Netvigator - user review log

[secular]

I decided to see how well I could get on with Netvigator - well for 1 month at least

Any hows I was going to use this thread to detail my experiences with the wireless BB ISP.

- Start at the beginning - after a brief discussion with CS it appears that it contray to this thread (link) the upload speed is in fact 256 kb/s. I confirm my interest register my details etc. The first distinctive point is that you are asked to chose a login in name and password. The modem is dispatched via DHL and I receive it the next working day.

- Installation is a breeze. However it all starts to feel a bit AOL, to connect you have to run the Wireless Broadband Modem Status Monitor. On my Win 2k system this uses around 1,100k. First things first a quick speed check:

Mon, 12 Jul 2004 12:34:01 UTC
1st 128K took 2854 ms = 45926 Bytes/sec = approx 382 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 4617 ms = 28389 Bytes/sec = approx 236 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 1933 ms = 67808 Bytes/sec = approx 564 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 7270 ms = 18029 Bytes/sec = approx 150 kbits/sec

Mon, 12 Jul 2004 18:11:49 UTC
1st 128K took 3605 ms = 36358 Bytes/sec = approx 302 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 3065 ms = 42764 Bytes/sec = approx 356 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 5958 ms = 21999 Bytes/sec = approx 183 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 3595 ms = 36460 Bytes/sec = approx 303 kbits/sec


- Hmmm. Bearing in mind this a 512kb/s service. Also the latency on this line is mind blowingly bad.

- Counter Strike performance- There is none. think about your average ping and multiple it by 12.

Therefore the thought for day number 1 - rubbish, at least I'm not paying for it.

[Pablo]

i agree

[secular]

After 2 hours on the phone to Netvigators CS dept, the signal level peaks at 72. I take the oppurtunity to run the speed test again and results are pleasently suprising


Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:27:19 UTC
1st 128K took 2493 ms = 52576 Bytes/sec = approx 437 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 2214 ms = 59201 Bytes/sec = approx 493 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 2022 ms = 64823 Bytes/sec = approx 539 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 2194 ms = 59741 Bytes/sec = approx 497 kbits/sec

[shamstar]

The Netvigator website mentioned that their service would have a higher latency than a wired bb connection, but looking at those figures I had never guessed it would be that high.

I've been waiting to try out the service however it isnââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t available in my part of Reading yet. Its such a shame that the service could be ruined by the latency when everything else (price & speed) is a very good offer.

[secular]

This is what Netvigator will do for your latency when it comes to Counter Strike. In the interest of comparison my average ping is 30 -50.

BTW - I've cancelled this service, it sounds good, it's priced well - it's just a shame it is soo slow.

[secular]

Back on NTL, at least it (sometimes) works well.

Final Score
NTL 1 - Netvigator 0

[chrisk]

It's interesting to see these results as I'm currently trialing Netvigator.

I have to say that I am initialy dissapointed with the speed, at certain times it is as fast as expected (for 512Kb option) but then it can drop to very slow and it seems to slow down quite regularly.

During the first 24hrs I recorded the following results;

13/9 - am
Direction Actual Speed True Speed (estimated)
Downstream 287 Kbps (58.4 KB/sec) 305 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 227 Kbps (28.4 KB/sec) 245 Kbps (inc. overheads)

pm
Direction Actual Speed True Speed (estimated)
Downstream 93 Kbps (58.4 KB/sec) 120 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 227 Kbps (28.4 KB/sec) 245 Kbps (inc. overheads)

14/9 11:30
Direction Actual Speed True Speed (estimated)
Downstream 467 Kbps (58.4 KB/sec) 504 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 227 Kbps (28.4 KB/sec) 245 Kbps (inc. overheads)

14/9 12:40
Direction Actual Speed True Speed (estimated)
Downstream 160 Kbps (20.0 KB/sec) 172 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 152 Kbps (19.0 KB/sec) 164 Kbps (inc. overheads)

Even for the slow speeds the signal strength & quality were maximum, so I assume this is down to high demand at certain times as netvigator is a shared/contended service.

Here's their quote "This is because netvigator is a shared service and therefore throughput may differ when many people are using the network simultaneously. This is typical for any contended broadband network.

I think I will be cancelling before the end of the free month!

Originally Posted by shamstar

I've been waiting to try out the service however it isnââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t available in my part of Reading yet. Its such a shame that the service could be ruined by the latency when everything else (price & speed) is a very good offer.

Remember that latency is not important to everyone. If your primary use is to browse the net and use e-mail, then a bit of latency will have no real effect. On the otherhand, if you play online games, then I would agree it's a big problem, and the service is probably never going to be good for you.

[dirk]

I agree that the 512kb netvigator is slow and here,s the proof from http://nyc.speakeasy.net/ This result is from West Reading with signal stength 4 out of 5 and quality 5 out of 5 , my 56k modem is faster uploading !

Yours
«186kb down
«27kb up

crap or what !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fatchan]

Okay well i've been using Netvigator for a month now and i'm not happy. I live in Reading Town Centre, and when we got the wireless internet on the month trial, I was eager to try it out. I went upstairs and hooked up my wireless internet. It was easy peasy to install. So to test, I hooked up to my FTP server and uploaded an mp3 at 25kb/sec. I was so stunned after being on 56K and uploading at 4kb/sec. This was great! I then downloaded at a fantastic 50kb/sec (for me anyway).


However things got worse....although I was still downloading from most servers at about 40-50kb/sec, my upload speed was stunted. In a week or so, my upload speed had gone from the 25kb/sec to a pitiful 4kb/sec. This was at ALL times of the day. This was on ftp, messengers and email. I was gutted, the reason being that I often upload mp3s and such to share between my computers instead of burning CDs (its more convenient for me).

Not only that but often webpages take ages to load and when i'm streaming things even from highly reputable servers (such as itunes), it slows right down....I don't know if it counts but often when I download the box flashes red and orange. Well not the box but the signal anyway.

Its so frustrating because, if its the case that they've oversold the product and dont' have enough signal to go around then they shouldn't have the audacity to charge me! Not only that but they lied about trying to contact me. They stated "we have been trying to contact you" however I know this is not true as i've been home 24/7 for the past week. Not good.

Anybody else with the same problems?

[dark_lord_kodd]

I've had netvigator for almost a year now....

Overall, its ok, depends what you want it for. If you just email / browse the web its fine, even shared over a network, its useable without too much hastle. Shares over a router fine..dosnt seem to slow down too much, even when 3 people are using the connection at the same time.

But thats cos its so god damn slow to start with! If you want to play games, download large files or anything like that, dont bother cos its painful. I just ping'd google.com, and got an average +1000ms. Nice.

It used to be better, it has got worse resently. Used to be able to download at about 30 - 40 K/sec, now its more like 3 or 4. Maybe im just in a rubbish area. if they still do the free month, give it a go, and see how your area is. but dont be under any illusion that its going to get better, cos it dosnt!

[Fatchan]

Mine has really improved over the past week or so. The upload speed has jumped back up to about 20-30k/sec and download usually between 40-60k/sec. Their email service seems to be quite reliable although it gets very busy late at night. Maybe they were just adding too many people too quickly.

[lukehin]

You guys are all doing quite well - I am on my first day of using netvigator.

I went straight to download.com and went for a download - I got a max of 9kb

Next i tried a torrent - this is now pulling down at 13kb and uploading at 32kb??

Still I will proberbly stick with it - I can't face giving BT £120 for a phone install and then monthly line rental on top of that (to add i will only be living here for another 6 months, so i will end up having to pay the full twelve months).

Lets hope its becuase they have just hit this area (windsor) and there are a lot of trials on as a result.

Luke

[mrballs]

I've been using the service for around 2 months now.

Well, the speeds do fluctuate, as I do regular speed tests. But What's confusing is that sometimes I get only 2 out of 5 for both strength and quality yet I get above 400kbps!? And sometimes I get 4 out 5 for, and yet speeds are quite slow.

However, overall its a good system if you fon't have a phone line and it does come down to cheaper as u don't have to pay for installation fees like u would have to pay for phone line and monthly rentals as well. Just £18 per month and u are set.

Its possible they are crowded hence explaining why at times u get slow speeds. I just hope they upgrade their masts soon to accomodate the large no of clients.

Tip: If you are getting slow speeds, try switching off the modem and back on after 1 min. Speed does increase for me most of the times. Maybe its because it connects to another less crowded mast?

[wapvirus]

i live in slough i have had netvigator for 2 months now first month was a f***up to say the least i have run many speed test with different results my downloads seem to start out fast but then slow down to 9kb/s i tryed to download sevice pack 2 for win xp and it keeps failing i have a full signal where i live and that makes no differance i get crap speeds from peer2peer and i cant get more than 4kb/s from torrent sites and the worse thing is i am stuck with this crap for another 10 months i have contacted netvigator about peer2peer and torrent sites they say they are looking into it so i will let you peps no the outcome also webcams on sites dont work to well real shame they cant sort this system out really cool the way you can take your modem out and about shame it dont work as good as they quote.
also they limit you to 10 gig a month thats ****e in this day n age