Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Did they ever actually promise 10% apart from 120/12?

There are no doubt umpteen ways it could be achieved but their latest promises relate only to downstream sfaik and for many they are a year away. Improvements cost money? Do they have it? The last round of price increases were translated into cuts by retentions for those who bothered to call in. The current round - I don't know as I've decided it's time to cut and run given the congestion I see now before the reduced STM and later increased speeds bring my segment to its knees.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

The bandwidth changes cost nothing to do. Additional fibre is more effort than cost IMO.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

This is business, effort is cost. With more and more applications hungry for upstream bandwidth, VM will need to pull out something better than 50/2

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Meanwhile we've heard nothing from BT, possibly because their 20Mbps up from two years ago is still enough to beat anything VM have planned for the next few years...

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I'd remind that only a proportion of BT Infinity or FTTC customers get the 20 meg upstream. I get less than 10 meg and at least 50% of FTTC customers (my estimate) are situated at or beyond the point where their u[stream is lower than VM's 120/12.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

yup, when 100mbits was initially rolled out (and what I had) it was 100/10. It was only when they started doing the speed doubling program that they doubled the 50s to 100/5 and stopped new customers from buying 100/10 and gave them the cheaper doubled 50mbit tier.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I bet many aren't situated where there upstream is less than the 2.9Mbps I get on my 2nd tier 60Mbps product though. In my case because my local area suffers from congestion even the downstream on FTTC is likely to be higher.

---------- Post added at 10:17 ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 ----------

So where is the promise in that? I had 50/5 until I binned it for 10 because the congestion was so high it wasn't worth the price premium. I've never seen a 10:1 promise in any VM material - just supposition from customers.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Well if you remember, it was never always 10:1. I remember when 50meg had 1.75Mbit upload. They had a big campaign when they upgraded everyone to 10:1 ratios, that's when 50/1.75 became 50/5. I don't remember what 100, 20 and 10 had and I don't remember if 30 was available at the time.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Ok enough with what there was and wasn't in the past.

Have they ever announced that 30/n and 60/3 are going to be upgraded to 30/3 and 60/6?

If they did I never saw it. What I have seen is that 30/60/120 will be upgraded to 50/100/150 with no mention of upstream. That also seems to be downgrading the top tier which will become 3x bottom instead of the current 4x.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...1109671/page/2

Mark Wilkin's post further down states it, but that was august last year and still no announcement. BenMcr has also stated that it's planned, but you're right in that it's never been part of any official literature. They have stated in the past that they are aiming for 10:1. Given that people are still waiting for 120meg, presumably upload speed upgrades have been pushed back. It's impossible to know, though, they haven't announced one way or the other. It'll have to come eventually.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Looks like they have quietly forgotten it to me. VM sell based on headline downstream speeds. It's all they have that they can show to be better than FTTC and then only for the higher tiers until the next round of downstream increases. Most of the buyers probably don't consider upstream so VM don't need to bust a gut.

New customer price point for 60 + phone is pretty much equal to 76/19 FTTC + phone

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

That's exactly it. They haven't forgot it, they've just put it on a much lower priority because its marketing value isn't the same as headline download speeds.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

It could also be a means of protecting downstream as someone mentiond the other day. I don't use torrents but as I understand it how fast you get stuff depends on how fast you upload too plus there is some sort of code that requires upload volumes to be the same or greater than download. OK so they are supposed to apply shaping but just how effective is it? I imagine using a VPN would defeat it but there may be simpler options that work too.

There is already just about the capacity for 10:1 - 8x50down and 2x18up seems to be normal. I know there is a third upstream in use locally because my son is on it and he's on the same CMTS as me but a different optical node - he has only 6 down with the 2 up so > 10% capacity. Maybe that's too simplistic but I think there must be some other reason for not increasing the upload - after all insufficient downstream has never stopped them selling upgrades or making new sales.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Not the case, you can set your upload speed to 0KB/s on your torrent client and still get the full 126mb/s download. A lot of trackers have rules that you must seed back to a 1:1 ratio but the speed you do it at doesn't matter, it could take an hour or a year to seed back as long as it hits 1:1. Obviously it's easier to do at a fast speed but upload speed isn't a technical requirement or a rule.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Less is lost on the upstream on FTTC, i.e. more people are likely to get 20mbit upstream than 80mbit downstream

---------- Post added at 16:25 ---------- Previous post was at 16:19 ----------

The original announcement from mark wilkin on the VM forum said "upload speeds will be 10% of download speeds"

also, the latest I can find regarding 3 and 6mbit upload speeds are in these to messages from mark wilkin

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...ht/true#M25129

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:25 ----------

Id say this ^

Looks like they still have plans to return to a 10:1 ratio, but the downstream upgrades are taking priority. Although having seen quite a few posts about QAM64 upstreams, it does look like they are working hard at the upstream (allbeit very hush hush)

---------- Post added at 16:29 ---------- Previous post was at 16:28 ----------

Most trackers use the tit-for-tat alogirthm to stop you doing that

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

It's not just trackers. Most clients in non-seeding mode do that too, as do all clients in "initial seeding" mode.

The amount a client decides to send to another client will in many clients be based on how much the other client sends to the first client. Yeah I read that sentence and went :sleep: as well.

Also initial seeders will block uploading to any client if that client does not upload pieces sent to it, and will also prioritize any client that forwards pieces on quickly.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I often get the full 126Mb (15MB) download on torrents, mostly from TorrentDay They offer high quality torrents. There seems to be no relationship between download and upload. It is more to do with the ratio of seeders:leechers.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

If there are enough peers, sheer volume of sources alone will max you out without needing to upload.

Private/niche torrents are a different matter all together.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Yup

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Regarding 10:1 and advertised speeds, it looks like VM are only advertising 11.7mbit upload on the 120 package

http://my.virginmedia.com/traffic-ma...hresholds.html

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I'd say that by the statement on it here http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...2106768#M34133 they were told off for advertising 12mb upload when they only supply 11.7mb. Seems a bit picky to me really.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Don't see why VM dont just set the config a bit higher (well, I do, but...)

Hopefully if we see 4 bonded QAM64 upstreams then they will start becoming competetive on the upstream (maybe even 5:1)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

absolutely, it is pathetic. What possible reason is there to shave 300kbits off the upload speed apart from the obvious X customers x 300kbits = XGbits saved of upstream capacity?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Nothing is shaved off, actually customers get 12mbit exactly, they just dont see the overheads

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

i know but the fact that they are stating 11.7mbits on the website is making me wonder whether my config is going to drop to 11.7 when I am in the land of nod.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

as mentioned above, thats all they are allowed to advertise, as thats what the majority of customers receive, same way FTTC providers can only advertise 76mbit download when they provision 80 (79.99)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Actually they don't, they provision 77.43.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Since when? My sync rate was always 79999kbps

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Since the service was first introduced. And the principle has been along far longer. BT have always capped throughput to 96.8% of sync rate on all FTTC services, and a slightly different rate on all ADSL services before that. The only way to avoid this is LLU

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

No it won't

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Postcode checker now thinks I'm not in a cabled area. Whoops!

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

me too. Hopefully they have removed the database and are updating it with more accurate dates for the start of the rollout in the new year. When they are as vague as July-Dec 2014 they had might as well not bother saying anything.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

The general rollout process is the same this time around as last time, so the dates will get more accurate as the rollouts progress - with the same caveat that dates may change for technical reasons.

With several million customers to upgrade, no matter what VM put there someone to complain about it.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

do you know why it isn't working atm? It is a bit weird that it is saying that people who come from completely different parts of the country aren't in cabled areas (not like it is one area/postcode group they have made a boo boo with). On the upside I have always been middle of the pack for upgrades so I should expect mine around August time.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Just looked at my VM and noticed the dates have changed. Spot the mistake:

MyVM:

http://keepup.virginmedia.com/speedupgrade
Looks like the 2014 is hardcoded into MyVM's message, whoops! Someone obviously had far too much faith in VM keeping to some sort of schedule :)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I get the same:

"We’re upgrading the network in your area and your speed boost will be ready between August 2014 and January 2015. You don’t need to do a thing and we’ll contact you as soon as it’s ready.
Sign in to My Virgin Media to find out what new speed you can look forward to."

I assume we are all getting the same message, unless they can use our IP to give us the correct message. Either way this isn't the February 2014 I was hoping for.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Nope, mine says between March and May this year.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

We're the same as Skie.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Same here but somehow l cannot see those dates being met in a month of Sunday's.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Yes they were originally stating between Feb and Apr, its already fallen behind :D

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Same here, be lucky if we get this by 2015

We’re upgrading the network in your area and your speed boost will be ready between August 2014 and January 2015. You don’t need to do a thing and we’ll contact you as soon as it’s ready.

BD22 Area

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

it is a shame they havent made a list available like they have done previously because I am curious which areas they are actually planning to do in February

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I now get between August and Jan 2014. I assume like the 120 no one actually knows when it will be.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I doubt it. Virgin's upgrades are much like BT's FTTC upgrades in that the estimates given usually slip back a few times before it's actually done.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

In fairness to Virgin, I think slippages are to be expected. I just wish they were better at both setting our expectations (overestimate rather than under) and being transparent with their upgrades. I find that delays are much less infuriating if you're told why there's a delay.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

can't agree for this area - the FTTC rollout was smack bang on the dates, only delay was a week after the RFS date and then it was all go.

---------- Post added at 13:05 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------

They just like to spend their time lying to customers. hang on, that's what they do with fault updates too. :angel:

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Mine saying between May and July '14 on the postcode checker and in myvm now, it was showing between May and October.

I also noticed it no doesn't have a button to pre-register for it, and I never signed up to auto "upgrade" including a new contract... Unless they're going to upgrade everyone without a new contract now?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I had a pre register button which I pressed. i don't think they would do that

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I'd hope not, I just have a "Go to discover" button after the initial "Find out more" button on the MyVM home page.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Will this require a SH2 or will the SH1 handle it?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

My letter indicates an auto increase from 60Mb to 100Mb without any additional costs.
This supposed to happen between May and July 2014.
Mind you I had to indicate an interest before getting message.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

sh2 i believe.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Not even Virgin does as it keep slipping further into the future every time you check.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

The SH1 was supposed to handle up to 400Mbps.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

SuperHub 1 will be supported and not swapped for these upgrades.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

In fairness to both companies, haven't their upgrades been put back in part due to the need to redirect engineers to areas that have experienced bad flooding?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Only if you blame the past few years estimates on this months flooding ;)

When Virgin gives me a date i usually add 1 to the year and expect it then. BT give rolling quarterly placeholder dates that don't really mean anything. They're as bad as each other in this regard.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

The floods haven't just been this month, 2013 experienced really extreme weather. I don't know much about previous years' weather but doubt it was to blame for previous delays.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Mines changed again to between August 2014 and January 2015

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Mines still on March 2014 and May 2014.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Ditto. As above and hasn't changed since I first looked a while ago. :)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Looks like someone has noticed the 2014 rollover bug on MyVM and it now shows Jan 2015 for me :(

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

SH1 and SH2 are, on paper anyway, as capable as each other when it comes to these network upgrades. That is, 8 DS channels and 4 US channels on both.

Of course, everyone agrees the SH2 is "better" in real life but I don't see Virgin swapping out SH1's for SH2's for network reasons.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

The SH1 and SH2 are equally capable on the DOCSIS modem side of things.

The SH2 is more capable in actually delivering higher speeds to the end user (more powerful CPU, improved routing performance, improved wireless performance, dual-band higher speed capability, etc)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Swansea has been moved from June to end of 2014.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Our area was bumped to 8 downstream channels today even though there is no congestion. Preparation for the speed boost i'm guessing.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

VM's aim is to have everybody on 8 DS channels. AFAIK, the aim also is 4 US channels. These implementations exploit the Superhub fully in conjunction with higher speeds.

Those areas not upgraded to 8 DS channels are simply not up to the mark and IMO people in those areas would be disadvantaged if it stayed that way.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

It does depend on congestion, though. I'd like to think that Virgin is sorting them in order of most needed first, but that requires common sense on their part.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Congestion could just be the consequence of over-selling on crap circuitry. But yes, you're right too.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I can wait for that. Was on 100Mb for a while last year but downgraded to save some money.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

You have the same dates as me but I am the other end of the country, be interesting to see when each area goes live.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Your broadband speed supercharge will be ready between April 2014 and June 2014

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

May 2014 to July 2014 still on mine.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I guess mine's definitely in March then? ;)

I'm thinking of droping to 30 meg form my current 60. Will that alter the dates?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Same on mine. Not too long to wait.

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------

Like me. Woah is me. :)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Was speaking to a friend today who lives in Belfast and he said he got the 150 today ?!?!?
I've asked him to confirm his SH2 configuration, as it may just be a stupid speedtest or something. Hopefully he will remember and let me know. :)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

from belfast myself, he is probably lieing. Though i am on 120mb i have seen my download speeds go as fast as 165mb (utorrent) my area wont be done for a few months yet though.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

ou've already registered your interest
i should have it soon:


Right now you have our up to 120Mb broadband. That's really fast, but between March 2014 and March 2014 you'll be able to supercharge your speed to up to 152Mb broadband at no extra monthly cost.

So sit back and relax. We'll be in touch with you as soon as your supercharge is ready.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Yes my upgrade to 50MB now also says it'll be between March 2014 and March 2014 - so taking a wild guess I think they mean March 2014 :erm:

Can't see the need for any faster than 30MB download anyway. It's all 'marketing/Top Gear/ mines the fastest' cobblers which means no difference to most punters most of the time, except some are mug enough to pay more than others for something they don't need.

No word on an upload increase though which I would appreciate. A reply i had on the support forum suggested the upload might change at the time download increase. Surely they must know, so why all the need for secrecy I'm not sure. Unless an upload increase isn't happening at all and they don't want to admit they've abandoned the 10:1 download/upload ratio.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Dya think maybe that's part of the reason why some are "mug enough" to pay more?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

With the discounts I had i was paying less than someone on 30Mb anyway..

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Probably happens quite a bit?
VM/Retentions do seem a little inconsistent, as I upgraded in 4Q2012 from 10/1L to 30/2 with a foc SuperHub + VHD and 15% less than my legacy 10L +TV XL bill.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

it was £24 for 120.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I've asked again, but can't get a straight answer, other than "the connection is up and down and it has to be rebooted all the time ...."
So reading between the lines, I would suspect incorrect speed tests are to blame. :)

I'm still hoping my increase in March 2014 is on target !!

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Just checked the 'supercharged' quoted dates in NE Lincs have slipped back four months, any particular reason?

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

mine have gone from the initial July-December to August-January now. I love how they can't be any more accurate than half a year :)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Mine have slipped too from March - May to May - July

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

August - January, here.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Oddly mine went from March to June to just March. So I'm guessing that Area 11 is one of the first upgrades, conversely we were close to last for the previous upgrades.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

We’ve already started upgrading our network in your area. We’ll contact you by the end of March 2014 to tell you when your speed supercharge is ready.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Just point out the bill areas have no real connection to the upgrades. Bill Areas cover multiple hubsites.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

March and June here.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Indeed, some billing areas actually cover vast, unconnected swathes of the country. A-Machine, J-Machine, L-machine and "Remainder" comes to mind.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I did not know that.

My granny used to say that you should learn one new thing every day and by the time you're old you'll have a heid foo eh mince!! ;)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I will be getting upgraded from 60mb to 100mb between July and December

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I think new customers will get the new speeds as of March. This is what happened last time

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

I'm in the Glasgow area so mines will be done around Jelember two thousand and fourtweenty.

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

Everybody will eventually get upgraded (if you want to)... Patience folks.. Patience.. for some few months.. for some entire year..

I am getting my chance to upgrade between April to June this year... Not sure if its worth signing up for another 12 months.. Who knows maybe they will offer this upgrade later on without signing up for a contract...

I wonder when they will start to migrate to DOCSIS 3.1? Feels like 2018ish or so.. Until then they can do another ''FREE'' upgrade running on existing platform to perhaps 330Mbps (50->100 :::: 100->200 :::: 152->333)

Re: Virgin Media 150Mb Coming 2014
 

It's my understanding that 3.1's rollout will begin on the customer side with a new modem (Hub?) long before the network itself is upgraded. Perhaps the Superhub 3 or 4 will be a 3.1 device.