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General broadband FAQs

• First up, what is broadband?
• What makes Virgin Broadband special?
• What does unlimited broadband mean?
• Can anyone get Virgin Broadband?
• What about internet security?
• What can I do with webspace?
• Can I control which sites my children see?
• Do I have to use Virgin Broadband as my Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
• What is a NIC (Network Interface card)?
• Can more than one computer use my internet connection?
• Can I connect to Virgin Broadband with any computer?

50Mb broadband FAQs

• Where is 50Mb broadband available?
• What does 50Mb broadband let you do?
• Will my old modem work with 50Mb?

50Mb and wireless broadband

• Why do I need a new wireless router?
• I'm having problems with my wireless connection - what do I do?
• Can I still receive 50Mb speeds with wireless?

First up, what is broadband?

It's like dial up's faster, cleverer, younger brother. Your computer doesn't need to make a connection to the network each time you want to use it; it's connected all the time. Plus, you can use your home phone while you're on the internet. Broadband also lets you send and receive large chunks of information faster, which is perfect if you want to send photos or download music and movie trailers.

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What makes Virgin Broadband special?

When you choose Virgin Broadband, you get:

• A fast, reliable internet connection
• Unlimited downloads as a basic right. Letting you download more music, movies and TV shows.
• Internet security features for extra peace of mind.

One more thing: it doesn't matter how far you live from the exchange. Since it's delivered by cable, your download speeds aren't affected by the distance your PC is from the telephone exchange.

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What does unlimited broadband mean?

No download limits. Unlike some of our competitors, you get unlimited downloads as a basic right so you can load up on music, films...whatever you're into.

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Can anyone get Virgin Broadband?

Yes - no problem. Our broadband service does not tie up your TV connection or phone line.

Depending on where you live, there are two ways to get Virgin Broadband:

• By fibre optic cable (on cable)
• Or down your phone line (non-cable)

Either way, you can look forward to a better service and a fairer deal. To see which one is available in your area, check your postcode now.

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What about internet security?

All our broadband packages come with top-of-the-range PCguard Total internet security to keep you and your family safe online. It includes firewall, pop-up blocker and parental control. Plus there's extra anti-virus and anti-spyware protection too. And, we'll update your software regularly.

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What can do with webspace?

Each Virgin Broadband package comes with up to 55mb of webspace to call your own. You can use it to share your photos, write a blog...or pretty much anything you like.

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Can I control which sites my children see?

Yes. You can pick and choose which sites your children can see with our Parental Control feature in PCguard Total.

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Do I have to use Virgin Media as my Internet Service Provider (ISP)?

Yes. When you order any of Virgin Broadband packages, Virgin Media automatically becomes your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

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What is a NIC (Network Interface Card)?

A Network Interface Card (NIC) connects the high-speed modem necessary for broadband to your computer via an Ethernet connection. If you do need an NIC, they can usually be bought from most high street computer shops, who will probably fit it for you as well.

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Can more than one computer use my internet connection?

If you have more than one computer at home, and you'd like them to share the same internet connection, the easiest way is to set up a wireless network in your home. You'll need a wireless router (we'll give you one for free*). Once you're set up, the whole household can get online at the same time - and there's no need for messy cables.

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Where is 50Mb broadband available?

We're busy rolling out up to 50Mb broadband across our fibre optic network, so it won't be available everywhere straight away. Currently over 8.3 million UK homes can get 50Mb, the rest of the 12.6 million UK homes covered by our fibre optic network will be ready for 50Mb by summer 2009. To find out if your street is ready now, check your postcode.

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What does 50Mb broadband let you do?

In a nutshell, you'll get a download speed of up to 50Mb, with an upload speed of up to 1.5Mb. On top of that, you can also enjoy unlimited downloads. If you want to know just how fast 50Mb lets you download, we're talking an entire music album in as little as 11 seconds; a TV show in around a minute; a high quality movie in less than 3½ minutes and a High Definition movie in around an hour. Now that's fast.

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Will my old modem work with 50Mb?

We'll give you a new, free state-of-the-art modem (designed exclusively for Virgin Media 50Mb customers) as part of your new package - we'll install it when we come around to your house. We're also offering a wireless router and adapter as part of the install so that you can maximise your wireless speed at home.

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Why do I need a new wireless router?

Your new 50Mb broadband comes with a wireless "N" router as part of your package. This not only provides greater wireless range than a standard "G" router, but coverage is also better, so the amount of 'black spots' you've experienced in the home should be reduced. When it comes to speed, only wireless "N" can support our ultra fast up to 50Mb service wirelessly. And, even when broadband speeds soar to 100Mb and over in the future, our "N" router can still handle it.

We'll also include a wireless "N" USB adapter for your PC (please note this adapter isn't compatible with Macs). This is because most PCs with built-in wireless generally only come with wireless "G" adapters - and these can normally only handle speeds of around 20Mb. So, to make sure that you can get the maximum from your 50Mb service we're throwing in the adapter too. But please remember if your computer is over 5 years old it may only support USB 1.0 devices. If this is the case, wireless performance will be limited to a maximum throughput of 8Mb.

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I'm having problems with my wireless connection - what do I do?

If you have any problems with the connection and set-up of your wireless router and/or USB adapter, our friends at Netgear will be happy to help. Simply call them on 0844 875 4000 select 'Option 1' (technical support) and then select the hidden 'Option 4' which Netgear have set up especially for Virgin Media 50MB wireless customers.

Please note: Calls to this number are charged at a 'National rate'.

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Can I still receive 50Mb speeds with wireless?

If your computer is connected to a wireless "G" router with an Ethernet cable, then yes, but this would mean that you're not actually using the service wirelessly. You'll need a wireless "N" router and a wireless "N" enabled computer to be able to get our ultra fast up to 50Mb broadband service wirelessly. If your computer doesn't already have wireless built-in, you'll need to use a wireless 'N' adapter - we'll give you one of these as part of your package.

If you use a Wireless "G" router or Wireless "G" enabled computer, your broadband service will still work, but the wireless distribution of the service will be limited to around 20-24Mb.

Because of the way wireless and broadband technology works, you might see a slight reduction in your speed when you go wireless, compared with connecting directly to your modem/router via an Ethernet cable. If you're using a USB adapter, to make sure that you're getting the best speed you can, you'll need a PC that's compatible with USB 2.0. But don't forget, to experience the full benefit of 50Mb, you'll need to connect to your broadband via an Ethernet cable.

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Can I connect to Virgin Broadband with any computer?

To use Virgin Broadband, you'll need to check that your computer is compatible.

Most are, but it's worth checking that it can deliver the internet connection speeds that our broadband service offers. Check your computer is compatible below.

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