VM 20mb problems (to put it in simple terms)

[BarFly]

Originally Posted by amagawd

Snip


I live in the SK5(Stockport/Manchester) area and i'm on the XL (20mb package). I use a D-Link router (though my internet runs EXACTLY the same direct from the modem) and my connection is wired via ethernet. My ethernet card is broken so i'm using the SMC EZ ethernet/USB convertor. I have the latest virgin media 250/256 modem (the small black one that looks IDENTICAL to the navy blue one except with 1 less light)

I've had the 20mb package now since release. At first I downloaded at 1.8mb/s .. now I barely get over 800kb/s (regardless of time or quality of download server)

Snip

Your using a USB connection, you wont get over 5/6mb downstream

Has you ping problems started since you switched to USB ?

Id definitely switch back to enet ASAP to ensure its not the USB adapter causing problems, as they arent the greatest adapters..

[grabbi]

1.8mb/s?! Those speeds are a dream! Ive only ever reached 1.2mb/s.

[amagawd]

I don't see how the ping would be affected at certain times rather than others due to a USB adapter..

I'm pinging 15 to UK Gaming Servers after 11:30pm - I'll take another screenshot tonight of a net graph in comparison to 15:00.

Is this something that can be fixed by virgin media, or should I just give up and get myself to BT?

[BarFly]

Originally Posted by amagawd

I don't see how the ping would be affected at certain times rather than others due to a USB adapter..

I'm pinging 15 to UK Gaming Servers after 11:30pm - I'll take another screenshot tonight of a net graph in comparison to 15:00.

Is this something that can be fixed by virgin media, or should I just give up and get myself to BT?

It shouldnt, but you were also complaining about speed on the OP, there not much point in having the 20mb if your using USB.

Originally Posted by BarFly

It shouldnt, but you were also complaining about speed on the OP, there not much point in having the 20mb if your using USB.

He is not using a USB cable, he is using a USB WIFI adaptor they are very different.

[Turkey Machine]

USB to Ethernet converters will lose your maximum connectivity, especially if they're not USB 2. USB 1 has a maximum throughput of 12 Mbit, realistically 10Mbit. Always use a NIC (network card) port and not a USB port.

I know we do not recommend anyone to use USB cables and we do not support them or even have the drivers disk to send out, but supposedly they can get 20MB through our Netgear router and USB dongle.

We say a max of about 6/7MB through a USB cable and they are supposed to do 12MB.

[BarFly]

Originally Posted by whydoIneedatech

He is not using a USB cable, he is using a USB WIFI adaptor they are very different.

The SMC usb adapter, is the adapter that ex-ntl used to supply for STB customers & then all customers with no NIC...

In the Op he says he is using a wired connection.....

Originally Posted by BarFly

The SMC usb adapter, is the adapter that ex-ntl used to supply for STB customers & then all customers with no NIC...

In the Op he says he is using a wired connection.....

Oh my that piece of carpet that NTL used to issue and is of course no longer supported, really does need to get rid of that and install a NIC.

Carpet hides a 4 letter anagram that describes that nasty device.

[amagawd]

I know this sounds like a longshot.. but if I downgrade my internet to the lowest package will I be put onto a less stressful server (or something)?

Or is it possible for VM to put me onto a less stressful server if my current one is oversubscribed?

- also re: the USB adapter, i'm doing all the same tests on the laptop which I connect via ethernet and same results.

[AmAtoL]

I live in SK2 and had to switch out to UK Online for my gaming, although the pings are much more consistent I still get the feeling that it could be better, gamers will know what I mean when I say you press fire and nothing happens, it takes 24 bullets to take somebody down when 3 should do.
You know what, I've not had good internet for gaming for a long time now :/

[Noggo]

Amagawd,

Are your download speeds also erratic, when you are getting bad pings? (11pm to 3pm fine, 3pm to 11pm all over the shop and school holidays forget it any time of the day apart from 11pm till 9am morning). If so, it's exactly like the problem I had when on an oversubscribed UBR. Have Virgin Media mentioned anything to you about any up and coming capacity upgrades to your UBR. If not, ask on newsgroup support to see if there's any up and coming maintenance work planned. If you find out the dates are not to your liking switch to an ADSL BB supplier.

Here's my short list which I came up with, when having problems.
(First of all check out http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php and see what’s available in your area)

bethere.co.uk are meant to be good and stable for unlimited usage - also check out http://www.beforum.co.uk/. I know O2 is the same company but for some reason they don't have fastpath option available.

www.ukonline.net/ (ask AmAtol for performance on that one (ukonline customer))

and if you could live with a limited download usage, have a look at:
http://www.aquiss.net/broadband-gaming.php
http://www.ukfsn.org/

Laters,

oh almost forgot. No, switching to a lower speed BB package from Virgin will not get rid of the problem. Online games only use very little bandwidth 15 KB/s 'ish and judging by the info you're posted so far, it sounds like what I was getting on `XL' and also a Friend on `L' who lives less than half an mile away on the same UBR. The only thing you will be doing is saving yourself some cash, at the expense of some download speed. But if the problem lies with oversubscription on the UBR, you should be talking to VM about reduced monthly subscription charges anyway.

[Joxer]

The ping to the private hop looks dodgy to me.

2 26 ms 20 ms 138 ms 10.26.244.1

You ran the ping to you router - that should work fine - you need what the router thinks the default gateway is.