Dumping Virgin broadband, any impact on cable tv?

[The Stiglet]

I've had Virgin TV and broadband for the last 2.5 years but I've been continually disappointed by the fall outs in broadband coverage. Engineers tell me that the local system is overloaded in the busy urban area that we live as more and more customers come onboard. Right now we have no internet and it usually goes down for five to seven days at a time every quarter or so. I've had enough.

If I move broadband supplier to BT for example but want to keep Virgin TV, will everything still work as normal? Or is there a requirement for Virgin TV to operate with their broadband hub? (I can't see why but you never know.)

Sky TV & broadband package is out because the Virgin system is built into a bespoke wooden bookcase and run under the wooden floor by the previous owner.

[megaphone]

The BB and TV come down the same cable, so funny BB is going down but not the TV.

[anonymous-user]

I think that the ability to record several channels at once on the V6 box is because it can route via broadband ?
Hence why you need either a wifi or ethernet connection to the hub

[ninepoint2]

Suspect any other BB provider will be much the same if your access is overloaded, they will use the same infrastructure I guess

[anonymous-user]

Wrong, Virgin are pretty well the only (common) ones who aren’t rebadged Openreach

[The Stiglet]

Jimboka said:

Wrong, Virgin are pretty well the only (common) ones who aren’t rebadged Openreach

Yes correct. Virgin use their own fiberoptic lines, which is one of the reasons they are much faster than BT/Sky who need to use the legacy OpenReach lines. It's a pain as in my area the max download speed OpenReach can offer is up to 73mb with a min guarantee of 55mb but my Virgin service is 200mb...when it works.

Seems like it's simple to swap though. Sky and BT both offer hubs with four ethernet ports so one plugs into the Virgin V6 box giving that internet connection and the other plugs into my smart TV for CTV services.

[Pegscratch]

Are you 100% sure it's the provision to your property that is going down, and not the godawful hub?

[Gren]

techiedave said:

I think that the ability to record several channels at once on the V6 box is because it can route via broadband ?
Hence why you need either a wifi or ethernet connection to the hub

When we got ours fitted I was told that the internet link was for on demand as well as the programme guide. I think everything else comes down the cable plugged into the back of the V6

[ninepoint2]

Jimboka said:

Wrong, Virgin are pretty well the only (common) ones who aren’t rebadged Openreach

Is that true if the customer is not on Virgin's fibre network?

[Chuffedmonkey]

ninepoint2 said:

Is that true if the customer is not on Virgin's fibre network?

Yes Virgin have their own network. It runs on fibre to the cab (FTTC) then coax to the house or Fibre direct to the home/Premises (FTTP).

Virgin wont don't use open reach for your home TV or broadband its all their own network.

[ninepoint2]

Chuffedmonkey said:

Yes Virgin have their own network. It runs on fibre to the cab (FTTC) then coax to the house or Fibre direct to the home/Premises (FTTP).

Virgin wont don't use open reach for your home TV or broadband its all their own network.

Thanks for clarifying, a few years ago we were with Virgin in a non cabled area and they rented the delivery infrastructure from BT, guess times change.

[Chuffedmonkey]

ninepoint2 said:

Thanks for clarifying, a few years ago we were with Virgin in a non cabled area and they rented the delivery infrastructure from BT, guess times change.

They did offer services through the Openreach network many years ago and was classed as off net as it was not on Virgins own network. The internet speeds where what BT, SKY etc offered at the time. The customer base got sold to Talk Talk to if I remember correctly,

It only offered Internet and phone but no TV services.