[WXC/VFX] Change to Xnet?

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xlinknz

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#260008 1-Oct-2009 10:54

I'm still with them [although I was very close to leaving a few times] so for the moment I'm happy
I don't use VFX so I am on River despite being restricted to adsl1 speeds

As others stated I like pay for what you use and also their call centre is pretty good imho

As much as TCNZ is now tempting if no one supported the competition there wouldn't be any !

RWeb

11 posts

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#260230 1-Oct-2009 16:44

They have been just fine with me - use it as both the phone/internet and fast downloads during the evening (unlike Orcon).

jesterpaul

98 posts

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#261549 6-Oct-2009 10:43

I have stuck with Xnet as I'm not home in the evenings most days anyway, and the dollar value is good, as is the VFX VoIP phone. However if you want good speeds don't choose Xnet!

These are my experiences:

-International has never streamed flash video for me without repeated rebuffering at busy times: ever.
-Local used to be fine, but I also found that on several evenings over the last week or two that even national speeds were down from my usual 5 - 6 Mbps to about 1! Seems ok at the moment however

ADSL2+ and Fusion myth:

I have Fusion and my modem handshakes with ADSL2+ mode. I have only 9db attenuation (downstream) and 4db (upstream) as the cabinet is just down the road on the corner of Victor and Holly St, Avondale.

However they (or Telecom) have cranked the SNR to 23db so my sync speed is maxed at 7547 Mbps (if I switch to ADSL (G.DMT) my sync actually increases to 7616 Kbps!). So my experience is that they throttle ADSL2+ for Fusion users as well. My line would do in the order of 20 Mbps if they let it.

Bear in mind too that ADSL2+ is really of no benefit for any international traffic, as Xnet won't give you enough ustream to ever make use of it anyway.

RWeb

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#261562 6-Oct-2009 11:06

jesterpaul: I have stuck with Xnet as I'm not home in the evenings most days anyway, and the dollar value is good, as is the VFX VoIP phone. However if you want good speeds don't choose Xnet!

These are my experiences:

-International has never streaned flash video for me at busy times: ever.
-Local used to be fine, but I also found that on several evenings over the last week or two that even national speeds were down from my usual 5 - 6 Mbps to about 1! Seems ok at the moment however

ADSL2+ and Fusion myth:

I have Fusion and my modem handshakes with ADSL2+ mode. I have only 9db attenuation (downstream) and 4db (upstream) as the cabinet is just down the road on the corner of Victor and Holly St, Avondale.

However they (or Telecom) have cranked the SNR to 23db so my sync speed is maxed at 7547 Mbps (if I switch to ADSL (G.DMT) my sync actually increases to 7616 Kbps!). So my experience is that they throttle ADSL2+ for Fusion users as well. My line would do in the order of 20 Mbps if they let it.

Bear in mind too that ADSL2+ is really of no benefit for any international traffic, as Xnet won't give you enough ustream to ever make use of it anyway.

If that's true, that's S**t - and how cheeky of ANY company raising the SNR just to reduce the linespeed. I wonder if they'll ever have aftermarket SNR filters to clean up the noise :) Instead of Pimp-My-Ride, we'll have Pimp-My-Modem!

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#261571 6-Oct-2009 11:20

Further on ADSL2+ and speeds:

I should qualify something here. I spoke to a guy on their support desk before and had been left with the impression that this was beyond their control. However I just called them again, and the bloke I spoke to this time has sent a request to Telecom to alter my SNR profile. So we will see in a few hours if my speeds improve,.

So I might have been a bit unfair to Xnet regarding the Fusion ADSL2+ situation (but then if the first turkey I spoke with had known his job this would not have been the case).

I repeat however, that even if I can get ADSL2+ speeds on my line, it won't solve the international peak time bottleneck and Youtube will still be interrupted with buffering.

Will update when I log into my modem tomorrow

insane

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#261891 6-Oct-2009 23:23

jesterpaul:
ADSL2+ and Fusion myth:

I have Fusion and my modem handshakes with ADSL2+ mode. I have only 9db attenuation (downstream) and 4db (upstream) as the cabinet is just down the road on the corner of Victor and Holly St, Avondale.

However they (or Telecom) have cranked the SNR to 23db so my sync speed is maxed at 7547 Mbps (if I switch to ADSL (G.DMT) my sync actually increases to 7616 Kbps!). So my experience is that they throttle ADSL2+ for Fusion users as well. My line would do in the order of 20 Mbps if they let it.

There are many xnet users getting ADSL2+ speeds on Fusion, some modems, particularily those using a texas instruments chipset (think linksys) sync at DSL1 rates even when connected to a ADSL2+ exchange which has the correct profile etc etc, best option is to make sure you're using a modem that uses a modern broadcom chipset (dynalink, some DSE modems).

*NOT TO BE FOLLOWED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES*

You can put in 10m of phone extention cord to reduce your SNR, its a dirty hack but can help you. Some Broadcome based modems (as above) also allow you to tweak this SNR setting yourself (google DMT tool)

*NOT TO BE FOLLOWED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES*

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#261899 7-Oct-2009 00:08

insane:
jesterpaul:
ADSL2+ and Fusion myth:

I have Fusion and my modem handshakes with ADSL2+ mode. I have only 9db attenuation (downstream) and 4db (upstream) as the cabinet is just down the road on the corner of Victor and Holly St, Avondale.

However they (or Telecom) have cranked the SNR to 23db so my sync speed is maxed at 7547 Mbps (if I switch to ADSL (G.DMT) my sync actually increases to 7616 Kbps!). So my experience is that they throttle ADSL2+ for Fusion users as well. My line would do in the order of 20 Mbps if they let it.

There are many xnet users getting ADSL2+ speeds on Fusion, some modems, particularily those using a texas instruments chipset (think linksys) sync at DSL1 rates even when connected to a ADSL2+ exchange which has the correct profile etc etc, best option is to make sure you're using a modem that uses a modern broadcom chipset (dynalink, some DSE modems).

*NOT TO BE FOLLOWED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES*

You can put in 10m of phone extention cord to reduce your SNR, its a dirty hack but can help you. Some Broadcome based modems (as above) also allow you to tweak this SNR setting yourself (google DMT tool)

*NOT TO BE FOLLOWED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES*

Interesting feedback. I have D-Link DSL-504T modem. I'll have to google the chipset on that one. I have a Dynalink 1 port 1320 so will try that as well. I will try the extension cable trick, as my current set up is with a 1 m cable as pe usual wizdom and see how these things affect it.

I note no change at all in SNR or sync speed since this morning when I was told they would adjust my speed profile.

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Niel

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#262031 7-Oct-2009 13:19

From memory the 504T will do ADSL2+ speed, but Telecom's own performance testing of modems commonly used in NZ shows that the RTA1320 is one of the best performing modems (when ADSL2+ was launched).

The "+" means double bandwidth where as ADSL2 (without "+") has the same bandwidth as ADSL1.

The difference between ADSL1 and ADSL2 is that ADSL1 modems transmit at maximum power where as ADSL2 modems negotiate with the exchange and lowers power to maintain a good connection. The advantage of this is that you reduce crosstalk with neighbouring lines and so improves SNR. I guess the adjustment/tweak is to force negotiating a higher transmit power level.

(I'm an electronic engineer.) Texas Instruments make very good, high quality chipsets for many types of applications. The issue is that documentation is poor unless you form a partnership with them to get the "inside info". So the chipset is good, but most modem manufacturers do not know how to implement it properly.

You can never have enough Volvos!

Ragnor

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#262084 7-Oct-2009 15:09

Yeah but don't expect a RTA1320 to last more than a year, they have a reputation for running too hot and dying.

The DSE XH9949 is a re-badged TP Link TD-8840 using the solid broadcom chipset, $69 cheap as.
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/XH9949

Apparently you can run the TP Link firmware on it which is newer, prettier and has a few extra features over the DSE firmware.

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#262095 7-Oct-2009 15:31

Ragnor: Yeah but don't expect a RTA1320 to last more than a year, they have a reputation for running too hot and dying.

The DSE XH9949 is a re-badged TP Link TD-8840 using the solid broadcom chipset, $69 cheap as.
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/XH9949

Apparently you can run the TP Link firmware on it which is newer, prettier and has a few extra features over the DSE firmware.

Which begs the question, why not just gert a TP Link cheap on trademe?

enforcernz

30 posts

Geek

#262207 7-Oct-2009 18:39

I have been with xnet for over 2 years and have finally left back to Telecom. Speeds have been poor but the offset was the 75GB off peak on the Torrent plan. Speed has gotten really bad over the pas 6 months and I never even came close to using my data cap. Streaming is a big issue for them doesnt really matter if its in new zealand or overseas you still need to go make ya self a coffee and sit back and wait. Im not a big fan of Telecom but if you pay the big bucks expect to get some good speeds. I joined on the business 60 plan with static IP, Im getting speeds up 17Mb from a road side cabinet!!! A far cry from the 1-2Mb a few weeks ago. If your looking to for a cheap service then xnet is good, but if you are expecting good speeds and reliability I would steer clear of xnet.

Ragnor

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#262282 7-Oct-2009 23:54

jesterpaul:

Which begs the question, why not just gert a TP Link cheap on trademe?

I agree just get whichever is cheaper, the DSE used to be cheaper but I can see on priceyspy there are few places selling the TP Link at <$60.

I'm not a fan of buying computer parts from trademe given you have no recourse at all if something goes wrong and the saving is usually minimal.

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