[Update] ALL 20>30Mb upgrade discussion

[Blackened]

Lol!!

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by jb66

ok, so if i have a 50meg modem, running on 20, they can upgrade it without sending out a stupidhub?

Very unvirgin like

Not so sure about an upgrade but it should be possible as the modem is more than capable so can see no technical reason why not but they may still insist on the charge, I was thinking you meant downgrade to 30Mb.

As today is my day off I will need to check all the material awaiting me in my inbox tomorrow to see if it is mentioned anywhere if not I will ask that question.

I think this single post puts this upgrade into perspective.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post2139.html

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Getting upgraded to the new Virgin Media 30Mb for just £30 and not feeling ripped off for a change!

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Masque

Not so sure about an upgrade but it should be possible as the modem is more than capable so can see no technical reason why not but they may still insist on the charge, I was thinking you meant downgrade to 30Mb.

As today is my day off I will need to check all the material awaiting me in my inbox tomorrow to see if it is mentioned anywhere if not I will ask that question.

I think this single post puts this upgrade into perspective.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post2139.html

Would be good when you let us know Masque, hopefully people with the superhub or old 50mb modem can do it free, but the website does say it's an "Activation charge" not an equipment charge for the Superhub, so some clarification would be nice.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Would be good when you let us know Masque, hopefully people with the superhub or old 50mb modem can do it free, but the website does say it's an "Activation charge" not an equipment charge for the Superhub, so some clarification would be nice.

It does look like anyone wanting the upgrade will be expected to pay the £30 activation fee but I will only find out for sure tomorrow.

[Blackened]

I'm eager to know if the STM is going to change if you can find out about that, Masque.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by virginruinedntl

I can see there being an awful lot of users who will be sticking to 20mb, i doubt that many people will be prepared to pay the £30 charge. Lets hope within a few months the charge is dropped then everyone will be on 30mb and they'd have some nice bragging rights compared to the competition with the exception of BT Infinity which averages at 37mb in real world tests.

If they upgraded 10mb users to 12mb and gave them docsis3 modems they could do away with docsis1 completely which i would assume save virgin alot of money?

So long as you ignore the over 1,000 uBRs that it would make obsolete sure.

They already have bragging rights over the competition, none get close to averaging 20Mbps let along 30 apart from FTTC.

[Traduk]

They already have bragging rights over the competition, none get close to averaging 20Mbps let along 30 apart from FTTC.

VM's bragging rights are going to come under extreme pressure during the course of this year and next.

If BT Infinity roll out remains on target I will have FTTC 50 metres from my house by March and the projected speeds are 26.6 megs down and 5.6 megs up. As the ADSL+2 connection that I already have is always better than BT's projections I suspect that the FTTC product will also be better.

The major barrier to competition between BT and VM has been long lines over copper. For huge numbers that barrier for good speeds will be overcome and I suspect that VM will be wearing it's laurels around it's ankles.

VM have caused me grief for years and it was only long line ADSL that stopped me from kicking them into the long grass. I am looking forward to speaking with retentions when Infinity goes live, in my area, as they will be on the back foot (especially on upload) and will have to be very persuasive to retain a customer.

The cost of the top Infinity product is similar to VM's plus BT phone line (which of course I already have) but includes the free (for first hour) call plan for which I currently pay extra. A sky plan plus Infinity makes a lot of sense to me but VM might be able to persuade me to carry on giving them a grand a year if they try really hard

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Traduk

VM's bragging rights are going to come under extreme pressure during the course of this year and next.

Not really. This year BT is rolling out 40mb, VM already has 50mb across its whole network. Next year BT will still only have 40mb, VM will be deploying 100mb across its whole network.

As you say, BT is being held back by the copper network, which, even with FTTC will not go very far in excess of 60-80mbps tops or so I've been told. Even if BT allowed 80mbps FTTC, VM already have this beat, at 100mbps, and can go much further whereas BT can only go further with FTTP which isn't going to come close to cable's availability anytime soon.

Bragging rights remain with VM.

[Traduk]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Not really. This year BT is rolling out 40mb, VM already has 50mb across its whole network. Next year BT will still only have 40mb, VM will be deploying 100mb across its whole network.

As you say, BT is being held back by the copper network, which, even with FTTC will not go very far in excess of 60-80mbps tops or so I've been told. Even if BT allowed 80mbps FTTC, VM already have this beat, at 100mbps, and can go much further whereas BT can only go further with FTTP which isn't going to come close to cable's availability anytime soon.

Bragging rights remain with VM.

VM have just rolled out 2megs up to my 20 meg feed. I have seen the discussion re: Superhub and the various problems regarding upload speed over Docsis. Docsis from what I remember from reading years ago was always weak on return path and the Achilles heel will hand the crown to Infinity for discerning users.

The highest upload currently offered by VM is, as far as I know, 5megs on their 50meg product. My Infinity projection is higher than that and as the ADSL projection is lower than received, I guess it will be nearer 7megs.

I have read VM forums for years and a constantly recurring compliant is the ratio of download\upload with upload constantly regarded as far too low. VM are still sticking with 10\1 ratio whereas Infinity is going for 4\1 which is much more reasonable.

I am afraid that being a natural cynic I was less than pleased with VM's carping on about 20megs down whilst giving a pathetic 0.75megs up and unless they match the 4\1 ratio their bragging rights are for the masses most of whom will not pay for a high priced product anyway. The ones that will pay the money will see the much higher Infinity ratio as something of value as it is much nearer symmetrical working than 10\1.

Please bear in mind that my comparisons are with current VM 20meg prices and top of the range Infinity prices, which also offer a call deal worth £8 per month, as part of the package. What needs to be looked at is that with Infinity I could get 7megs up but with VM I have to go to the not available 100megs to better Infinity.

As for bragging rights..... FTTC will put fibre 50 metres from my home. VM's fibre loop passes through a cabinet 0.75 of a kilometre away and the cabinet from which I am fed is an amplified sub feed over co-axial. Even VM's rather dubious claims on fibre are beaten in terms of proximity.

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by virginruinedntl

I can see there being an awful lot of users who will be sticking to 20mb, i doubt that many people will be prepared to pay the £30 charge. Lets hope within a few months the charge is dropped then everyone will be on 30mb and they'd have some nice bragging rights compared to the competition with the exception of BT Infinity which averages at 37mb in real world tests.

If they upgraded 10mb users to 12mb and gave them docsis3 modems they could do away with docsis1 completely which i would assume save virgin alot of money?

100mbit is the bragging rights.

making this a free upgrade would be an aweful idea. More capacity constraints. I am hoping this £30 detterent stays in place.

Unless converting docsis1 equipment to doscis3 is cheap then latter is also a bad idea, they would be abandoning equipment that has cost money to deploy and then needing to do further upgrades to docsis3 for the user influx, in typical VM style those upgrades would probably also be inadequate.

Personally I think a one off £30 fee that gives you new equipment and a 50% speed boost is great value (assuming you get the performance in your area). You talk as if £30 is a huge amount of money, people spend more than that on food very week, and many spend more then that on booze and fags.

---------- Post added at 07:17 ---------- Previous post was at 07:09 ----------

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Not really. This year BT is rolling out 40mb, VM already has 50mb across its whole network. Next year BT will still only have 40mb, VM will be deploying 100mb across its whole network.

As you say, BT is being held back by the copper network, which, even with FTTC will not go very far in excess of 60-80mbps tops or so I've been told. Even if BT allowed 80mbps FTTC, VM already have this beat, at 100mbps, and can go much further whereas BT can only go further with FTTP which isn't going to come close to cable's availability anytime soon.

Bragging rights remain with VM.

Also that VM's coverage is higher than announced BT FTTx coverage, BT appear to be wasting lots of cash on pleasing villagers as a significant amount of their funds are been used to enable those types of areas. Result is many VM areas will not have FTTC competition.

Originally Posted by Blackened

Masque you old rogue! When Chris was stating 20mb users were getting a free upgrade earlier today you must have been chuckling away to yourself!

What can I say, a journalist is only as good as his source. Publish and be damned!

[ShadowTD]

Pop quiz: I just got a Superhub because I upgraded to XL 20Mb. Do I still have to pay the £30 or is it just a case of a quick phone call?

[Blackened]

Going off what Masque said (^^ up there) the £30 is an activation fee so looks like everyone who wants it has to pay it?

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35154907-post139.html

[whizzard]

Originally Posted by ShadowTD

Pop quiz: I just got a Superhub because I upgraded to XL 20Mb. Do I still have to pay the £30 or is it just a case of a quick phone call?

Still yet to be clarified what the process will be for existing customers with eligible equipment will be, though reading the T&C on the 30mb upgrade page suggests the £30 fee will apply.

[Nopanic]

Originally Posted by ShadowTD

Pop quiz: I just got a Superhub because I upgraded to XL 20Mb. Do I still have to pay the £30 or is it just a case of a quick phone call?

Originally Posted by Blackened

Going off what Masque said (^^ up there) the £30 is an activation fee so looks like everyone who wants it has to pay it?

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35154907-post139.html

Yup, the £30 wouldn't be for the Hub, that's a free upgrade.