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IvesyM's avatar
IvesyM
On our wavelength
2 months ago
Solved

Apprehensive newbie

Hi, after 2 previous failed attempts to go with Virgin I'm finally getting it installed this Saturday (22/03).

We've gone for 1 gig and just hope it all works and we get pretty much the speed we are paying for.

Is there any help or advice anyone can give on the day of installation? 

Can't believe I'm asking this having been with Sky, Now, Plus net, Post Office etc multiple times. I've really not given it much thought as they've all been much of a muchness speed and reliability wise - speed around 30mps. Virgin are the only ones in my area doing the faster speeds - so pressure from my son (and ok myself) to have faster speeds especially when he's gaming and we want to watch Netflix without it stopping every few seconds!

I'm going to ask the installer to check the speeds in at least three rooms we use the internet a lot in.  If speeds or the signal isn't great in some places I know I can request a pod for this. Will the installer have these or will I have to ring the dreaded helplines?

I'm apprehensive as I've seen the horror stories and as I say, this is third time I've tried and hoping third time lucky.....  

Any help or advice would be appreciated, thanks. 

 

 

 

  • IvesyM's avatar
    IvesyM
    30 days ago

    Quick update..... all went well! I WAS able to have the line left for Plusnet! Speeds and wifi are fine. No issues so far. A little surprised the two lads who installed didn't offer to check speeds around the house. When I asked they were fine and I get speeds on wifi from as high as 800Mbps to 400Mbs so pleased with that. Only slight issue is my PC will only get 40Mbps even though my phone in the same room gets 500Mbps. I'm in contact with the place I got the PC from about that. So all in all I'm pleased.

23 Replies

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  • Cardiffman282's avatar
    Cardiffman282
    Wise owl
    2 months ago

    If you are just going for broadband then Netflix is likely to be via WiFi. You will only get a small fraction of the Gig1 speed via WiFi (pod or not). The WiFi from VM hubs is always poor as it is cheap kit. In any event Netflix only needs about 20 Mbps. The games console should have a wired connection to the VM hub.  Old hands on this forum stick the hubs in modem mode and use our own better kit. 

    • IvesyM's avatar
      IvesyM
      On our wavelength
      2 months ago

      Hi and thanks for the response. Our telly that has Netflix etc is connected directly to the plusnet router. We have a deco mesh system for the areas in the house where the signal is a bit poorer. My son connects to the deco but as soon as he starts downloading a game say, the stuttering starts on anything we are streaming.  It doesn't help the plusnet router is behind our TV mind! Since the phone will be going we can have the Virgin router in a better place. If the router is pants is there a commonly used one used by Virgin customers?

      • legacy1's avatar
        legacy1
        Alessandro Volta
        2 months ago

        That downloading or uploading you have with plusnet will be the same with VM

        Your better off with a slow package and a router doing QoS/BWM under VM rate limiting for everything to run well 

  • -tony-'s avatar
    -tony-
    Alessandro Volta
    2 months ago

    your biggest concern is whether they turn up on the 22nd - if you have an existing cable to the house then you are in with a better chance - thats assuming its all ok back to the cabinet - that then means a VM tech can do the internal work and hopefully the connection will work - if not then weeks or months might pass before you are connected

    if you dont have a cable in place then all sorts can go wrong - the installof that cable will have gone to outside contractors who may ot may not get it done before saturday - cross everything thats gong for that to happen - again if it does not the weeks months may pass

    as to good wifi from any VM hub - no they are rubbish - pods might help but a good mesh system certainly will

    i just hope you have not cancelled your existing provider - that would be a grave mistake

    • IvesyM's avatar
      IvesyM
      On our wavelength
      2 months ago

      Hi and thanks for the response. I actually got as far as getting the box/connection added to outside of our house the last time. So it will likely need the cables to it on Saturday. We live in a cul de sac and atleast 3 of our neighbours have had it installed with no obvious issues....

      I currently have a Deco M4 AC1200 mesh system.  Would this be better than the pods and if so, would it be as easy to set up as it was with my Plusnet router?

      I've had an email from Plusnet saying they are sorry I'm leaving etc.  I was hoping I'd get some more positive responses as I'm getting more apprehensive  now 😅 

       

      • -tony-'s avatar
        -tony-
        Alessandro Volta
        2 months ago

        So it will likely need the cables to it on Saturday.

        cables from the box to inside or to the box from the cabinet - 2 different jobs and 2 different teams - the latter come when they feel like it and even if they come may find or invent all sorts of reasons not to do anything - thats when the fun starts

    • IvesyM's avatar
      IvesyM
      On our wavelength
      2 months ago

      I've just spoken to Plusnet and they said Virgin will disconnect the BT line to the house when they connect the Virgin cables.  So if I did go with then cancel Virgin they (Plusnet) would have send an engineer.  He was saying you can't have both ISPs running at the same time.  I told him it was only the speed issue making me look else where.  The best he could offer was an unlimited SIM for £20 as we have great 4 and 5G coverage.  I've done a quick search and this isn't great for gaming and can be quite unreliable.  I'm going to see what junior says after school but I'm seriously thinking about cancelling - I work from home a lot as well and can't be without internet for too long.  What a carry on!

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    2 months ago

    +1 on the above. Do not cancel your existing provider until your VM service is installed and working to your satisfaction. 

    And remember that even with their 'pods', VM only promise WiFi speeds of 30 Mbps. 

  • IvesyM's avatar
    IvesyM
    On our wavelength
    2 months ago

    Hi and thanks for the response. I'm wondering how that works having two providers? When I signed up to Virgin,  within minutes I got the email from Plusnet saying I was leaving. It can't be THAT bad......  I know about the guaranteed speed and that is a bit bad considering I'm paying for 1gig! This is why I want the speeds and wifi signal tested while they are here setting it up.  Like the other responses this isn't filling me full of confidence.

    • carl_pearce's avatar
      carl_pearce
      Superstar
      2 months ago

      VM uses their own infrastructure, so won't interfere with any FTTC/FTTP ISP.

      • IvesyM's avatar
        IvesyM
        On our wavelength
        2 months ago

        I thought that and actually mentioned it but he said no, once Virgin connect the cable or whatever that's it they'll disconnect the cable for BT. So if I did want to go back after Saturday I'd need an engineer out. 

    • Client62's avatar
      Client62
      Alessandro Volta
      2 months ago

      You will get 1Gb/s but this is the speed to the VM Hub.  

      It is not the ISPs job to kit out the internal network of the house to fulfil the customers desire to perform a perfect speed tests in their attic or garden shed.

      Once the VM service goes live, tcheck the service with the "SamKnows Realspeed" app for mobiles or via this link : https://www.samknows.com/realspeed/ 

      Realspeed is a test for the VM Hubs, it will not work on Plusnet other ISPs.

      • IvesyM's avatar
        IvesyM
        On our wavelength
        2 months ago

        but surely if you are paying for a service that promises a speed they should provide the equipment to do this?  I don't' expect perfection but what scares me and is putting me off is this guarantee that I'll get at least the speeds I get now! I noticed as well once the pods have been issued an £100 bill credit, that seems to be pretty much it, tough!

  • IvesyM's avatar
    IvesyM
    On our wavelength
    2 months ago

    Hopefully on Sunday I'll be back on here with positive news about the speeds I'm getting and wifi coverage....if not there's the 14 days cooling off period to have a think about!

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person
      2 months ago

      Once installed set the Decos as Access Points with the same SSID and passwords as the Hub.  This should allow for seamless roaming.

  • IvesyM's avatar
    IvesyM
    On our wavelength
    30 days ago

    Quick update..... all went well! I WAS able to have the line left for Plusnet! Speeds and wifi are fine. No issues so far. A little surprised the two lads who installed didn't offer to check speeds around the house. When I asked they were fine and I get speeds on wifi from as high as 800Mbps to 400Mbs so pleased with that. Only slight issue is my PC will only get 40Mbps even though my phone in the same room gets 500Mbps. I'm in contact with the place I got the PC from about that. So all in all I'm pleased.

    • Client62's avatar
      Client62
      Alessandro Volta
      29 days ago

      PC at 40Mbps suggests a connection via a 2.4GHz only Wi-Fi adaptor.

      Dual band Wi-Fi adaptors are not expensive.

  • IvesyM's avatar
    IvesyM
    On our wavelength
    29 days ago

    Hi, I had to change a setting in the wireless mode settings and I'm getting about 400 now which is fine. Thank you for the help.