<10mbps with VDSL

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › <10mbps with VDSL - normal?

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#133673 30-Oct-2013 12:43

Hi

The Chorus engineer that installed my VDSL line was a bit surprised to find it only running at 10/5 when he tested it, but said it should improve as the modem 'automatically' adjusts to maximise the data throughput. Or words to that effect. I'm not convinced... after 2 weeks I'm still getting *exactly* 9.9mbps, day and night, even at 5am. Seems a little weird, like there's a cap on it or something..? It's an improvement over ADSL, but not much (was getting 6 megs down before) but it's a lot less than the 15-70 that Telecom advertise. I was about to call them & figured I'd ask the geeks first ;)

BTW I'm in Lyttelton, around 10km from Christchurch, not sure how close I am to a cabinet. Any ideas if this is normal / expected?

Thanks

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Spark NZ

#924162 30-Oct-2013 12:54

Where are you measuring your speed? Do you have your modem connect rates?

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#924163 30-Oct-2013 12:56

Just ookla, via my browser. How do I get stats?

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#924169 30-Oct-2013 13:12

thanks for the quick response btw :)

ok I accessed the 'Technicolor Gateway' and got this under
Home > Broadband Connection > DSL Connection

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 4,397 / 10,587

Is that what you were asking for?

cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#924177 30-Oct-2013 13:21

Log into your modem - put 192.168.1.254 into the address bar of your browser.
I don't have the 589, but assuming it's pretty similar to my 582, do the following:
Click on Broadband Connection, then DSL connection, and then 'Details' on the top right.
Cut and paste what you see on that screen. E.g. here is mine:

Link Information
Uptime: 0 days, 13:25:58
DSL Type: ITU-T G.992.5
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 841 / 9.940

Ookla is the name of the software. Assume you're going to the Telecom speedtest site, or to speedtest.net?

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

eXDee

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#924178 30-Oct-2013 13:21

Wow. This is quite possibly the worst VDSL connection i've ever seen. I'm not sure how on earth you managed to qualify for an install and how the chorus technician walked away from that simplying saying it would improve. Unless the rules have changed?

cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#924188 30-Oct-2013 13:48

Thanks losnemo. Those stats are sufficient. The bottleneck is the actual VDSL link here. Suggest you email pl at telecom.co.nz with your line number and get him to run a line test on the line.

This is going to go one of two ways: 1) there is an issue on the line OR 2) that is as good as your line can do.

I guess everyone is hoping for (1), but it is possible that (2) could be the case.
Like eXDee says though, if that is as good as it gets on your line, then I'm surprised Chorus said you can have VDSL - they are usually very conservative.

If that did turn out to be the case, and you were weren't happy, you can go back to ADSL/2+

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#924278 30-Oct-2013 16:51

Thanks for the responses. It was a neat & straightforward install and while the tech did remark on it turning out slower than he would expect, he seemed confident it would improve.

My confirmation email states:

"Over the next 10 days Chorus equipment will fine-tune your new VDSL service, and while this happens there could be some variability in how your connection performs."

AFAICS it's been *exactly* the same since it was installed 2 weeks ago; no faster, no slower. Being on a Mac I can't run the Telecom Broadband Assist routine which I guess might troubleshoot some issues. Would that have helped the issue anyway?

As you (both) say, if the line had been rated as adequate by the Chorus to begin with, you would assume a minimum 15/5 would be achievable and I'd settle for that, TBH; what I can't imagine being happy with is going back to ADSL speeds, albeit with upgraded cabling. What i have now is faster, it's just not what I was sold.

I'll email, as suggested – is that the actual address there? pl(at)telecom?

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cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#924293 30-Oct-2013 17:02

The tuning that occurs over the 10 day period is called 'Dynamic Line Management' where the line is optimised automatically by Chorus for stability and speed. But it's only got the line it's got to work with ....

Now the thing to remember about the prequalification by Chorus is that it is done based on their records of the length and diameter of the copper and the number of segments etc. It is not a guarantee of speed. The 15-70Mbit are guides only, and probably over 99% of all users fall within those numbers. There is no guarantee you can even get the service until it is installed, let alone guarantees of speed.

Yes the address is pl @ telecom.co.nz I believe. If it bounces, let me know.

All that said, call the helpdesk and log a fault with it. Hopefully they'll be able to get Chorus back out to look at it and see if it can go any faster. Don't get your hopes up too high though!

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

chevrolux

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#924294 30-Oct-2013 17:04

Chorus have a minimum standard of 15/5 so you may get lucky and they could send a cable jointer out to check your line for multiples. That is pretty much all that can be done so if that doesn't help that is what you get.

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#924302 30-Oct-2013 17:16

Thanks cbrpilot, I'll make the call too.

Some odd stuff: just checked the Chorus map and I'm within a >20Mbps zone, which is the same rating as the city centre. Also I have a ping of 5ms, not sure if that has any relevance to the issue but it seems pretty fast for a dodgy line...

I hear what you say about segments etc and recall the Chorus guy saying much the same. Thanks again for the pointers, I'm quite a bit clearer about where I stand.

I'll let you know how I get on.

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#924303 30-Oct-2013 17:17

yeah I'm hopeful something like that might come of all this. Cheers chevrolux

jeffnz

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#924352 30-Oct-2013 18:08

I think you Telco people on geekzone are just great with the help you give us all.

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cbrpilot

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#924389 30-Oct-2013 19:34

I do not believe that Chorus still has a speed guarantee on VDSL. They used to when they were trialling the product, but decided not to offer it for the full launch of VDSL (cheaper for them not to guarantee it, and therefore cheaper for us to offer you this product).

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

pjamieson

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Chorus

#935168 17-Nov-2013 11:54

chevrolux: Chorus have a minimum standard of 15/5 so you may get lucky and they could send a cable jointer out to check your line for multiples. That is pretty much all that can be done so if that doesn't help that is what you get.

No removal of Multiples is not part of the latest VDSL product launch.

losnemo

12 posts

Geek

#935211 17-Nov-2013 13:58

Reporting back as promised, having called the helpdesk. They authorised a fault detection call-out for the following day, saying I'd probably get a call from the engineer in the morning. No-one ever called, but I doubt anyone was ever dispatched... as soon as I put the phone down, I checked and the modem reported the increased speed, from

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 4,397 / 10,587

to

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 3,228 / 16,884

Once again, it never varies; every time I test it reports the exact same speeds. Is this normal for a VDSL connection? Is it possible to 'dial in' a maximum speed against a certain account? It really did seem like someone had got a call from customer support and flicked a switch. They just forgot to flick the upload one as well. There's now a 'compliant' >15mbps DL speed, but for some reason the upload has worsened.

I guess the thing to do is call again, seems to do the trick...

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