Virgin 100Mb

[Phlashman]

So, Virgin finally got round to doing my area. I'm on 50Mb and I must be on the old tariff as I can get 100Mb for the same price (or less if I get a Virgin Phone line). Either way I've got to ring up virgin to get my 50Mb cheaper or go up to 100Mb at the same cost.

Now, I know a few people on here have had it and I wondered what you think? I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for the 100Mb, most of my stuff is hardwired in my house anyway with gigabit Ethernet, I regularly do back-ups of my work servers from home so the speed would help on that front and obviously there's the vast quantities of HD porn I need. But I think some people might have some horror stories. Is the SuperHub thing any decent? can I setup proper port forwarding on it?

[Born2beSlicker]

I had it for a while, but the SuperHUB couldn't maintain a steady connection. It always fluctuates between 60-90Mb and it would dip below 30Mb sometimes. After a few weeks I decided to drop back to 50Mb as that was a solid connection and only a few pounds cheaper.

[DogEyedBoy]

If you're on 50Mb don't you already have a SuperHub?

[Phlashman]

Nah, I just have the modem:

[DogEyedBoy]

Can't comment on 100Mb, but I've got a SuperHub and it's always worked fine; now they've added in modem only mode I use it with a Netgear router and it's perfect.

Hmmm I dont have cable with virgin i just have the broadband and the phone line.

I have the black netgear router and Im on 20Mb

[Phlashman]

Bit of a bump y'all!

Via Slickerbob on Twitter:

Virgin are doubling everyone's speed again: http://goo.gl/soCZQ

Virgin Media's upgrade will mean customers currently signed up for 10Mbps will be boosted to 20Mbps, while users on 20Mbps and 30Mbps packages will both be upped to 60Mbps.

Those on 50Mbps will be increased to 100Mbps. Customers already on the top 100Mbps tariff will be raised to 120Mbps - the fastest speed Virgin Media is currently able to provide.

I'm still on 50Mb so I'll be bumped to 100Mb, awesome. I think I originally signed up for 1 MB and the doubling over the years has got me here. I honestly could not be more happy as a customer of Virgin media. Never had a problem, always been great. I know their ADSL is not as great, but then who on ADSL is happy? If you are in a virgin cabled area, not to be on it is the biggest mistake you're making.

Also just a reminder once you get much past 50Mb you'll need to make sure your network is Gigabit capable, as even though normal cat5e is rated 100Mb/s that is under peak conditions. Same goes for WiFi. If you get a 100Mb service the chances are your home network probably isn't up to dealing with it at full boona.

So switch to Cat6 cable, Gigabit hubs/switches/routers, 300+Mbps powerline, and Wireless-N (5ghz, if possible). I'm going to be redoing my home network in the next few weeks anyway.

[Phlashman]

Here's an FAQ: http://goo.gl/i6zn0

It says they start upgrading next month, it could take up to 18 months for some areas. There will be a postcode checker up on friday for more information about your area.

[Born2beSlicker]

I've been with Virgin Media since NTL 56k was free. Going from 128k to 100Mb for under roughly the same price is so weird.

Everything but my PS3 is wireless N, but I think I will get Gigabit Ethernet cable for my consoles/iMac for this bump. My previous experience with 100mb wasn't stable, but it looks like VM are bringing a SuperHUB v2 designed for 400Mb.

[Phlashman]

If they make me switch to a superhub I'll just switch it to modem mode.

The company opposite my office had loads of boxes of Cat6 cable delivered the other day, going to see if I can steal a few hundred meters.

I can only dream of speeds like that. I live in an urban area but do not virgin or even BT infinity. My line hovers between 2-4 mb which is pretty awful in this day an age. Saying that I rarely get any lag when playing online and remember the days of 56k

[Phlashman]

Damn right. I remember leaving the internet on all night to download the Quake 3 beta as it was a huge 30MB!

Now, I'd be pissed if a 30MB download took more than 5-10 seconds.

Still, I bet you're glad the fucking Tories are spending £32B to speed up the trains from London to B'ham a little, rather than spend a fraction of that amount to fibre up every home in the UK urban and rural?

But I don't want to go on a train from London to Birmingham.

[Phlashman]

Tough. You're going if you like it or not.

Bastard tories!