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haywardgg's avatar
haywardgg
Dialled in
9 months ago

Your experience with Gig2

Share your BQM graphs and overall experience with Gig2 packages.

As a gamer and twitch streamer, I want to encourage other gamers and streamers to share their Gig2 experience. In an attempt to get VM to consider turning off or completely disabling the hourly speed checks on the 5x routers, specifically. It's either this thread, or I start an online petition!

I'm starting this thread as a positive step towards helping other Gig2 customers, help each other.

Meanwhile, VM, please address the realspeed issue.

9 Replies

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  • legacy1's avatar
    legacy1
    Alessandro Volta
    9 months ago

    Should we dare VM to do one of two things?

    Never run their speed test on any hub

    or

    Put working modem mode on hub 5x

    • haywardgg's avatar
      haywardgg
      Dialled in
      9 months ago

      Both of those options would be preferable. But I reckon most customers would settle for the first option. 

  • rid1's avatar
    rid1
    Tuning in
    9 months ago

    I subscribed to Virgin Media’s Gig2 symmetrical a few months ago. Initially, everything worked well, but subsequently, I encountered hourly packet loss lasting just a few seconds. This disruption affected my connections to Citrix, Zoom calls, and streaming on Virgin Stream. Despite reporting the issue to Virgin Media, they were unable to resolve it.

    Upon investigation, I identified the root cause: realspeed tests conducted every hour. To mitigate this, I devised a workaround. I created a new profile on my PC and configured a scheduled download using ‘Free Download Manager.’ This download runs for three minutes around the time of the test, effectively preventing it. I used windows task scheduler to start and kill the download. By limiting the download speed to 2 MB/s, I found the optimal threshold to trigger activity on my router.

    This solution has been in place for approximately three months, ensuring uninterrupted service.

    BQM Graphs are with and without the workaround:

  • haywardgg's avatar
    haywardgg
    Dialled in
    9 months ago

    Or, they could just turn off the speed test. I was having to do what you're doing, too. But that was only while the executive team sorted out a permanent solution. 

    Don't settle for a duck tape workaround. You're paying a lot of money for this service. 

    • rid1's avatar
      rid1
      Tuning in
      9 months ago

      I have not had any joy with the executive team. I've raised a few tickets, had an engineer visit. Raised 3 complaints and no joy. In each interaction I've asked them to turn it off. Count yourself lucky if you got them to do it!

      • haywardgg's avatar
        haywardgg
        Dialled in
        9 months ago

        Two other people on here have got them to turn off the hourly tests. You have consumer rights. Use them. Please.

  • rid1's avatar
    rid1
    Tuning in
    9 months ago

    I think it is who you get on the other side... I have spent hours on the phone... I know my consumer rights, but trying to navigate VM is a nightmare.

  • haywardgg's avatar
    haywardgg
    Dialled in
    9 months ago

    My persistent nagging on here has got the attention of, let's say, industry reporters. Can't say more than that for now. But I can say this particular realspeed issue with Gig2 is being investigated and possibly written about, very soon.

    So keep on demanding that VM fix it by turning off the realspeed hourly tests. Or cancel your contract and use your consumer rights. Contact Ofcom. Don't be a hostage to your contract either, remember, we have consumer rights.

    This service isn't cheap. So get your moneys worth, or your money back. 

    Have a great week and good luck 👍 

    Edit: Just want give credit where credit is due. To the executive team representatives and tech support reps who have listened, taken our complaints seriously and turned off the hourly tests. Thanks, please let your colleagues know we weren't wrong 🙏 😉 

  • legacy1's avatar
    legacy1
    Alessandro Volta
    9 months ago

    They will not do this for everyone and VM will get away with this they know people who want this badly enough will use modem mode so thats what they have to do as in add modem mode.