Is downloading Email from xtra slow?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Is downloading Email from xtra slow?

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#130930 2-Oct-2013 20:45

Hi there,

I don't know if this is something that has happened recently or I just haven't noticed it before.
I'm on VDSL and my download test speed with Telecom is 32Mb/s. I'm receiving email on pop3.xtra.co.nz using ssl.
My family (overseas) have been sending me a lot of pictures and usually each email is about 12 MB in size.
The problem is they download slowly peaking at just 314KB/s so it can take some time to receive them all.
So I'm just wondering if this speed is normal for xtra email or is there a problem I should be investigating.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

PeterReader

6018 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#906684 2-Oct-2013 20:45

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

These links are referral codes: Sharesies | Mighty Ape

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#906698 2-Oct-2013 20:49

Ask them to send smaller pictures 12MB is quite large

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#906702 2-Oct-2013 21:03

If I wanted smaller/low resolution pictures then your answer is perfect but no thanks, it's not the size that is the issue it's the speed.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#907015 3-Oct-2013 12:33

BrutusNZ: If I wanted smaller/low resolution pictures then your answer is perfect but no thanks, it's not the size that is the issue it's the speed.

Xtra email is actually Yahoo mail

Yahoo mail is an appaulingly bad service. Just be glad its working at all.

use dropbox or google drive or whatever instead.

Inphinity

2780 posts

Uber Geek

#907164 3-Oct-2013 14:41

I get reasonable speeds out of it, tbh, though I rarely have large enough attachments to notice if it's much over 1MB/sec... but really, 12 MB attachments on email? *boggle* Seems akin to trying to ship a dining suite in a DLE envelope :P

Oblivian

7296 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#907211 3-Oct-2013 15:40

As stated, teach them skydrive :)

Or use the webmail interface. See the thumbs then load direct from server instead of via the pop box