ok - Got Virgin coming next week to give me TV and Broadband (already have phone) so anything I should look out for in terms of installation etc?

They are currently coming to do a wired installation and I'm not overly keen on having cables everywhere - phone is OK as this is currently next to the existing cable box outside but the TV is at the back of the house (so preumably cables will need to be routed round or under) and the computer is upstairs against an internal wall (again so I guess cables will need to be routed round and through).

Also re the computer what are peoples thoughts re wireless? If I have a router next to the phone downstairs it'll need to go through four solid walls (House built in 1926) plus floorboards etc. to get to the computer. OK or not?

And finally if wireless is the way to go should I go for Virgin's own or order from Ebuyer etc.? and if the latter any recommendations?

Cheers for any input

You may well struggle through the walls in an old house. They don't make them like they used too.

As for the router, if the price is better get it online.

Virgins own is Netgear so not the worst in the world.

Regarding the installation just make sure you get what you have ordered. Also bear in mind that they have a set number of installs a day so may cut corners.

Last time they replaced my cable modem and then told me to ring up to get activated but that shouldn't apply to you. Just watch out.

You don't say whether you are having the V+ box or not but it is pretty good.

I'd miss Sky One too much to have Virgin...

Virgin have been pretty good for me, and even when 'down' which is rarely, you get told, and the downtime is minimal.

Thumbs up here for Virgin as well .... I am moving from sky to take advantage of the package options of Virgin ( I have already had broadband from them for a couple of years now with no problems whatsoever).

As far as I can see the loss of sky one can easily be made up from downloads of popular programs.

As far as things to look out for on installation ..... only thing I can think of is to make sure the tech leaves you plenty of cable for any future room movements if you dont go wireless.

Credit were it's due and all that.

I have never had a problem with Virgin/NTL, it's performed perfect for about 5 years now.

Once there was a problem caused by Welsh water taking out a cable near me, but it was sorted as soon as they could.

I hear a lot more people complaining about BT/ADSL connections ( usually line faults though) than Virgin ones, that said my workconnection is DSL a that has always been good.

One little bad point though is when you ring them it's possible your arm may go dead from waiting on the phone for so long. But you shouldn't need to ring them as it's a good service.

OK cheers for the feedback guys - I'll keep an eye out for them cutting corners on the installatin and maybe hang fire on wireless until I know it's all working and ca check out the signal path somehow.

the installs are contracted out now days. I wrote the current kpi report, all i can say is make sure its done to standard, make sure no corners are cut and dont go wireless. The guy who does the install will get measured on early life failures if you ring up with a problem in the first week so it makes sense for them to do a good job but as already said your install seems a tad time consuming.

The call waiting times have certainly been improved in the last year or so from what i can see. As far as the network i think a lot of it depends on the area, some are better than others.