Matt2107
12-03-07, 02:37 PM
I've recently signed up for Virgin Media (formerly ntl) 2mb broadband package.
We initially plugged into our desktop computer which was fairly old and generally knackered. The broadband connected at 1mb but ran like a crock of ****. This wasn't a problem as a new laptop had already been ordered.
We've been using the laptop for a while and the connection has always been 1mb. The other day my gf called the customer service line to report it as a fault. The guy on the phone then asked her lots of questions which could be used as an excuse for only running at 1mb. For example, what operating system, how much memory, blah blah blah.
Obviously all the questions were given adequate responses. He then asked which virus protection/firewall are we using to which we said PC Guard (virgins's own software.) We had already removed Norton as soon as we unpacked the laptop. He then said he'd like to test the line so got my gf to open command prompt, to which he was sure that there was a firewall on the computer as the test would not bounce back.
He then asked that we restart in safe mode as this will disable any security measures we have. He then tested the line and received a signal back.
His conclusion was that there was definately a firewall on the system.
So the question is... if that's the case then why when I checked the speed of the broadband connection in safe mode is it still running at 1mb. Surely this bloke is wrong about the firewall otherwise in safe mode it would run at 2mb?
We are running straight from the modem to computer at the moment without any router. We are also literally 30m from the telephone exchange so this won't be affecting the speed of our connection.
My theories on this are that Virgin are thinning my connection (and probably a large of other peoples.)
Obviously the small print states "speeds of up to" but it should be quite fair to assume that a full 2mb service can be received when they are offering 10mb on a more expensive package. If I was on the larger package I'd be happy to only receive say 8mb.
We initially plugged into our desktop computer which was fairly old and generally knackered. The broadband connected at 1mb but ran like a crock of ****. This wasn't a problem as a new laptop had already been ordered.
We've been using the laptop for a while and the connection has always been 1mb. The other day my gf called the customer service line to report it as a fault. The guy on the phone then asked her lots of questions which could be used as an excuse for only running at 1mb. For example, what operating system, how much memory, blah blah blah.
Obviously all the questions were given adequate responses. He then asked which virus protection/firewall are we using to which we said PC Guard (virgins's own software.) We had already removed Norton as soon as we unpacked the laptop. He then said he'd like to test the line so got my gf to open command prompt, to which he was sure that there was a firewall on the computer as the test would not bounce back.
He then asked that we restart in safe mode as this will disable any security measures we have. He then tested the line and received a signal back.
His conclusion was that there was definately a firewall on the system.
So the question is... if that's the case then why when I checked the speed of the broadband connection in safe mode is it still running at 1mb. Surely this bloke is wrong about the firewall otherwise in safe mode it would run at 2mb?
We are running straight from the modem to computer at the moment without any router. We are also literally 30m from the telephone exchange so this won't be affecting the speed of our connection.
My theories on this are that Virgin are thinning my connection (and probably a large of other peoples.)
Obviously the small print states "speeds of up to" but it should be quite fair to assume that a full 2mb service can be received when they are offering 10mb on a more expensive package. If I was on the larger package I'd be happy to only receive say 8mb.