Pointers for checking local VM congestion

[Splash]

Just found out today that my local BT cab won't be enabled for FTTC due to it being in an area serviced by Virgin Media, so it looks like I might as well jump ship from Be* now. Just want to check to see if there are currently any issues with the service in my area (exchange congestion type stuff) - can anyone point me in the direction of anywhere that might be able to help confirm this? Looking at the 100Mbps package, just want to make sure that I'm likely to get it before signing up for an 18 month contract.

Cheers all

[deejayburnout]

best check the VM website for info.

I do think one of the members here works for VM as well. hopefully he will see this.

[Splash]

Yeah, hoping he'll pop by - struggling to find any local info on the VM website.

[deejayburnout]

have you tried posting on the VM forums. the admins are a bit slow in getting back to you bit usually get back.

don't phone them unless you can understand english through a indian accent. the call center is terrible.

[deejayburnout]

The members name is Dareos

[flearider]

why would you go vm .. with so many complaining about throttling and traffic managment ...

and can't understand why that its an issue about the cab .. vm are all over here and bt has upgraded the cabs already .. and this is blackpool ..?

[Splash]

Openreach have confirmed to me that my cab won't be getting fibre due to a commercial decision by BT. My Be* service has been going downhill for the last few months and I'm really not keen to be paying Murdoch money after I felt so good about cancelling my Sky sub 18 months back.

Virgin is my only option for fibre in this area, and it sounds like it's going to stay that way.

[abaxas]

Why not change direction? Instead of going for the fattest pipe, go for a better consistency?

I'd go for 4mb of stable ping/speed/up-time over 100mb of VM's unknown every-time.

[jim]

why would you go vm .. with so many complaining about throttling and traffic managment ...

and can't understand why that its an issue about the cab .. vm are all over here and bt has upgraded the cabs already .. and this is blackpool ..?

Unless they're oversubbed, it's fine.

They don't throttle that badly at all re: traffic management. Don't get me wrong, I hate the fact that they do, but it is bearable. I'd much rather have Virgin Cable than ADSL, since even after throttling it'll be faster.

[Splash]

Unless they're oversubbed, it's fine.

And *this* is exactly what I'm trying to establish. I've done the maths and in order to get an ADSL service that I'm happy with (would be looking at either an Entanet reseller or Zen) is going to cost me more than the 100Mbps Virgin package, with TV and phone. I'm not overly happy about this (I was really rather looking forward to buying Infinity through Zen or someone else), but having had it confirmed by Openreach I'm now moving on. I'm not asking for opinions of VM (believe me, I've read enough of them already), merely for any pointers as to how to check whether I'm in an oversubbed/congested area.

[jim]

And *this* is exactly what I'm trying to establish. I've done the maths and in order to get an ADSL service that I'm happy with (would be looking at either an Entanet reseller or Zen) is going to cost me more than the 100Mbps Virgin package, with TV and phone. I'm not overly happy about this (I was really rather looking forward to buying Infinity through Zen or someone else), but having had it confirmed by Openreach I'm now moving on. I'm not asking for opinions of VM (believe me, I've read enough of them already), merely for any pointers as to how to check whether I'm in an oversubbed/congested area.

My personal experience on that front is that Virgin will tell you over the phone if you ask them - assuming you're a customer, of course. I guess you could ring up to join and ask at the time whether they have any issues, but whether the sales team would have access to that information and/or be truthful, I have no idea. I had a quick chat with some guys in the local Virgin shop before I signed up, and they told so many lies in such a short space of time it blew my mind. I don't recall the details now, but I do recall trying to not to laugh for quite an extended period.

My only counterpoint to that is that whilst they don't deny problems with the line, they do have a frustrating habit of lying about when and how it might be fixed. I've been lucky enough to speak to a couple of people who were completely honest and extremely helpful, including a great engineer who came over, but certain people seem more interested in trying to make it sound good than actually telling me what's happening.

I would be surprised if anyone other than dareos is in a position to advise, since information about oversubbing and so on is all internal... if customers have to jump through hoops to find out, I doubt a prospective one would have much luck.