Should I switch to VM?
 

Hi all

I currently have Sky HD and standard ADSL (up to 8mb) through a BT line.

I'm seriously considering switching to VM for the whole lot... TV (V+HD), phone and BB (probably 10mb but maybe 20mb).

I live in Ipswich in the IP4 area.

Please could I have some honest opinion on the standard of service in my area?

Do the TV, Phone and BB connections have to be installed in the same place/room?

Also, I use a Mac rather than a PC. Are there any Mac users here who would care to comment on any setup/usage issue.

Thanks for any replies in advance.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Not such a good time to be asking that question as many people are not that happy with the service they are currently receiving whether it BB or TV from VM.

I'll leave it up to others to answer your other questions.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

I have been a customer since 1994 and I have never had any major issues with Virgin throughout all their various guises up to date.

I have broadband, a V+ for tv and the telephone service and if the has ever been any issues all I have done is pick up the phone and it has either been sorted out very quickly or a engineer has been sent out in a very short timescale.

If you require an engineer then the is no charge to you for the visit.

Do not believe every thing you read on any forum as very few satisfied customers actually visit or post on them at all.

On a forum you will only in the main read about issues or faults, and if the was actually a major problem it would be National headline news.

If you take out services you have 30 days within which you can cancel your contract.

I may be staff but I have been a customer for a lot longer.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

I have been a long standing VM customer with no problems.

But you should search the forum on the word Ipswich and begin to form an opinion.

As to VM's current woes, they may come out of it OK; difficult to say. My advice if you go VM is to get the 50 Mbps package so that you are assured of not being on legacy infrastucture while they garner funds to upgrade that side too.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

This is the speed i get in the evening.
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/12/65.png

Other than that its great, all day long i get a solid 10MB if i dont download anything. :)

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Been with virgin since 2001, Never had any serious problems, Customer Support seems reasonable allways got it sorted in the end. Was originally on 20meg but upgraded to 50meg when it was in my area.. And to be hounest ive never looked back its worth the extra money to get the 50 in my opinion. No traffic shaping, Speeds seem to be consistant for me regardless of what time it is ping times very low as you can see from speedtest as low as 5ms.
Some mug deicided to cut my virgin line outside my house couple of weeks ago it was sorted next day allways been sharpish for me =)

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/12/64.png

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Although, l don't live anywhere near you behind In London.

Try the Phone line first along with BB, but l would stay with Sky opn the Tv.

The phone / BB is perfect and is cheap for us, But with VM, you don't get the channels that you would get on Sky, l have both services but for the TV l would stay with Sky only for that reason.:)

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Not much difference between the last 2 speed tests. :D

Mind you taking everything into consideration Virgin Media are much better than BT Openreach for sure.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Though one can't really be compared to the other they are quite different animals :)

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

And another thing, don't go by speed test sites ;)

Firefox

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/12/60.png

Opera
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/12/61.png

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Please explain.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Customer for 10+ years. Yes, there have been issues but all sorted out in a reasonable manner, often with welcome reductions in the bill.
Phone NEVER let me down; TV rarely let me down; Broadband only occasionally let me down.
Only you know what TV channels you watch. I have no idea what extra ones are on SKY but for most people the range on VM I am sure is more than adequate - there are only so many hours available to sit in front of it! V+ box brilliant, especially (with HDMI) the quality of its upscaled SD picture making, in my opinion, HD a complete anti-climax. I for one would certainly not pay extra for it as I am told you have to do on SKY.
However, I am a long way from Ipswich (Mansfield NG18) so perhaps things are not so good there.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

I wouldn't.

Re: Should I switch to VM?
 

Keep the sky TV and the BT Phone.

Just try the BB. You get 28 days to dump it without penalty I believe if it's no good for you. Make sure you understandand and cope with the traffic shaping for your chosen tier. Only the 50meg is free of it (for the present).