!

Even on here whilst I was a VM customer techs were saying there was something wrong, I'd had engineers round on several occasions after paying for the phone call.

In all the time I was paying for a 20Mbps connection I never reached more than 12Mbps and that was a one - off the average was nearer 6Mbps and I still have the records to prove it.

Rant over!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

this is the high speed STM's connection i have at the moment from VM's 20 meg service

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/06/9.png

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Says it all!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

When it comes to getting these letters for excessive usage, what exactly causes them to issue them? If I download 7gb between 12am and 6am for seven days straight, would that get me a letter or does it only count if I break their shitty 2.4gb/1.2gb during the day?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Miles better than my current 20MBit in Stafford.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/06/10.pnghttps://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/06/11.png

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

The other word for it is 'altruistic'. Sometimes some of us just like to share things.

---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

So do what I did and vote with your wallet. Downgrade to the 2 meg service. The ludicrous thing about this STM is that if I get "capped" for downloading too much and I am degrading the network...then why do the capped 20 megger's still get 2.5 times my maximum??

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Hokkers, you've hit the nail on the head!

Most of us just like to share things and if you think about it that is what P2P, or torrenting , is all about. The only thing is, is that most of it is illegal. That is why if you have WiFi you should secure your connection to stop outsiders from accessing it as the account holder is responsible for anyone who uses that connection and if they are downloading "illegally" who is to blame?

In a perfect world everything would be free but we don't have one.(That comment does not constitute another thread)

The way I look at it is this.

If I buy something it belongs to me-why? Because I paid for it!
If I then decide to give MY property to a neighbour or a friend then that is MY decision.

It's about time that the big companies got their head round consumerism i.e. if you sell me something don't come back crying if I do what I want with it!

Example, I buy a television for my bedroom, my friend says he needs one, so I give him the one from the bedroom as I can manage with what I've already got. No illegality there.

I buy a DVD my friend says he would like to watch it so I give it to him WRONG!- breeches copyright.

I could go on but I don't want to bore anyone.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Have just found out about the new STM.

It's Fing rediculous. I can understand limiting the main peak hour 4pm-9pm, but limiting any other time is just simply ripping customers off.

If they don't relent on this soon then I'll go with ADSL even if I only get 2Mbit max, simply as a matter of principle!!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

well said jaycee your right, 4-9 is ok but making the hours basically 24/7 capping for using ur connection is stupid i hope enough peole complain leave and laugh at ntl on live tv like bt did for VM to realise what they are doing is stupid..

if the capping becomes more ( 24/7) i might end up going back to adsl even though i never get more then 8mbit at least they wont CAP ME and now ukonline who i was with offering 1mbit upload

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

im pretty stuck at the mo, our local exchange is crap and i can only get a guaranteed 2mbit service... but it is due to be upgraded and LLU'd next year, so if Virgin are still pulling this crap then... I'll be off after 10 years of being a customer of thiers in 3 different areas!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

LLU is *DSL only isn't it?

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Yes.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

because they are still paying for the cough*premium*cough service, if you were being stm'd to the same level of the 2meg tier, and your paying double the cost for the privlidge - would you be happy? i know i wouldn't, and yes i did vote with my wallet (after my vote about service fell on deaf ears) and went to o2 with no caps or stm in sight.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I have two choices currently - move over to the business broadband package and pay more to actually get a working service... or sit it out and hope either Virgin relent on this stupidity, or if they dont, move to LLU'd ADSL when my exchange is upgraded.

The likelihood of the business broadband happening is remote - after all, it is connected to *exactly the same* network and uses *exactly the same* equipment - yet Virgin claim they cannot sustain the service for domestic customers.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

And the business package is STM'd as well.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Uh, since when? That isn't what the website says

I quote "Unmetered and 'always-on' connection - no usage restrictions or caps"

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Trust me it is.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34568648-post34.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...iness-stm.html

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

When I signed up to the ADSL package the FUP said you would get a minimum of 512kb/sec if you were capped, it was actually 80kbps, just a bit quicker than dial up, dont always believe what you read on the site as they do take a while to update it.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...anagement.html

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Sorry those two quotes do not confirm that BB business packages are subject to traffic management. We need to see confirmation from NTL Telewest business in their T&C's, not a couple of he said, she said posts.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Go ring them up, the 20mbit package has STM, the others do not (yet, rollout starts soon)

The limts are 6GB between 4-9 instead of 3GB, no daytime stm.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Correct. :tu:

---------- Post added at 17:34 ---------- Previous post was at 17:32 ----------

Toto

I have sent a PM with a link i think you should look at.

I know that business broadband has STM applied. This is the problem with VM. They never tell the people at the coalface about STM, WHY because they know people do not like it and if they have the information before they sign up they might well NOT sign up.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Thanks, I've PM'd you back about the link.

Personally, I don't mind STM. I'm in an area where speed at peak times has been a problem, since I was told by an engineer that STM was in place my speeds have improved considerably.

It's not to everyone's liking for sure, and to be honest, having seen what ADSL near an LLU's exhcange is like at peak times, I'm surprised that more ADSL suppliers are not ding similar things.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I don't like STM because i honestly feel its been applied to allow VM to CRAM more users on to a already bulging network. And they say there is no smoke without fire and the smoke at the moment seems to be showing up after midnight ;)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Just been STM'd for the second time in 7 hours :mad:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

wow i usually get stm'd as i download more than my streets fair share off torrents.

now i wasnt arsed that they were cutting it down and i got the famous letter. but when i started to tare myself away from my videos ive downloaded i noticed i cudnt host xbox games no more while the stm was in full flow. so last week thought might as well knock my torrents down to 1k up 1k down (just so i get seed bonus points off my private torrent site even when nothings going up u get them by being logged into the tracker then exchange them on the site for upload credits) and id been doing that from say 5pm-11/12 and i noticed it that my speed in the stm peroids was back to normal for the 10mb

now last night i went completelly balistic downloading stuff for my original xbox as i got a kit to mod getting delvered this week and downloaded loads off public torrents. probs about 8gb over night. and now noticed after 12/1pm id been hit during the day

so looking at this gay web page http://www.virginmedia.com/help/traffic-management.php

and am i right if i put my limits to 1k up 1k down from 10am till midnight then this will eventually take me out of this stm group and get proper speed for my games again? coz it sucks waiting till 11pm to play online.

or am i right in thinking i can even go all the way and say 10am - 9pm and ill be fine if its limited to 1k up 1k down during that peroid. and it will have the same effect?

i dont mind turning the download or upload off during the peak hours because when ur capped you might as well not bother downloading on a serious level anyways. because if im nailed for 5 hours in that then the amount i can upload or download is usually superseeded within about 20 mins uncapped.


so wud capping myself from 10am - 9pm gurantee it stops happening or shud i stik it out till 12 just to be safe, as i probs need it capping so i can play games anyways myself or surf the net.

with them upgrading me to 10mb im sure that makes up for the d/l & u/l as in un capped times i cud probs upload more than i cud stm'd on 4mb.


anyone else think STM sounds like a disease lmao,

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Evenin all. Though i would share my thoughts on the cap.

Im not totally against the caps, but in reality I think that the threshold is set far too low, 1200MB on the L package for 4 - 9. Thats does not goes far over two computer users and I will often be stm`d without running any p2p. Virgin don't even supply a reliable way to monitor your usage. So how can I judge if i can download something or not, thats one strike against the current shaping. I hate this feeling that I cant use the connection i`m paying for when it suits me.

Another thing that REALLY annoys me that the caps are not removed after 9pm. It really reduces the value of "traffic management" if you know that your speed is just going to be remaining slow after the management period ends, Why wait when your speed is still going to be the same later. If im downloading a couple of large files, rather then wait till after 9 I just start em and let them run for the duration. Im downloading the same volume of data, it just takes me longer and the cap does not affect when i am downloading, Thats two strikes.

I have to wake up as 6am for work and dont leave my computer on overnight. I usually go to bed at 10 or so depending how I feel so i am getting an entire hour of the 10 meg I pay for if i have not been capped already. What terrible value for money, thats three strikes from me.

Traffic shaping sucks.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

10am -3pm then 4pm - 9 pm not just 4-9 now

---------- Post added at 23:34 ---------- Previous post was at 23:32 ----------

but the capping is stupid, but i wouldent leave VM just downgrade from 20 to 2meg

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

No, no, no, no not the 2meg. I mean, I have it and it is stable and all but you are capped more often than not. I'll probably be upgrading to 10meg once it has rolled out in my area.

Ben :)

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Well its a bit pot calling kettle but at least it gets to the front page.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7483675.stm

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

thats true but im on the 20meg connection they deliver full 20 but im on 5mbit more then 20 i keep going over and those programs like du meter dont help

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I was interested by the part which said:-

"But it did admit that users would be subject to its so-called traffic management system, which caps data usage during peak hours.

It said that the issue would only affect users of the 2Mbps service."

Someone should draw attention to this thread where many people on 20mbps would disagree!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

FWIW, I think what VM meant was that downloading a 340MB video (and nothing else) would only trigger STM on 2Mb/s connections, not the faster ones.

---------- Post added at 10:01 ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 ----------

I'd guess that you're either ignoring the STM times and thresholds (which you are absolutely free to do) or the STM parameters at your UBR are incorrect.

If nothing else, DU Meter keeps a log of your traffic so you can analyse it later.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

yes its because i hit the 3GB limit

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Yes I have it now at 03:49!!!

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

know how you feel. :(

I seem to get it randomly at any time of the day or night. I cannot be arsed to ring tech support and talk to a guy in India who's only task in life is to read a bloody script then fob me off with the fault of the day.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

And that's the sad situation we have all been expected to get used to.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

You'll think I'm making this up :erm:

Just phoned Broadband support on 151 after getting capped for the 2nd time this month. Never happened before (that I've noticed anyway), and I'm a very heavy user.

Stereotypical 1st line support script-reader answers, and yes, he was clearly in India - difficult to understand and took several "Sorry?"s and "Pardon?"s to get anything comprehensible out of him.

I explained that after getting capped yesterday, I (last night) setup my bandwidth manager to restrict download speed to 160Kb/sec during peak hours (defined on their website as 10am to 3pm, and 4pm to 9pm. At 8:30pm I notice I'm restricted to 600Kb/sec download speeds, and want to know why... I've downloaded just over 8Gb today (since midnight TODAY) and my badwidth usage is within their stipulated totals of 6Gb for the morning cap, and 3Gb for the evening cap.

Apparently there's a "problem with the server" and the "engineers" can't make any changes to my profile now. Genius. Another fob-off.

I then phoned 150 to make a complaint. Spoke to girl this time (also from India I think - another stong, almost impossible accent to understand). I couldn't make a formal complaint - she insisted on giving me the postal address to write in to.

What a far cry from the (still advertised) "no caps, no allowances" BS still being sold to consumers, new and existing alike. (http://www.virgin.net/helpme/broadba...ethereany.html - check it out).

I left Be* for VM because I was "only" getting 14mbit/sec on Be*. I'm very disappointed with VM, and would like to know if I can "vote with my feet" at this point (been with them only 7 months or so) as they've changed the contract - do I have rights to leave and return to Be*?

I get very fast access (as good as 20mbit advertised) when it's not capped. Its a pity I'm not around more at 2am when VM would have me use my "unlimited, uncapped" service I pay so much for... :rolleyes:

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

I have to disagree with that like,so if someone gets control of your pc or is wardriving in a car outside your house ,and they are committing illegal acts,say dos attacks ,turned your pc into a zombie,you are saying that i'm the one who'll be hauled in front of the local magistrates ?

Not going to happen.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

It's your connection and your responsibility. You'll have to prove it wasn't you, and "I don't have a secure network!" won't cut it.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Section 5.3 of VM AUP

5.3. Users are responsible for the security of their own devices that are directly or indirectly connected to our network. This includes, but is not limited to: PCs, wired and wireless home networking devices and games consoles.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

exactly why should Vm be responsible for that .. its up the the owner of the connection to security enable the wireless if he/she decides to. even though some people may not have a clue on how to or how to even enter the admin page of their router or know about neighbours using ur wireless

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Yes but they also cannot prove that someone did not illegally hack into your wireless via brute force. In the same vein the law cannot hold you responsible if your neighbours house burns down because someone broke into your house and set fire to it.

Re: New STM/Virgin traffic managent confirmed - so that's why it's slow!
 

Reality check - likelihood and possibility.

They also cannot prove that someone came to your house with a gun, and is threatening to kill your family if you grass them up for using your broadband, but what is the likelihood of this?

Is it likely that someone would go to that much trouble to break into a secured home wifi network just to download illegal copies of music?

And to extend your "fire" metaphor a little - there would have to be some proof that your house had been broken into and set on fire, don't you think?