Thinking of switching to Spark Fibre from Voyager, have some questions for current Spark users

Forums › Voyager › Thinking of switching to Spark Fibre from Voyager, have some questions for current Spark users

nzpaul

72 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#236040 14-May-2018 19:50

Hi all,

I have been on Voyager for years, and am happy with them, but the current deal for Spark is very appealing ($300 account credit, plus 6 months Netflix) for the unlimited data Fibre100 $95/month ($105 - $10 / month). I have some questions.

How much does it cost to have a static IP on spark (its free on Voyager)?

How is Spark's pairing with Youtube? Voyager has been sub-par in the past, but improving.

Can anyone tell me their ping times (residential fibre) to 1.1.1.1 and 9.9.9.9 ?

I would ask about traffic shaping ... but looks like thats a definitive NO.

If I go with this bundle, do you know if ...

... I still eligible for the $10/month bundle discount (my wife has a Spark $59/month mobile plan, we can sign up in her name)?

... I still eligible for the $50 online sign up credit?

... Is there any catch with the "Upgrade to Ultra Fibre100 for no additional cost**"

Lastly, any issues I should know about using Spark?

If it makes a difference, I am in Christchurch.

Many thanks :)

---

Voyager UFB. 100/20mb connection.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2016032 14-May-2018 20:17

You do realise that using 3rd party DNS servers could be responsible for poor YouTube (or content from any CDN for that matter) performance? Akamai in particular still performs badly if you choose to use 3rd party DNS severs and not your RSP's.

nzpaul

72 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#2016038 14-May-2018 20:33

sbiddle:

You do realise that using 3rd party DNS servers could be responsible for poor YouTube (or content from any CDN for that matter) performance? Akamai in particular still performs badly if you choose to use 3rd party DNS severs and not your RSP's.

Absolutely. I am not using a 3rd party DNS in any case because Voyager's pings to them are abysmal, but I would like the option.

Voyager's has historically been awful with Youtube. Terrible in fact. They have, as far as I know, just recently officially paired with Youtube and have a local cache server (or whatever they are calling it) and it has improved.

---

Voyager UFB. 100/20mb connection.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2016047 14-May-2018 21:03

Auckland VDSL, 4/8ms profile

1 * * *
2 * * *
3 ae8-10.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.116.5) 21.246 ms 31.687 ms 24.526 ms
4 ae2-6.tkbr12.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.17) 23.877 ms 23.038 ms 23.233 ms
5 ae3-9.akbr7.global-gateway.net.nz (202.50.232.89) 44.552 ms 46.335 ms 44.568 ms
6 122.56.119.86 (122.56.119.86) 46.460 ms 45.074 ms 44.904 ms
7 13335.syd.equinix.com (45.127.172.154) 48.105 ms 49.795 ms *
8 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (1.1.1.1) 47.791 ms 45.988 ms 47.357 ms

1 * * *
2 * * *
3 ae8-10.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.116.5) 23.414 ms 23.002 ms 24.339 ms
4 ae2-6.tkbr12.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.17) 23.242 ms 23.951 ms 22.823 ms
5 xe1-0-6.sebr3.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.119.74) 44.384 ms 46.961 ms 45.583 ms
6 122.56.119.86 (122.56.119.86) 45.232 ms 45.218 ms 44.816 ms
7 42.syd.equinix.com (45.127.172.68) 48.514 ms 54.281 ms 47.976 ms
8 dns.quad9.net (9.9.9.9) 46.493 ms 46.152 ms 46.073 ms

both peer at EQ, so near identical.

We have a ton of google content nodes, as does most big rsps.

Grain of salt given my workplace and all, but running duallines... vodafone vs spark, i see the spark content servers being faster and more consistent in throughput.

oh, and shaping... none.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

firefuze

510 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2016050 14-May-2018 21:19

If I go with this bundle, do you know if ...

... I still eligible for the $10/month bundle discount (my wife has a Spark $59/month mobile plan, we can sign up in her name)?

Yes, but the mobile must be on the same account as your fibre connection to be eligible for Bundle Up Bonus (so can't have the mobile in her name and the broadband in your name)

... I still eligible for the $50 online sign up credit?

If it adds itself to the online cart/checkout, then yes

... Is there any catch with the "Upgrade to Ultra Fibre100 for no additional cost**"

It is a rolling monthly credit of $10 per month, it lasts for 12 months then normal 100/20 pricing applies, or you can move to 30/10 or potentially look at re-signing your term again

VygrNetworkMonkey

181 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 193

Trusted

Voyager

Lifetime subscriber

#2016088 14-May-2018 23:18

nzpaul:

Hi all,

I have been on Voyager for years, and am happy with them, but the current deal for Spark is very appealing ($300 account credit, plus 6 months Netflix) for the unlimited data Fibre100 $95/month ($105 - $10 / month). I have some questions.

How much does it cost to have a static IP on spark (its free on Voyager)?

How is Spark's pairing with Youtube? Voyager has been sub-par in the past, but improving.

Can anyone tell me their ping times (residential fibre) to 1.1.1.1 and 9.9.9.9 ?

I would ask about traffic shaping ... but looks like thats a definitive NO.

If I go with this bundle, do you know if ...

... I still eligible for the $10/month bundle discount (my wife has a Spark $59/month mobile plan, we can sign up in her name)?

... I still eligible for the $50 online sign up credit?

... Is there any catch with the "Upgrade to Ultra Fibre100 for no additional cost**"

Lastly, any issues I should know about using Spark?

If it makes a difference, I am in Christchurch.

Many thanks :)

Hi @nzpaul

Can you define abysmal?

My pings are as follows (from CHC Voyager UFB - AKL would be about 18ms less)

Host Loss% Snt Last Avg Best Wrst StDev
1. 10.10.10.1 0.0% 14 1.8 1.9 1.7 2.6 0.2
2. lo-vprn-100.br1.chc.vygr.net 0.0% 14 3.4 3.6 2.9 3.8 0.2
3. ae-0-337.cr1.chc.vygr.net 0.0% 14 3.6 3.6 3.2 4.2 0.2
4. xe-0-0-0-0.cr2.per.vygr.net 0.0% 14 4.0 4.6 3.8 10.2 1.8
5. 114.23.16.243 0.0% 14 20.1 23.4 19.6 47.7 7.6
6. as13335.auckland.megaport.com 0.0% 14 20.0 24.0 19.6 48.1 9.9
7. 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com 0.0% 14 19.9 21.6 19.7 42.2 5.9

Host Loss% Snt Last Avg Best Wrst StDev

1. 10.10.10.1 0.0% 12 1.8 1.9 1.6 2.1 0.1
2. lo-vprn-100.br1.chc.vygr.net 0.0% 12 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.7 0.1
3. ae-0-337.cr1.chc.vygr.net 0.0% 12 11.6 5.7 3.5 20.0 5.0
4. xe-0-0-0-0.cr2.per.vygr.net 0.0% 11 4.0 5.0 3.7 13.6 2.9
5. 114.23.16.243 0.0% 11 19.9 19.9 19.6 20.6 0.3
6. as42.auckland.megaport.com 0.0% 11 46.8 49.1 46.3 74.9 8.6
7. dns.quad9.net 0.0% 11 45.8 45.8 45.7 46.0 0.1

Voyager has Netflix and Google caches (youtube etc) - so you shouldn't be having issues with the service.
As someone has already mentioned, setting your DNS differently would cause problems getting to a local cache.

If you're seeing values different to mine, flick me a PM with the details and I can see whats up with it.

Voyager Internet - Network Monkey

nzpaul

72 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#2016157 15-May-2018 09:52

VygrNetworkMonkey:

Voyager has Netflix and Google caches (youtube etc) - so you shouldn't be having issues with the service.
As someone has already mentioned, setting your DNS differently would cause problems getting to a local cache.

Its fine now. It used to be terrible. At the time I was working with Youtube professionally. Sometimes it was a struggle to get videos to stream on HD. It was not that long ago that a Voyager engineer told me they were getting the youtube/goog cache installed.

---

Voyager UFB. 100/20mb connection.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2016187 15-May-2018 10:37

hio77:

Auckland VDSL, 4/8ms profile

1 * * *
2 * * *
3 ae8-10.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.116.5) 21.246 ms 31.687 ms 24.526 ms
4 ae2-6.tkbr12.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.17) 23.877 ms 23.038 ms 23.233 ms
5 ae3-9.akbr7.global-gateway.net.nz (202.50.232.89) 44.552 ms 46.335 ms 44.568 ms
6 122.56.119.86 (122.56.119.86) 46.460 ms 45.074 ms 44.904 ms
7 13335.syd.equinix.com (45.127.172.154) 48.105 ms 49.795 ms *
8 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (1.1.1.1) 47.791 ms 45.988 ms 47.357 ms

1 * * *
2 * * *
3 ae8-10.akbr6.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.116.5) 23.414 ms 23.002 ms 24.339 ms
4 ae2-6.tkbr12.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.127.17) 23.242 ms 23.951 ms 22.823 ms
5 xe1-0-6.sebr3.global-gateway.net.nz (122.56.119.74) 44.384 ms 46.961 ms 45.583 ms
6 122.56.119.86 (122.56.119.86) 45.232 ms 45.218 ms 44.816 ms
7 42.syd.equinix.com (45.127.172.68) 48.514 ms 54.281 ms 47.976 ms
8 dns.quad9.net (9.9.9.9) 46.493 ms 46.152 ms 46.073 ms

both peer at EQ, so near identical.

We have a ton of google content nodes, as does most big rsps.

Grain of salt given my workplace and all, but running duallines... vodafone vs spark, i see the spark content servers being faster and more consistent in throughput.

oh, and shaping... none.

So Spark have probably NZs worst results to both servers.

Anybody with an RSP with good peering in AKL would be seeing both as local traffic. Quad9 is also available on WIX.

networkn

Networkn
32864 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15454

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2016190 15-May-2018 10:38

nzpaul:

sbiddle:

You do realise that using 3rd party DNS servers could be responsible for poor YouTube (or content from any CDN for that matter) performance? Akamai in particular still performs badly if you choose to use 3rd party DNS severs and not your RSP's.

Absolutely. I am not using a 3rd party DNS in any case because Voyager's pings to them are abysmal, but I would like the option.

Voyager's has historically been awful with Youtube. Terrible in fact. They have, as far as I know, just recently officially paired with Youtube and have a local cache server (or whatever they are calling it) and it has improved.

I've been with Voyager for about 3 Years. I have a fair number of clients with them. I have never heard one word or complaint about youtube, not have I ever experienced issues.

nzpaul

72 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#2016194 15-May-2018 10:53

networkn:

I've been with Voyager for about 3 Years. I have a fair number of clients with them. I have never heard one word or complaint about youtube, not have I ever experienced issues.

Look, I am not trying to black mouth Voyager. I enjoyed my time with Voyager, I like their tech support, I got good speeds, I use a number of other services they offer and I would be happy to recommend them to anyone and may one day go back.

---

Voyager UFB. 100/20mb connection.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2016217 15-May-2018 11:42

sbiddle:

So Spark have probably NZs worst results to both servers.

Anybody with an RSP with good peering in AKL would be seeing both as local traffic. Quad9 is also available on WIX.

Latency wise, considering it goes to AU. Yes.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.