ISP advice please

[verytalldave]

Since changing from NTL to Virgin earlier this year, I have suffered many outages in my internet connection. They only last for a matter of a few seconds, but I have to reboot my modem to get back online.
This NEVER ever happened when I was with NTL.
Up to now I have tryed to ignore this as an annoying blip and was keeping my fingers crossed it would all sort itself out.
However over the bank holiday weekend this "blip" happened more than several times and has now reached the point when I feel I must say something.
I pay £17.99 a month for this service, and I feel thats more than enough to expect a break-free service.
I have emailed Virgin telling them all this and I am still awaiting their response.
Has anyone else had this problem with Virgin or any other ISP?
Am I expecting too much?
Opinions/advice please.
Thanks to all in advance................

 

[stevesey]

Since changing from NTL to Virgin earlier this year, I have suffered many outages in my internet connection. They only last for a matter of a few seconds, but I have to reboot my modem to get back online.
This NEVER ever happened when I was with NTL.
Up to now I have tryed to ignore this as an annoying blip and was keeping my fingers crossed it would all sort itself out.
However over the bank holiday weekend this "blip" happened more than several times and has now reached the point when I feel I must say something.
I pay £17.99 a month for this service, and I feel thats more than enough to expect a break-free service.
I have emailed Virgin telling them all this and I am still awaiting their response.
Has anyone else had this problem with Virgin or any other ISP?
Am I expecting too much?
Opinions/advice please.
Thanks to all in advance................

Virgin do have DNS issues - might be what you are seeing (is it when going to new sites - so a DNS lookup is need). Try google for openDNS and following the instructions on using their DNS servers - see if that makes any difference. Does for me.

P.S. NTL merged with Telewest and then both got taken over by Virgin, so I'm a little puzzled by your comment about moving from NTL to Virgin (did you change deal).

 

[mas66]

If you have service via cable then it should be fairly stable with no outages. I would call Virgin and insist on a new cable modem and see if that is the problem .....
Mark

 

[recycled]

have you got sky tv?

 

[Gollom]

What are TalkTalk like nowadays? I know they had problems on launch

 

[Nibbo]

My virgin connection was like that. It just kept saying I was not conected etc...
I did what Stevesey has recommended above and have never been disconnected since.
If you have a wireless network follow the instructions to change the router addresses as this will save you applying it to each PC seperately.

 

[Chattonmill]

I Use Plusnet, which has just been taken over BY BT(Although they are a pet hate of mine I have decided to stay with them) The service is great and my internet is never down (In over 3 years!) fast too, just had a free upgrade to 16Mps as well.

 

[verytalldave]

have you got sky tv?

No - but its listed as things I might do. Then of course, broadband would be part of the deal - as would my phone.

 

[verytalldave]

Virgin do have DNS issues - might be what you are seeing (is it when going to new sites - so a DNS lookup is need). Try google for openDNS and following the instructions on using their DNS servers - see if that makes any difference. Does for me.

P.S. NTL merged with Telewest and then both got taken over by Virgin, so I'm a little puzzled by your comment about moving from NTL to Virgin (did you change deal).

No. The outages occour as I am on the site. Its not when I am trying to access a particular website.
As for your last point, I know. It is strange. No obvious reason why things should have changed. I did have to change my login name to a new virgin name, but thats all.
As I said, when I was with NTL, no problems. Now its Virgin, I am getting these occasional disconnections.
Lets wait and see what Virgin have to say on the subject.
Thanks to all those who replied. Much appreciated.

 

[recycled]

No - but its listed as things I might do. Then of course, broadband would be part of the deal - as would my phone.

and it will be free if you choose the base.
I mean i use mine everyday, and i am on the base package so i pay nothing. no need for me to go on the paying one yet

 

[Chattonmill]

I am on Talk Talk for my phone, but heard the problems so opted out of the Internet, if they improve then maybe I will switch

 

[stevesey]

What are TalkTalk like nowadays? I know they had problems on launch

Helped a friend sort out some connection problems the other week. He'd just signed up and had a couple of issues that they seemed to deal with OK over the phone. He ended up stuck as he'd done a factory reset on the router, but it hadn't come back properly (wouldn't do PPoE, NAT anymore), a hard one for them to diagnose over the phone (especially as it was his router not one they'd provided). Another reset got everything working fine.

In terms service - he got the phone answered and got help - his issue needed someone suitably experienced at the PC to fix though.

 

[davidjpowell]

But my father in law was promised Broadband by Talk Talk. It never worked, but they still billed him. Took a long time and a lot of blood pressure to resovle. I suspect like many, if it goes well it is fine, if their are difficulties involving different departments you may be in trouble and don't even think of asking for an engineer to be sent out!

DavID

 

[Godot]

Have TalkTalk, last 18 months...1 small outage a week ago..no other probs, didn't qualify for a free b/b connection as my exchange not done the local loop unbundle thingy..bah!

The provided a pretty good diagnostic type cd that seems to sort most things out, overall very pleased..not much complicated small print to work through re so many mb is this much different capping rates etc.

I am terminally bewildered by it all & seeing it is no longer appropriate to grap a passing 8 year old & get him to fix any techno type problems am fairly well pleased...If on the very rare occassion in the early days, loud voice in Car Phone Wharehouse shop brought quite good results!!

 

[gbjeppm]

I have had the TalkTalk all in one deal for over a year now, and no problems, since the exchange was unbundled, all is as you would expect.

 

[whizzkid11]

Have been with BT Openworld since Broadband was launched in Oct 2001, then in 2004 switched to UKONLINE - and have had two seperate connections with UKONLINE - without any issues.

I am currently paying £14.99 for their upto 22Mb service, and £19.99 for their 8Mb with a fixed IP address range.

Would happily recommend them to anyone...

 

[HughJarse]

Sky here - £10 for 16mb service, £5 for 8mb service £0 for 2mb service.
Been o it for nearly 2 years and nver had an outage.
Suits me fine.

 

[oldcro]

Tiscali here, 2 outages in 4 years and they were due to inclement weather.

 

[recycled]

Sky here - £10 for 16mb service, £5 for 8mb service £0 for 2mb service.
Been o it for nearly 2 years and nver had an outage.
Suits me fine.

me too. on the 2mb service so pay nothing, except for the TV which i already had before anyway.
no problems here.

 

[Spinal]

Blueyonder -> Telewest -> NTL -> Virgin here...
a few outages, but I'm forced to live with them as they are the only cable-internet suppliers in my area. Everyone one else offers (scams) on the ADSL/ISDN lines in my area....

Always check www.samknows.com before choosing an ISP. BeThere/BT offered 24mbps for £17 a while back. A quick check on samknows and I found that my lines wouldn't support more than 1.3mbps...

Michele