Ping, packet loss and Latency all over the place. Can we get some info please!

[CloudchaserXI]

Started 2 days ago - I'm assuming this is Covid 19 related? If it is PLEASE confirm Virgin.

380Meg fibre, all networked - pc direct to Hub 3.

All of a sudden: massive lag spikes, interruption, packet loss.

I have tried Modem mode. Tried to reset router. 

Software version

: 9.1.1811.401

Log below:

20/03/2020 20:32:56	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/03/2020 20:32:3	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/03/2020 19:53:3	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/03/2020 04:16:13	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/03/2020 02:44:21	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/03/2020 23:24:8	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/03/2020 22:15:12	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/03/2020 20:50:23	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/03/2020 18:58:29	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/03/2020 18:58:14	Warning!	LAN login FAILED : Incorrect Username / Password / ConnectionType;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 12:32:22	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 11:42:44	notice	DHCP Renew - lease parameters tftp file-cmreg-vmdg505-rtsxxl35016u+voc-b.cm modified;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 11:42:44	Error	DHCP REBIND WARNING - Field invalid in response;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 10:53:4	Error	DHCP RENEW sent - No response for IPv4;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 10:24:27	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 10:03:26	Error	DHCP RENEW sent - No response for IPv4;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 09:52:42	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 09:09:24	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 08:24:10	Error	DHCP RENEW sent - No response for IPv4;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/03/2020 05:48:57	Warning!	RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;

PING google.com (216.58.210.238): 64 data bytes
72 bytes from 216.58.210.238: seq=0 ttl=55 time=20.000 ms
72 bytes from 216.58.210.238: seq=1 ttl=55 time=10.000 ms
72 bytes from 216.58.210.238: seq=2 ttl=55 time=4500.000 ms
--- google.com ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 40% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max = 10.000/1510.000/4500.000 ms

[AlteranAncient]

---

@sam245 wrote:

anyone got any recommendations for good internet providers for gaming?

---

If you're looking for the "best" option rather than the "cheapest" option, the ones I see that people consistently talk about as better options for nerds and gamers are Zen Broadband or Cerberus Networks. I say "nerds and gamers" because their support processes are a lot better - you get to speak to a technician whose job is to actually diagnose and fix your issue and they're prepared to work with you to get a resolution you're happy with. They'll understand terms like "latency", "jitter" and other technical jargon that seems to go over the heads of Virgin Media's tech support line.

And if you really want top-notch customer support, there's Andrews & Arnold, but they don't have an unlimited package, so you'd need to decide if you're happy with a 300GB or 2TB monthly data cap. But you'll find all but the heaviest users will be perfectly happy with a 2TB cap.

They'll all be limited by whatever your local exchange and cabinet can manage - you can use the Wholesale Checker to get a rough idea of what speeds you'll be able to achieve. VDSL usually caps out at about 70Mbps, and G.fast can manage 300Mbps if you win the Postcode lottery.

I hope this has helped!

[Samuel17]

This helps thanks, but I was also wondering about openreach, as they looked pretty good and decent price, do you know anything about them ? 

[DigitalNative]

I've just made the switch to a lower bandwidth speed open reach offering and all I can say is guys... I'm sitting at rock solid 7ms ping and its the most beautiful thing I've seen. I wish I had made the switch sooner.

[sam245]

brilliant lockdown means i cant switch

[sam245]

 anyone got any tips on how to stop/ lower the latency spikes e.g vpn or setting or anything? ill do anything at this point.

[davidc01]

I went for a 4G router with an external aerial. I was able to get 100mb+ bandwidth and 15-30ms ping with both Three and EE in my area.
I bought a PAYG card from all networks for £1 each and experimented until I found a roof location for the aerial that worked with each network the best. I also played around with forcing it to connect to particular channels, which also helped a bit.
I now have this plugged into my home network so I can switch from Virgin to 4G whenever needed from any device. I can leave streaming devices like TVs using Netflix on Virgin whilst switching work machines to 4G when needed.

This was needed 100% in last lockdown - for nearly 6 months the service was appalling. Completely unusable for work. Then Virgin finally did a fix which drastically improved things and I've been able to use the connection for work again.

Recently its been getting a bit shakey again, but is still just about usable:

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broadband/monitoring/quality/share/1385d4740fdec73015201c928ed033fa103ddb38-07-01-2021

I've been given an estimated fix date for the area (BR3) of the 26th Feb. But based on my experience last time I know these to be pretty much fictional (I had at least 7 estimated dates between March and August 2020.

[Forid200]

Community fibre are coming to my area. I've just about had enough with Virgin media, they're also going to be raising prices soon. Guess I know where I'm heading...Much better value plus no dealing with rubbish Puma hardware. 

[davidc01]

Yeah, have been trying to sort community fibre and/or openreach using fttp on demand (https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/ultrafastfibreaccess/fttpondemand/fttpod.do) but the prices where I am put it out of my budget right now. Need to wait until they're closer!

[Samuel17]

 anyone got any tips on how to stop/ lower the latency spikes e.g vpn or setting or anything? ill do anything at this point but seeing as lockdown is her I can’t change isp so keep that in mind 

[jem101]

Realistically, there is nothing at all you can do which is likely to fix latency issues. However, lockdown or not, I don’t see why you aren’t able to change ISP.