20mb speeds on Virgin Media

[Billhouse]

Hey Guys.

Recently upgraded to the 20mb connection on Virgin Media. Just tested the speed with a download off Newsgroups. I was acheiving around 1300kbps and I was wondering if this is what should be expected since it was past 5pm and Virgin throttle download speeds. I would just like to see the speeds other people get on a 20mb line.

Thanks.

[burner1]

I normally get between 1000-3000 kps on my news mate, it can vary. Have you tried a speedtest site? 2 I use are http://www.speedtest.net and also http://www.tenmeg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/speedtest.htm

They're not gospel or calibrated, but gives you an indication if you are anywhere near your paid subscription rate.

[Billhouse]

That was the first thing I done. I tested the connection as soon as it was changed on speedtest.net. All I got was 5mbps! I thought there system must be fucked up. So then I tested on Newsgroups with a download. I first got 1400kbps, which I thought was ok because it was past 5pm. Then it actually became throttled and dropped down to a constant 500kbps. Any idea what to do. I already changed the network configuration to 100Full Duplex.

[Freddy]

I get full 20mb weekdays from midnight to 4pm. Then drops to 4mb.

[blaggard]

20 mb on Giganews until the throttle cuts in after 3 gig between 4 and midnight. If I'm lucky they will have taken the cap off the next morning!!

I've always maxed even when it was 10, just the odd blip at busy times.

[Billhouse]

Mine drops down to around 4mbps too. Specifically around 550-650kbps. Do you think the speed will increase to 2500kbps tommorow?

[Billhouse]

I am starting to get worried now. Just performed another test at speedtest.net via wireless. They are now saying I have 512k broadband!

[Mooncat]

Try it with the modem plugged directly into the PC not trough a router. I upgraded to 20 meg last week and was shocked how shit my download speeds were from news groups and couldnt work out why it was so poor. I plugged the modem in direct to the PC and straight away full 2.2MB downloads. After looking around about my Linksys router it turns out it does not support 20 meg broadband and a lot of other routers are the same.
try this http://gamefiles.virginmedia.com/blueyondergames/ for testing your download speeds because this should max out your connection with Virgin.

[bobo06]

ive been getting 300 kbs for the last week or so on 20mb

[rmj2663]

During the day & after midnight it usually maxes to 2250kb
But from 4pm to midnight always drops to a constant 550kb after grabbing a few gig.
Virgin capping religiously now bastards!!!

[Billhouse]

So I have now tested it in the daytime both with newsgroups and the link given above to see the speeds without it beign throttled. It maxes out at 1500kbps. This is quite low I thought as I should be acheiving a minumum of 2000kbps. Since I am connected wirelessly do you think I should change any settings. Its strange because it always used to max out the 4mb connection but wont do it for the 20mb. Do you think I should ring them up.

[Waka]

I used to max out my 20Mbps connection and now I only get 1 to 2Mbps even during the day.
Virgin are going to get the cancellation call soon :-(

W.

[CominAtcha]

Make sure you have the right modem. If you have a an old Motorola Surfboard or some such, you'll need Virgin to send you out a new one, as they can't handle 20mb.

[hxbro]

So I have now tested it in the daytime both with newsgroups and the link given above to see the speeds without it beign throttled. It maxes out at 1500kbps. This is quite low I thought as I should be acheiving a minumum of 2000kbps. Since I am connected wirelessly do you think I should change any settings. Its strange because it always used to max out the 4mb connection but wont do it for the 20mb. Do you think I should ring them up.

If you're using wireless then that could be the bottleneck, my wireless connection manages around half speed, wired I get full speed.

[Mooncat]

Since I am connected wirelessly do you think I should change any settings.

Take the wireless router out of the equation and connect the modem direct to the PC and see what speeds you get then. At least this way you will know if its a router problem or a virgin one.


Hxbro you beat me to it

[Billhouse]

If it is a wireless problem as you suggest, what would be the best course of action considering I wont be able to connect directly to the modem all the time. Should I buy a new wireless router? Or change the router settings?

[hxbro]

try move your the aerials on the wireless devices, you may find tilting one gets better reception, run netstumbler and watch the values till you get the best one. Whilst running netstumbler check you are on a channel that is in the clear, nobody else using a channel either side of it.

If you can't get a decent signal, then you could try different hardware, or leave it wired or move to home plugs.

[Waka]

20Mbps is perfectly possible on wireless equipment. My old silver modem and Linksys WRT54G was giving me 2.4MBps.

W.

[hxbro]

it may be possible but not everyone has perfect conditions, my wireless runs around 10-12Mbits from pc to my access point, my phone is about the same but sometimes reports a better quality of signal, it sits on top of my desk, my laptop is better still in the living room

[Billhouse]

try move your the aerials on the wireless devices, you may find tilting one gets better reception, run netstumbler and watch the values till you get the best one. Whilst running netstumbler check you are on a channel that is in the clear, nobody else using a channel either side of it.

If you can't get a decent signal, then you could try different hardware, or leave it wired or move to home plugs.

Ok I ran netstubler. I checked the signal/noise level. At first I was getting around 67 dBm. After moving the router around, it went up to 56 dBM. Looking at the speed it shows it at 11mbps. This seems to be inline with my previous speeds on newsgroups which were averaging in between 1100-1300kbps. Since the wireless router is connected to the Webstar modem via an ethernet cable, is the 11mbps speed, the speed coming from the modem? Do I need a new modem? It is from 2005. At that time Virgin (or Telewest) only had 10mbps which seems to fall into place.