NTL Business or Virgin Media XL?

GhostMjr · 05-08-2008, 16:40

Hi guys,

I have read the forums for a while and suppose it's time to actually ask a few questions

.

I have been an XL customer for some time at my parents house but want for my own property to go business.

Basically from what i am aware the normal VM connections are traffic managed where as the business lines aren't with "actual" unlimited caps. Also from what the sales lady said the business line has a better contention ratio and so i'd get better gaming pings. I am looking at the 10mb line. What are the other differences despite being half the speed of the residential 20mb and why doesn't everyone go business instead of residential. Also any idea on the equipment they will send out? I have a 250 modem for my current 20mb line.

The package also comes with a phoneline too what does that involve and what packages should i expect or is there no free calls just simply a normal line?

Thanks for your help

GhostMjr

05-08-2008, 18:42

I was under the understanding that even business accounts were stm'd

weesteev · 05-08-2008, 18:48

HI Ghost

Your ping wont be any different with a business cable connection or residential, a Small/Medium business would use the same circuits as a residential customer, you will very likely be on the same UBR so your connection wont be noticeably different. There will also be STM with business connections very soon, so not really worth switching your connection (its also more expensive).

Best bet is to check the ntl:Telewest business website for full information, especially on call tariffs.

For equipment, you would receive an Ambit 256 modem for either residential or business install (I think in ex-Telewest regions there are still some Scientific Atlanta 2100 modems kicking around though).

My opinion, stick with residential, you will get a better deal, go for business if you want an awesome fault SLA as part of your package.

Hope this helps!

GhostMjr · 05-08-2008, 19:00

Thanks for your reply.

Ok i think by STM you mean traffic management? Can i ask why business lines will be managed too and would the management be as strict. I am also not too sure what UBR means either. I was told by business sales my pings would be lower as fewer people share the connection (contention ratio).

With regard to fault sla i suppose that means fault diagnostics. I was under the impressive virgin still had a 0906 number for residential as they dropped you being able to get through free via 151 hence the savings if i had a fault as its 0800. Are faults fixed faster with business i.e. 24/7 and is it a bit more personal?

Next will the call centre be the same one as the one for residential or of higher level?

Thanks,

weesteev · 05-08-2008, 19:11

Ill try and cover all these questions here Ghost, shout me if i miss anything.

Different call centres as its a different company, all UK based.

Tech support for residential cusotmers has been free since the 1st June, back to 151 again.

Business customers have a lower contention ratio in theory, this varies by franchise but realistically you will get the same ping on all connections, even varying speeds on residential connections.

UBR stands fro Universal BroadbandRouter, its the Cisco equipment in the headend that connects customers to the internet.

And finally...

Heres a blog link with good in depth info about the STM in place on business broadband... http://insidevirgin.blogspot.com/200...unch-20mb.html

Oh and STM does mean Subscriber Traffic Management, its the name adopted by Virgin for their data management and the name of the Cisco service on their network equipment to make it work.

Phew, hope that answers everything for you!

05-08-2008, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by weesteev

HI Ghost

Your ping wont be any different with a business cable connection or residential, a Small/Medium business would use the same circuits as a residential customer, you will very likely be on the same UBR so your connection wont be noticeably different. There will also be STM with business connections very soon, so not really worth switching your connection (its also more expensive).

Best bet is to check the ntl:Telewest business website for full information, especially on call tariffs.

For equipment, you would receive an Ambit 256 modem for either residential or business install (I think in ex-Telewest regions there are still some Scientific Atlanta 2100 modems kicking around though).

My opinion, stick with residential, you will get a better deal, go for business if you want an awesome fault SLA as part of your package.

Hope this helps!

Here is the link for the business website and you get a 6 hour SLA, you would be better possibly asking Kymmy one of the Moderators on here as she has Business Broadband I believe.

http://www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk/

deed02392 · 06-08-2008, 00:23

I remember reading the contention ratio is indeed lower for business users, but AFAIK all that really means is that you'll get closer to your max download/upload speed than resi users, not get a better ping.

06-08-2008, 13:13

My pings has always been great just my speed that are up and down more a whores knickers

deed02392 · 06-08-2008, 22:47

Wow, interesting analogy there.

Jonathan90 · 06-08-2008, 22:51

i suggest you wait for kymmy as he/she switched over to business and did get a ping drop

GhostMjr · 07-08-2008, 11:07

Thanks for the help guys.

Ok the flat i have decided on is in Bournemouth however, the customer support team say there isn't cable there. How do i get a spotter out as its a huge flat complex.

postcode is: BH37BE

Thanks guys, also is the virgin adsl route any good or is there a better provider?

eth01 · 07-08-2008, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostMjr

Thanks for the help guys.

Ok the flat i have decided on is in Bournemouth however, the customer support team say there isn't cable there. How do i get a spotter out as its a huge flat complex.

postcode is: *

Thanks guys, also is the virgin adsl route any good or is there a better provider?

AOL:
Enabled(X/Y)
O2 / Be:
Not available
C&W / Bulldog:
Enabled as of 22/10/2006
Edge Telecom:
Not available
Entanet:
Not available
Lumison:
Not available
NewNet:
Not available
Node4:
Not available
Orange:
Enabled
Pipex:
Not available
Sky / Easynet:
Enabled as of 17/07/2007
Smallworld:
Not available
TalkTalk (CPW):
Enabled as of 15/07/2006
Tiscali:
Enabled as of 25/07/2007
Tiscali TV:
Not available
Updata:
Not available
WB Internet:
Not available
Zen Internet:
Not available

I'd look at getting Sky or BT, probably the easiest way IMO. Site surveys have to be forwarded through Sales/CS.

Kymmy · 07-08-2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan90

i suggest you wait for kymmy as he/she switched over to business and did get a ping drop

Pings did drop slightly, gaming pings to my favorite UT2k4 server went from 60 to 48 (france)

Business BB is only really relevant if you want the increased upload (though not a lot) semi-fixed IP and of course the wonderful 6 hour SLA.

If it's purely for downloading (No STM) then overnight 20Mb is probably faster

Miss Kymmy <<< There you go Jonathan now you won't get so confuddled

fugu · 07-08-2008, 14:43

Quote:

Thanks guys, also is the virgin adsl route any good or is there a better provider?

If the samknows report is anything to go by i would steer well clear of virgin adsl

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/pm/PM_Summer_08.pdf

as eth01 said Sky is a good option, a friend of mine has a solid 1.4meg connection at all times on there max broadband.

eth01 · 07-08-2008, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by fugu

If the samknows report is anything to go by i would steer well clear of virgin adsl

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/pm/PM_Summer_08.pdf

as eth01 said Sky is a good option, a friend of mine has a solid 1.4meg connection at all times on there max broadband.

you can trust it