Broadband Quality Trial

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Moldova

It is a passive receiver so that it only runs test while you are not utilising the bandwidth that is why the antennas must be fitted.

I have removed the offending antenna as the box is in my bedroom.

My connection goes thus.

MODEM> SAMKNOWS linksys> ROUTER linksys> (1 connection from router to girls PC and 1 to boys pc + 1 to 8 port switch) 8 PORT TO MEDIA CENTRE + 8 PORT TO BELKING 54g ACCESS POINT for 2 laptops.
All routers\switches + modem on 24\7 (Mrs keeps an eye on the best leccy deals so we switch often if needed)

[deathtrap3000]

Originally Posted by alferret

I have removed the offending antenna as the box is in my bedroom.

My connection goes thus.

MODEM> SAMKNOWS linksys> ROUTER linksys> (1 connection from router to girls PC and 1 to boys pc + 1 to 8 port switch) 8 PORT TO MEDIA CENTRE + 8 PORT TO BELKING 54g ACCESS POINT for 2 laptops.
All routers\switches + modem on 24\7 (Mrs keeps an eye on the best leccy deals so we switch often if needed)

And this works?

Thought the samknows router was supposed to be between your router and all your stuff?

[Zhadnost]

I haven't got the kit yet, tbh by the sounds of this I wish I hadn't applied.

[deathtrap3000]

Originally Posted by Zhadnost

I haven't got the kit yet, tbh by the sounds of this I wish I hadn't applied.

Because people are confused about what the antenna is for?

[Sonna]

Originally Posted by Welshchris

i go this today...

Hello there,

Thanks for volunteering to take part in the Virgin Media Broadband Trial. Unfortunately on this occasion all the triallist slots have now gone.

Please keep an eye out for future trials, as we hope you’ll apply again!

Once again, thanks for volunteering.

The Virgin Media Broadband Team

Just received the same myself...

[Zhadnost]

Originally Posted by deathtrap3000

Because people are confused about what the antenna is for?

Because it reads like you use it a a router. (in which case it's going straight back).

[Rik]

Just received an email detailing my bill reduction for assisting in this trial

LOL I wish

[Zhadnost]

It's just arrived, and it is going back.

My router does more than just routing, and has an LACP bonded group to the rest of the network, I don't want to (barely noticably) slow down my network to take place in a trial.

There is also a considerable amount of network traffic that goes to the router that isn't internet bound, so it may have difficulty finding time to do any tests.

---------- Post added at 09:09 ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Then it could be acccused of monitoring your usage - would you trust it?!

It sits between your router and every wired device on the network (which for me is everything except my mobile phone, and a media player).

I think I'd rather it sat between the modem and the router, (transparently).

[BenMcr]

Not to be unkind, but why apply to go on the trial in the first place then?

[Zhadnost]

I assumed it would be designed to have as little impact as possible.

[BenMcr]

I would have assumed for most people plugging it into a spare port on a router would be just that

[Zhadnost]

It doesn't want you to plug it into a spare port on a router, that would be fine. The instructions tell you that all your kit needs to sit behind it too.

Shame, it looks like good kit. (an ALIX box, probably a 2D1 board and whatever mini-PCI Wireless card they bought).

Assuming it is a 2D1, the network ports will all be 10/100 too (even better reason not to use it).

From the Instructions.

"6. Disconnect any other wired network devices from your router. Plug them into the 2 spare ports on the rear of the performance monitoring unit and restart those devices."

So if you have a 10/100 router and are only using 2 ports on it, then it would probably have no impact whatsoever.

[TheDon]

I really don't see why they've asked for it to be set it up this way.

It'd make much more sense to have it between your modem and router, that way it can monitor all traffic rather than having to sniff for when you're not using the wireless, and wouldn't effect people's home networks in any way. As it stands if you're on a gigabit network you're getting told to switch to 100mbit, which I'm just not willing to do.

Luckily I've got a seperate switch so my setup for it is modem -> router -> performance monitor -> gigabit switch -> everything else, so it doesn't effect my network, but if I didn't have the seperate switch there's no way I'd be using it. They seem to have gone for the most inconveniant method of monitoring.

[Zhadnost]

I have.

modem -> router* => Gigabit Switch -> Computers/PS3s/media boxes
. . . . . . . . . . . |+ PoE Switch -> Phones and AP.

*router is also fileserver, mediaserver, MythTV box, dev. web/database server, PBX etc.


If it went the most sensible place (between the modem and router) than I'd happily use it.

[Phil-ntl]

Copy of Email received today:

Welcome to the Virgin Media Broadband Trial

Hello there,

Thanks for volunteering to take part in the Virgin Media Broadband Trial. We have had lots of interest and we would love to have you on standby ready to join the trial when we get space.

With your help in the trial, over the next year we’re going to be measuring the performance of our broadband. From things like how fast your average download speeds are to how reliable our network is. To do this, we’re working with SamKnows, the experts in measuring broadband performance. You can find out more about them at www.samknows.com.

What to do next

We will add your name to our standby list, and when a vacancy occurs we will ask you to join in.

Once again, thanks for volunteering!

The Virgin Media Broadband Team

Guess they are definately fully subscribed, at least for now. Will sit back and see if i'm called at a later date. Guess its no major loss if not lol

Phil