New trial Wigan Area

[slowcoach]

Just got off the phone to “The Bloke in the Pub�.
I asked him about the new STM trials, his answer was,

Current STM is designed to stop the network collapsing prior to the switch to DOCSIS 3.
Trials of the new STM time ranges are testing to see what level will be required during the upgrade period in order to keep outages to a minimum. VM are trying to keep everyone connected (as much as possible) during the network upgrades, STM will be removed once all areas are upgraded, sometime late 2009.

So it seems VM had to choose to switch areas off completely for a time or spread the load and keep everyone connected, looks like they are going to choose the lesser of two evils.

I think I may have seen you in the NG's mate - will you be posting the boozer's thoughts in there? It'd be interesting to see the discussion.

[ceedee]

Originally Posted by dammydam

i couldn't trigger STM at 10pm and there's no evidence of STM from 12am-7am.
Did another test this morning.

If you want to get an accurate idea of your download speeds that VM's Tech Support staff will pay attention to then you'll need to do the following:

• Check for broadband problems in your area at http://status2.virginmedia.com/
  
• Disconnect any home networking equipment you have (eg. a router) and only connect directly to the cable modem with a single computer
  
• Close as many applications on your computer as possible, in particular any P2P, streaming or IM programs
  
• Start 2 simultaneous downloads from the VM demo games server plus 2 simultaneous downloads of Zen test files. That's four file downloads happening at once!
  
• Now add up each of the four download speeds to get your accurate download rate.

STM trial policy am currently under is 11am-9pm

If you post to the newsgroup again, perhaps you could ask VM Tech Support to confirm that you are currently under STM 'out of hours'?

Originally Posted by TraxData

Wrong, the new trial hours are 1pm-10pm.

Also a seperate trial running elsewhere (unknown as to where?) where they initiate a second STM from midnight-7am (upload stm)

So the over night STM is only upload only yes?

As a leech by the time I get up till 1 pm I can get everything I want in the day and if there is something I can find in the afternoon ill still eech it at 5 meg. However I was nehind the 4 till 9 stm times and saw reason in it but these new times suck ass VM really are extracting the urine. Someone there is laughing at us trying to see just how far they can push the customer. The shame in this of course I still have no options as ADSL is pants on my line

[ceedee]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Someone there is laughing at us trying to see just how far they can push the customer.

Part of the reason for the trials being 'secret' is so that VM can see how many people notice that it's happening and complain.

If you don't like being hit by 'out of hours' STM, then get it confirmed by Tech Support and let them know how unimpressed you are!

[dammydam]

Originally Posted by ceedee

If you want to get an accurate idea of your download speeds that VM's Tech Support staff will pay attention to then you'll need to do the following:

• Check for broadband problems in your area at http://status2.virginmedia.com/
  
• Disconnect any home networking equipment you have (eg. a router) and only connect directly to the cable modem with a single computer
  
• Close as many applications on your computer as possible, in particular any P2P, streaming or IM programs
  
• Start 2 simultaneous downloads from the VM demo games server plus 2 simultaneous downloads of Zen test files. That's four file downloads happening at once!
  
• Now add up each of the four download speeds to get your accurate download rate.

If you post to the newsgroup again, perhaps you could ask VM Tech Support to confirm that you are currently under STM 'out of hours'?

Hi Ceedee,

Am not interested in getting the attention of VM technical support. These trials will go on regardless. I want to make VM customers aware of what the new trails nationally could be.

My bandwidth is maxed out just check DU meters logs am only on a 2meg connection. You can see clearly see when STM kicks in.

The trials (Wigan area) between 11am - 9pm have been confirmed to me via VM tech support in a telephone conversation earlier in the week. Am posting the logs to confirm this as my post count and credibility is non-exsistant on here

[ceedee]

Originally Posted by dammydam

Am not interested in getting the attention of VM technical support. These trials will go on regardless. I want to make VM customers aware of what the new trails nationally could be.

As I posted earlier, if you report that your connection seems to have been managed out of hours (if possible, every time you see it happening) then there's a good chance that *you* will influence VM's decision whether to extend it to the rest of the country.
If you simply post here without reporting it, we'll *all* get it because hardly anybody complained!

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

So the over night STM is only upload only yes?

As a leech by the time I get up till 1 pm I can get everything I want in the day and if there is something I can find in the afternoon ill still eech it at 5 meg. However I was nehind the 4 till 9 stm times and saw reason in it but these new times suck ass VM really are extracting the urine. Someone there is laughing at us trying to see just how far they can push the customer. The shame in this of course I still have no options as ADSL is pants on my line

Yes, upload only. For now...

[slowcoach]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

I think I may have seen you in the NG's mate - will you be posting the boozer's thoughts in there? It'd be interesting to see the discussion.

I hate the NG's format so I very rarely use them.

[m1th]

I've been keeping an eye on these threads for a while now and I've just about had it with VM.

This is ridiculous.

What's even more frightening is how hardly anyone is complaining about it. Are we all just gonna let VM force feed us outrageous policies THAT WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR and do nothing about it?

I've tried calling VM, even sending letters but it's next to useless if I'm one of the only few that is doing it.

We should start a campaign of some sort to "educate" people about VM's new policies. (STM , and now the net neutrality issue... its getting out of hand.)

[dammydam]

Originally Posted by m1th

I've been keeping an eye on these threads for a while now and I've just about had it with VM.

This is ridiculous.

What's even more frightening is how hardly anyone is complaining about it. Are we all just gonna let VM force feed us outrageous policies THAT WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR and do nothing about it?

I've tried calling VM, even sending letters but it's next to useless if I'm one of the only few that is doing it.

We should start a campaign of some sort to "educate" people about VM's new policies. (STM , and now the net neutrality issue... its getting out of hand.)

Am going through the complaining process now and it's like banging your head against a brick wall. I've complained, am in the process of writing and sending in logs to valididate my concerns. Where to turn to if that falls on deaf ears i just don't know. I guess next step will be complaining with my wallet and jumping this sinking ship.

But that doesn't help the people locked into a 12 months contract , those without an adsl exchange.

youre right, everybody should be jumping all over this

David

[ceedee]

Thank you for your strenuous efforts in the newsgroup, David.
I'm sure that VM management will be in no doubt how you feel about STM, should the comments TS say they've passed on, actually get read.

[NotaVMFan]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Every time i read something about VirginMedia over the last few months it just makes me sad that a once good ISP have gone to the dogs.

Yes, all bad news at the minute and getting worse by the day..

Was a good service prior to VM (Rebrand) and the 20mb Fiasco...

NTL + 10mb = Solid Service (For me anyway)

---------- Post added at 01:30 ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 ----------

Originally Posted by m1th

I've been keeping an eye on these threads for a while now and I've just about had it with VM.

This is ridiculous.

What's even more frightening is how hardly anyone is complaining about it. Are we all just gonna let VM force feed us outrageous policies THAT WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR and do nothing about it?

I've tried calling VM, even sending letters but it's next to useless if I'm one of the only few that is doing it.

We should start a campaign of some sort to "educate" people about VM's new policies. (STM , and now the net neutrality issue... its getting out of hand.)

It`s the power users that are being targeted, normal joe soap will probably remain unaffected...

One way of sorting the network out on the cheap I suppose

Originally Posted by NotaVMFan

It`s the power users that are being targeted, normal joe soap will probably remain unaffected...

Disagree. Almost everyone I know who uses the internet to any extent, does so by downloading and/or streaming content.
People have reported watching a couple of progs on BBCiPlayer and a while online gaming can take you into STM quite easily on the lower tiers.

What are 'power users' ..?
You only need download 300mb or upload 150mb on the lowest tier to be traffic managed.
Hardly a power user's antics is it?

[NotaVMFan]

[QUOTE=kryogenik;34528987]
What are 'power users' ..? QUOTE]

Sorry,
A Power User meaning anymore than Surfing/Emailing..