Comments on: To Virgin Media: We “The Customers” don’t like traffic jams either http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/ The P2P and File Sharing Blog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:24:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Shauny_Z http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-6219 Shauny_Z Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:29:31 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-6219 I've been put on the limit and monitoring for a week due to downloading a couple linux cd's off the web at top speed on my 20MB line. The thing what really annoys me is that they claim to upgrade us soon to 50MB, if they're moaning like hell about me using my own LINE!!! which i'm paying for!, wtf do they think people are going to do with 50 MB... Totally retarded ISP, I pay for 20MB i should get 20MB download to do what ever i want, none of this stupid system which is just retarded... I’ve been put on the limit and monitoring for a week due to downloading a couple linux cd’s off the web at top speed on my 20MB line.

The thing what really annoys me is that they claim to upgrade us soon to 50MB, if they’re moaning like hell about me using my own LINE!!! which i’m paying for!, wtf do they think people are going to do with 50 MB…

Totally retarded ISP, I pay for 20MB i should get 20MB download to do what ever i want, none of this stupid system which is just retarded…

]]> By: Hitwiththecapstcik http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5838 Hitwiththecapstcik Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:23:51 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5838 I haven recently been placed on a cap on the ADSL not cable VM That cap means that if you go over a peak time download allows of 3GB in a 7 day period they reduce your line from 4pm to 12pm from my current speed of 7mb to 80kbs in reality is 58kb for 7 days (dile up for 17.99pm haha) you want to know how I reached this pathetic allowance not from being a pirate but: 1. updating windows after a clean install 2. installing and updating Age Of Conan (patches to play the game once install equate to 2gb of patches) 3. driver downloads for hardware after reinstaling operating system example being creative driver and related software package 700mb 4. playing age of conan online how dare i use the internet to play games so fair usage my a$$ capping a 7mb line down to 80kbs for 8 hours a day for 7 days and still have the gaul to charge me full price is joke I had to do this in peak time because I work meaning guess what the time i have to use the internet is AT PEAK TIME why I pay for the internet to USE IT when I want not a 3am the fact that the "legal" media downloads are now reaching anywhere from 400mb to 800mb to watch a tv show (iplayer)or a few movie trailers from a number of sites plus patches or updates for your operating system or software mean on Virgin currently all you realy are allowed to do is use it for text email only capping anyone regardless for 3bg in peak time if they pay for a service to 80kbs in this day and age is well utter horse $h*t Thats like an power company saying last week you used more power than the historical average so for the next seven days you can only power a lightbulb sorry for the wall of text rant :)) I feel better now I haven recently been placed on a cap on the ADSL not cable VM
That cap means that if you go over a peak time download allows of 3GB in a 7 day period they reduce your line from 4pm to 12pm from my current speed of 7mb to 80kbs in reality is 58kb for 7 days (dile up for 17.99pm haha)

you want to know how I reached this pathetic allowance not from being a pirate but:

1. updating windows after a clean install
2. installing and updating Age Of Conan (patches to play the game once install equate to 2gb of patches)
3. driver downloads for hardware after reinstaling operating system example being creative driver and related software package 700mb
4. playing age of conan online how dare i use the internet to play games

so fair usage my a$$ capping a 7mb line down to 80kbs for 8 hours a day for 7 days and still have the gaul to charge me full price is joke

I had to do this in peak time because I work meaning guess what the time i have to use the internet is AT PEAK TIME why I pay for the internet to USE IT when I want not a 3am

the fact that the “legal” media downloads are now reaching anywhere from 400mb to 800mb to watch a tv show (iplayer)or a few movie trailers from a number of sites plus patches or updates for your operating system or software mean on Virgin currently all you realy are allowed to do is use it for text email only

capping anyone regardless for 3bg in peak time if they pay for a service to 80kbs in this day and age is well utter horse $h*t

Thats like an power company saying last week you used more power than the historical average so for the next seven days you can only power a lightbulb

sorry for the wall of text rant :)) I feel better now

]]> By: Alan http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5800 Alan Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:45:45 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5800 I've been on VM 2mb bb for the past 12 months, never been throttled or capped in any way. This week I called them about upgrading my internet to the 10mb package. Within 24hrs my 2mb connection has been cut back to 1mb because I hit a 500mb download limit. I have received a letter today which tells me while I'm still on 2mb I'm allowed to download 15gb in a 24hr period. But only 1gb of that between 10am-3pm and only 0.5gb between 4-9pm. Today I've been online for 90 minutes... and already I've had 15mb of uploads and 175mb downloads. I've not downloaded any files, I've watched one video on a website and I've been to 4 or 5 websites and checked my emails. That's it. By the time other people get home from work we're going to hit our limit again just from regular surfing. This is utter tripe! I’ve been on VM 2mb bb for the past 12 months, never been throttled or capped in any way. This week I called them about upgrading my internet to the 10mb package. Within 24hrs my 2mb connection has been cut back to 1mb because I hit a 500mb download limit.

I have received a letter today which tells me while I’m still on 2mb I’m allowed to download 15gb in a 24hr period. But only 1gb of that between 10am-3pm and only 0.5gb between 4-9pm.

Today I’ve been online for 90 minutes… and already I’ve had 15mb of uploads and 175mb downloads. I’ve not downloaded any files, I’ve watched one video on a website and I’ve been to 4 or 5 websites and checked my emails. That’s it. By the time other people get home from work we’re going to hit our limit again just from regular surfing. This is utter tripe!

]]> By: ME http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5797 ME Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:13:14 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5797 Ignore the 3% or whatever, that is a distraction. You basically are allowed to download up to the posted limit within core hours before you are capped. After core hours, your counter is reset. Outside of core hours you can download what you want. I am on the XL package, and if I would say that 3GB a day within peak hours is ample allowance. And it's not as if they cut it off once you exceed it, you still get 5Mb which is faster than many ADSL customers get on a good day! Ignore the 3% or whatever, that is a distraction.
You basically are allowed to download up to the posted limit within core hours before you are capped. After core hours, your counter is reset. Outside of core hours you can download what you want.
I am on the XL package, and if I would say that 3GB a day within peak hours is ample allowance. And it’s not as if they cut it off once you exceed it, you still get 5Mb which is faster than many ADSL customers get on a good day!

]]> By: ShaolinDreams http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5665 ShaolinDreams Sat, 03 May 2008 01:38:16 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5665 Well I'd have to agree you with. I initially joined with Telewest Blueyonder and as previous ISP I've had the quality of service was top notch, not 1 problem over a few years. Then VirginMedia bought them out, great i thought but over time alas no no NO. I do download alot i must admit but i specifically joined with Telewest due to the unlimited download factor. I was probably one of the first to get affected by this "Traffic Management" rubbish so was you just explained to everyone is exactly my oredicament for well over half a year now. Thing is i only download at night.. so how can i be affecting other people browsing the web, their in BED! It really has degraded my peak hours enjoyment of the internet, ive had enough. £18 for 2mb capped.. they can stick it where the sun dont shine.. im migrating to 'Be Online'.. £14 for 8mb "Unlimited". No more money for them and ill also be looking to change my mobile provider as its virgin too. I cant stand paying for a shabby service. i suggest if your a virgin customer(victim) migrate migrate migrate, this is the only way VirginMedia will realise they cant play us for fools. YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE VIRGIN! Sorry for the rant but this is an overpriced bad service. Hit em where it hurts, in their wallets. Well I’d have to agree you with. I initially joined with Telewest Blueyonder and as previous ISP I’ve had the quality of service was top notch, not 1 problem over a few years. Then VirginMedia bought them out, great i thought but over time alas no no NO. I do download alot i must admit but i specifically joined with Telewest due to the unlimited download factor. I was probably one of the first to get affected by this “Traffic Management” rubbish so was you just explained to everyone is exactly my oredicament for well over half a year now. Thing is i only download at night.. so how can i be affecting other people browsing the web, their in BED! It really has degraded my peak hours enjoyment of the internet, ive had enough. £18 for 2mb capped.. they can stick it where the sun dont shine.. im migrating to ‘Be Online’.. £14 for 8mb “Unlimited”. No more money for them and ill also be looking to change my mobile provider as its virgin too. I cant stand paying for a shabby service. i suggest if your a virgin customer(victim) migrate migrate migrate, this is the only way VirginMedia will realise they cant play us for fools. YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE VIRGIN!

Sorry for the rant but this is an overpriced bad service. Hit em where it hurts, in their wallets.

]]> By: More to Come http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5638 More to Come Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:23:33 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5638 This is just the start the wheels are in motion by virgin media to use these same rules for 20 out of 24 hours, this will render whatever connection you have worthless imho. Vm need to get a grip now and cut there huge advertising budget at least slash it by half and turn there attention to the broadband customers who have supported them over the years not to mention the cahoots there in atm with Phorm and webwise where they will profile every user and sell your data to the highest bidder. This is just the start the wheels are in motion by virgin media to use these same rules for 20 out of 24 hours, this will render whatever connection you have worthless imho.

Vm need to get a grip now and cut there huge advertising budget at least slash it by half and turn there attention to the broadband customers who have supported them over the years not to mention the cahoots there in atm with Phorm and webwise where they will profile every user and sell your data to the highest bidder.

]]> By: Cisco Boy http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5541 Cisco Boy Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:39:47 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5541 Why throttle all traffic? Well this is an easy one! With P2P having the ability to 'masquerade' as other traffic types, HTTP for instance VM found that when they throttled P2P Traffic, they saw the % of P2P traffic carried reduce, however it was replaced with a proportionate amount of SSL (encrypted) and HTTP (tunnelled) traffic. So they decided the only way to ensure that you were able to traffic manage successfully was to be Application Agnostic. I am not aware of any ISPs that do not have an AUP or FUP, but I understand that neither Sky or Be currently enforce theirs.. Not sure if this is true though as I am not a user of either. Why throttle all traffic? Well this is an easy one! With P2P having the ability to ‘masquerade’ as other traffic types, HTTP for instance VM found that when they throttled P2P Traffic, they saw the % of P2P traffic carried reduce, however it was replaced with a proportionate amount of SSL (encrypted) and HTTP (tunnelled) traffic.
So they decided the only way to ensure that you were able to traffic manage successfully was to be Application Agnostic.

I am not aware of any ISPs that do not have an AUP or FUP, but I understand that neither Sky or Be currently enforce theirs.. Not sure if this is true though as I am not a user of either.

]]> By: s4vva http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5515 s4vva Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:50:27 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5515 The problem is 800MB is tiny by todays standards. Also why throttle all traffic? Why not just throttle certain protocols i.e. p2p? Are all ISP's going down this road, or are any left that give you the service offered? The problem is 800MB is tiny by todays standards. Also why throttle all traffic? Why not just throttle certain protocols i.e. p2p?

Are all ISP’s going down this road, or are any left that give you the service offered?

]]> By: Dan http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5495 Dan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:05:04 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5495 Well, I'm all behind that what says that it's not only the top percentage that get capped. I get capped daily and sometimes I don't download until 8pm and I'm capped within 20 minutes. I'm not going to complain, regardless on whether I should or not. I simply don't like it and I will change provider. Well, I’m all behind that what says that it’s not only the top percentage that get capped. I get capped daily and sometimes I don’t download until 8pm and I’m capped within 20 minutes.

I’m not going to complain, regardless on whether I should or not. I simply don’t like it and I will change provider.

]]> By: Cisco boy http://blog.p2pvine.com/to-virgin-media-we-the-customers-dont-like-traffic-jams-either-05042008/#comment-5453 Cisco boy Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:32:41 +0000 http://blog.p2pvine.com/?p=192#comment-5453 Duncan, Happy to provide info on the technology.. Whether it is a matter of dealing with over subscription or not is a matter of opinion.. If as an ISP Virgin Media feel that the top 3% of downloaders use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth compared to the other 97% then they have the right to manage that 3%. However I do feel that they need to consider historical usage and use a system that is more dynamic or intelligent. i.e. Due to to the fact that STM limits are set using Historical Usage Data they do not discriminate between the habitual downloader doing multiple Terrabytes per month and the occasional heavy downloader that does a few large multi GB downloads per month. In my view if they introduced something based upon the Packet Cable Multimedia Standards they would be able to track usage of each user and apply management on an individual basis and if they wanted apply increasing pressure to those habitual 'abusers' whilst using historic records to see that someone that is currently downloading a large file doesn't do this all the time and therefore let them go ahead and complete at full speed. VM do need to do something as if they are in the position of most ISPs in the UK the top 5% of downloaders are using upwards of 40% of the available bandwidth, such that if they were to actually tell those 5% to 'go take their business elsewhere' they would probably not have to upgrade their network for some time and still offer top speeds. Duncan, Happy to provide info on the technology..

Whether it is a matter of dealing with over subscription or not is a matter of opinion.. If as an ISP Virgin Media feel that the top 3% of downloaders use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth compared to the other 97% then they have the right to manage that 3%. However I do feel that they need to consider historical usage and use a system that is more dynamic or intelligent.

i.e. Due to to the fact that STM limits are set using Historical Usage Data they do not discriminate between the habitual downloader doing multiple Terrabytes per month and the occasional heavy downloader that does a few large multi GB downloads per month.

In my view if they introduced something based upon the Packet Cable Multimedia Standards they would be able to track usage of each user and apply management on an individual basis and if they wanted apply increasing pressure to those habitual ‘abusers’ whilst using historic records to see that someone that is currently downloading a large file doesn’t do this all the time and therefore let them go ahead and complete at full speed.

VM do need to do something as if they are in the position of most ISPs in the UK the top 5% of downloaders are using upwards of 40% of the available bandwidth, such that if they were to actually tell those 5% to ‘go take their business elsewhere’ they would probably not have to upgrade their network for some time and still offer top speeds.

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