[WXC/VFX] Latest speedtest results - a new low (amazingly things were actually able to get _worse

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Latest speedtest results - a new low (amazingly things were actually able to get _worse_)

Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#28271 24-Nov-2008 19:50

Local:

Sydney:

- truly appalling, and re-checked twice.

Japan: Japan speedtest

L.A.:

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

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11 posts

Geek

#180045 24-Nov-2008 20:09

FFS, yes I meant that, dammit. Even loading this page and logging in took almost 2 friggin minutes.

DID X-NET ACTUALLY GO AND SELL OFF EQUIPMENT AND BANDWIDTH TO COVER LOSSES OR SOMETHING...????????????

I'm the friggin D!CKFACE now for all my family and friends that I recommended this ISP are looking at me asking why I did this in the first place. I'm so FED UP I CAN SPEW, dammit.

I KNOW it wont help - I'm beyond caring or hoping things will improve, 'cause they probably won't. I DARE X-NET to prove me wrong.

I have access to other VPN and proxies and I can compare apples with apples when it comes to testing speeds or just trying to get that 34MB add-on for my games.
XNET - 5 minutes ago: download from nogripracing.com @ 3.43KB/s <--- yes that is KiloBytes..
Via work proxy - 2 minutes ago: same friggin file at 95KB/Sec...

BUY MORE INTERNATIONAL BANDWIDTH NOOOOOWWWW.

.

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#180046 24-Nov-2008 20:11

What speed does your modem sync to the DSLAM at?

If this is low refer to this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=49&TopicId=27834 for sorting this out.

If your physical connection is sound (as I suspect) check that you don't have any of the following when conducting your tests:

Other computers on the network
a wireless connection that is unsecured (best disable any wireless and connect computer and moidem with Ethernet cable)
any downloads od p2p software running
spyware on your PC (If you have windows close all programs then open Command Prompt and type netstat -b to see if there are any suspicious / unexpected TCP connections happening)

If all is clear there, I'd call Xnet to lodge this. It's even woprse than I get. For me the Auckland server always connects at about 6000Kbps, and only International ones at peak times are slow.

marmel

1924 posts

Uber Geek

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Trusted

#180058 24-Nov-2008 20:50

I feel for you dude, nothing more frustrating than crap dsl speeds but why not add a reply to one of the gazillion xnet speed threads instead of starting yet another.

Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180062 24-Nov-2008 21:19

jesterpaul: What speed does your modem sync to the DSLAM at?

If this is low refer to this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=49&TopicId=27834 for sorting this out.

If your physical connection is sound (as I suspect) check that you don't have any of the following when conducting your tests:

Other computers on the network
a wireless connection that is unsecured (best disable any wireless and connect computer and moidem with Ethernet cable)
any downloads od p2p software running
spyware on your PC (If you have windows close all programs then open Command Prompt and type netstat -b to see if there are any suspicious / unexpected TCP connections happening)
If all is clear there, I'd call Xnet to lodge this. It's even woprse than I get. For me the Auckland server always connects at about 6000Kbps, and only International ones at peak times are slow.

Well can I live where you are please? BTW - my modem reports ADSL Speed (DS/US) 5280/864 Kbps so it's Xnet at fault. Nothing else. They're utter crap.

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

portege

188 posts

Master Geek

#180065 24-Nov-2008 21:26

Is there anyway to increase the speed your modem connects to the DSLAM? My seems to be connected at DS Speed 1792 Kbps

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#180069 24-Nov-2008 21:40

Baboon:

Well can I live where you are please? BTW - my modem reports ADSL Speed (DS/US) 5280/864 Kbps so it's Xnet at fault. Nothing else. They're utter crap.

Well your syc speed's only a tad below mine, so the issue isn't related to location. You didn't answer whether you have eliminated the other points I made. Any of these going on can really kill your speedtest resluts (I'll aassume from your comment that these aspects are all in order?).

portege:
Is there anyway to increase the speed your modem connects to the DSLAM? My seems to be connected at DS Speed 1792 Kbps

Depends.

Check http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=49&TopicId=27834 for the troubleshooting you can do..

First thing to start with is an isolation test: bsically start with a short cable (3 m or less) plugged direcvtly between the modem and the wall phone socket, and remove EVERYTHING else from the phone line anywhere in the premises (other phones, faxes, Sky TV modem, alarm system, even the ADSL line filters etc). Then check again. If it improves then the problem is with something you connect to the line. If not read up on factors that affect ADSL performance over a phone line in that article

Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180089 24-Nov-2008 22:37

jesterpaul:
Baboon:

Well can I live where you are please? BTW - my modem reports ADSL Speed (DS/US) 5280/864 Kbps so it's Xnet at fault. Nothing else. They're utter crap.

Well your syc speed's only a tad below mine, so the issue isn't related to location. You didn't answer whether you have eliminated the other points I made. Any of these going on can really kill your speedtest resluts (I'll aassume from your comment that these aspects are all in order?).

I'm on a Mac, so no spyware or viruses or any unusual network traffic. It would be hard to miss that there's other traffic causing congestion as I'm constantly watching network traffic via monitor program. Nor am I running unsecured WiFi (please don't remind me that some people are this painfully clueless - I'm annoyed enough as it is) which I only use for my Nintendo DS. My main Mac is connected via ethernet. It is Xnet that is the problem.

Frankly at this point I think they should fire everyone, sell everything and divide the proceeds amongst their customers. That's the only way anything good can come out of this.

...ok, I'm kidding. But it is Xnet that is the problem here. They suck and cannot/will not fix the problem. It's been dragging on for months now :-(

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

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phindmarsh

117 posts

Master Geek

#180091 24-Nov-2008 22:41

...So... change providers.

Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180093 24-Nov-2008 22:49

phindmarsh: ...So... change providers.

And go to where? I'm on naked DSL. My options are limited and I'm told I'd have to be offline for a week to change back to a regular voiceline + ADSL. I can't afford to be without the 'net or phone (I use VoIP, but not VFX since it requires crap Linksys gear) for that long.

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#180103 24-Nov-2008 23:09

Sorry if my suggestions seemed like an insult to the intelligence. Your posts didn't contyain information that eliminated the computer questions and as someone who has worked ADSL support desk and still works in the industry (Australian ISP though), I can tell you these things are often overlooked.

You definitely have sympathy from me as a fellow Mac user, and also on their Naked DSL. I suggest you call them, as my speeds, while inadequate, is not as bad as yours.

Just one last question (I forgot to ask before): Are you on the Torrent or PPM plan? The torrent one is completely useless. PPM is better, although in my view still substandard. There ais not much you can do to get the torrent plan issue changed (apart from switch to PPM). There are numerous threads on this isue already.

Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180108 24-Nov-2008 23:23

jesterpaul: Sorry if my suggestions seemed like an insult to the intelligence. Your posts didn't contyain information that eliminated the computer questions and as someone who has worked ADSL support desk and still works in the industry (Australian ISP though), I can tell you these things are often overlooked.

You definitely have sympathy from me as a fellow Mac user, and also on their Naked DSL. I suggest you call them, as my speeds, while inadequate, is not as bad as yours.

Just one last question (I forgot to ask before): Are you on the Torrent or PPM plan? The torrent one is completely useless. PPM is better, although in my view still substandard. There ais not much you can do to get the torrent plan issue changed (apart from switch to PPM). There are numerous threads on this isue already.

No, you're right to ask the questions you did. I'm just in a foul, foul mood, is all and not liable to be very reasonable. Spending the day fighting my useless connection in order to get work done has not been fun.

As for the Torrent plan - nope. I was, but I switched back to PPM a few weeks ago. Now my connection is just dog slow with frequent packet loss (as opposed to being totally unusable under the Torrent plan) internationally which causes some really annoying DNS errors (I do not use Xnet's DNS servers for reasons I won't bore you with right now), amongst other highly annoying problems.

I truly pity anyone still on the Torrent plan - even Torrents are unusable in any practical sense. The Torrent plan is an utter joke. I feel really sorry for the poor sods joining Xnet right now and choosing the Torrent plan. What must they think? *shakes head*

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

Ragnor

8222 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#180109 24-Nov-2008 23:29

Naked DSL is bleeding edge, there's a saying that goes "if you don't want to be cut don't play with the bleeding edge".

Anyway I know a few people that changed from Naked DSL back to a regular copper phone line and DSL. They had almost no downtime on their phone line (<1 day) and betweeen 3-5 days downtime on DSL.

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#180114 24-Nov-2008 23:47

Ragnor: Naked DSL is bleeding edge, there's a saying that goes "if you don't want to be cut don't play with the bleeding edge".

While it's true that Naked DSL is new in NZ, the ADSL technology is the same (it's just the X Pair has been disconnected from the voice network), and it should perform no differently than a standard FS/FS ADSL over POTS service from the same provider.

Ragnor: Anyway I know a few people that changed from Naked DSL back to a regular copper phone line and DSL. They had almost no downtime their your phone line (<1 day) and betweeen 3-5 days downtime on DSL.

I looked into doing this, but have decided to stay with Xnet until I move house next year as it's such a cheap service. In order to get all the downloads and voice services I currently get, with a player that provides decent international bandwidth all day (Telstra Clear, Maxnet, Inspire, Telecom and even to some extent Vodafone/ihug) would cost me about $40 month ($20 with Vodafone ihug) more than I'm currently paying, before higher phone call rates and contracts that bind me (I got onto Xnet before the contracts came into force)

I did look at Slingshots' "Next Big Thing" ADSL2+ plans, but they too have speed issue and traffic manage P2P anyway, so it's the same old story: you pay for what you get.

While I'm not happy with Xnet performance, I'm not so unhappy that I'd pay that much more to avoid the inconvenience either.

coffeebaron

6234 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#180135 25-Nov-2008 08:37

Baboon, it looks like you do have an issue with your DSL connection. The local speedtest and your complaints of packet loss very much indicate this. I do recall you ditched VFX in the beginning for Skype due to issues your were having then. Did you follow through and get these issues resolved?

A slow local speedtest result is usually an indication of one of the following:
-congestion at the exchange (Telecom Wholesale issue)
-a fault with the DSL equipment (Telecom Wholesale issue)
-a fault with the phone cabling (Telecom Wholesale or your own house cabling)
-a faulty ADSL router (your issue)
-handover links etc to ISP (an ISP issue - Xnet does not have an issue here)

I suggest you phone Xnet and get this issue sorted

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Baboon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180144 25-Nov-2008 09:19

coffeebaron: Baboon, it looks like you do have an issue with your DSL connection. The local speedtest and your complaints of packet loss very much indicate this. I do recall you ditched VFX in the beginning for Skype due to issues your were having then. Did you follow through and get these issues resolved?

The issues then were that the Linksys gear VFX required was incompatible with my ZyXEL ADSL router (since replaced with a Dynalink model), and that using JUST linksys gear (all-in-one ADSL modem/phone adaptor/router/WiFi) didn't meet my needs. Even Linksys's own support could not tell me how to configure QoS/bandwidth management (a necessity given I like to run several network services at once and assign different priorities to each) so it would work. In short the Linksys gear was crap.

A slow local speedtest result is usually an indication of one of the following:
-congestion at the exchange (Telecom Wholesale issue)

If it is it's an issue not brought up after numerous complaints to Xnet and one investigation by Telecom that solved another issue. Plus I get a FAST speedtest result using Xnet's own test. But anywhere else right now gives a slow result.

-a fault with the DSL equipment (Telecom Wholesale issue)

See above.

-a fault with the phone cabling (Telecom Wholesale or your own house cabling)

This was tested several times when Telecom was tracking down a problem a few months ago.

-a faulty ADSL router (your issue)

In a process of elimination (above problem a few months ago) I switched routers. BTW - after said problem was resolved for a brief shining moment I had decent speeds again. Then started experiencing severe network congestion issues that many, many people here have suffered from.

-handover links etc to ISP (an ISP issue - Xnet does not have an issue here)

If that is the case it affects a lot more people than myself (which is evident from complaints here).

I suggest you phone Xnet and get this issue sorted

What makes you think I've not complained bitterly every step of the way as Xnet's service has turned to custard over the months? Xnet are investigating... AGAIN.

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

- Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

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