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Linuxluver

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#140638 16-Feb-2014 08:46
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Update: I just had a go at this Sunday morning 9am...and no buffering at all on VDSL. The video streamed perfectly for 10 minutes. Well done. So it very much looks like local congestion in my area. The last mile. 

I'll leave the post here more as evidence of my own cynicism combined with observations. Hopefully I've learned something here. :-)  

******************************

I moved to Telecom's ADSL a while back and was pretty happy. I could watch streaming video with barely a burp or glitch. So we have gradually increased our monthly data quota up to 500GB. Oddly enough, as we increase our cap, the reliability of the capability to stream video has declined. 

My wife and I have been watching some shows from the UK via the ITV Player. On the ADSL 2+ in the evening on the weekend (probably peak-ish time) we would watch about a minute's worth of content, then wait about 15 seconds and then get a minute...and then wait....then maybe 30 secs....and wait a minute...and so on. Barely watch-able if you're really patient. 

Yesterday, we upgraded to the VDSL service. The flow of video from the same source improved slightly (I think...or maybe not), but still conformed to the same overall pattern of barely-watchable. This is on a nominally 40mbps downlink.

I hear you say: "But it's coming from the UK! The global network state will be the main factor!"

That's what I thought, too.

Until I wifi-connected the PC to my LTE phone and watched an entire 90 minute episode with only one or two very brief glitches. Hmmm..... so global network state would appear to be irrelevant. The data throttling (be it coincidental congestion in the last mile or active network "management" - no idea) is going on MUCH closer to home.

Last night I tried it via a different phone on 3G (nominally 14mbps - same as my old ADSL2+) and it buffered a bit more than on LTE , but the stream was easily watchable and it flowed very well. 

So what can I (provisionally!!!) conclude from this? Very broadly, it FEELS like the higher your landline data cap, the lower your effective throughput rate over time for the purpose of streaming video. This is indicated by the HUGE improvement one sees when doing exactly the same thing from the same source in the same time of day via much more expensive mobile data....even when the mobile data is nominally the same throughput (14mbps) as the land-line broadband. 

I can see why this would be the case. Probably less congestion on the 3G. Higher priority given to the higher value data...plus whatever else. 

Edited: If the problem isn't local congestion (though it probably is) I'd wonder what price I might have to pay to get a 500GB cap that is actually usable for the intended purpose? I'd consider it. As it is, I'm buying 3GB mobile data add-ons for $49....which allow us to watch several hours of programming almost without interruption - when we encounter this ever-buffer. Usually, we don't as we access it during off-peak times. I do admit the $500/month Telecom bills (landline, broadband and mobile) are becoming "interesting". But we're seeing value there....or we wouldn't pay it. 






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plambrechtsen
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  #988102 16-Feb-2014 08:56
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I would say it has nothing to do with your broadband cap but more to do with more congestion on your local ISAM in the chrous network caused by more neighbors using more data.

I think everyone around you would be experiencing the same or similar issue and nothing more than that.



Linuxluver

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  #988103 16-Feb-2014 09:00
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plambrechtsen: I would say it has nothing to do with your broadband cap but more to do with more congestion on your local ISAM in the chrous network caused by more neighbors using more data.

I think everyone around you would be experiencing the same or similar issue and nothing more than that.


You're probably right. 

That is the most obvious explanation. But not the only (possible) one. :-)

Update: But it looks like you are exactly right: local congestion. 




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  #988110 16-Feb-2014 09:32
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is the mobile streaming video being downloaded the same quality as the the one watched on the pc?



quickymart
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  #988124 16-Feb-2014 09:57
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Linuxluver:
plambrechtsen: I would say it has nothing to do with your broadband cap but more to do with more congestion on your local ISAM in the chrous network caused by more neighbors using more data.

I think everyone around you would be experiencing the same or similar issue and nothing more than that.


You're probably right. 

That is the most obvious explanation. But not the only (possible) one. :-)

Update: But it looks like you are exactly right: local congestion. 

Have you let Xtra know? I know, probably not much they can do, but worth a try.

SteveON
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  #988140 16-Feb-2014 11:13

Does xtra still exist?

quickymart
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  #988155 16-Feb-2014 11:54
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You know what I mean.

Linuxluver

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  #988411 16-Feb-2014 18:34
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Jase2985: is the mobile streaming video being downloaded the same quality as the the one watched on the pc?


I'm not downloading anything. Only streaming. Sorry for any confusion there. 




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Linuxluver

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  #988412 16-Feb-2014 18:38
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quickymart:
Linuxluver:
plambrechtsen: I would say it has nothing to do with your broadband cap but more to do with more congestion on your local ISAM in the chrous network caused by more neighbors using more data.

I think everyone around you would be experiencing the same or similar issue and nothing more than that.


You're probably right. 

That is the most obvious explanation. But not the only (possible) one. :-)

Update: But it looks like you are exactly right: local congestion. 

Have you let Xtra know? I know, probably not much they can do, but worth a try.


I was going to give Telecom a ring about it. If there is a capacity issue in my area I'd like to pas that on. Not much point having super-fast broadband if its choked by congestion any time you want to use it. A bit like the motorways around Auckland. Great at almost any time you DON'T have to go to work. :-)  




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Coil
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  #988413 16-Feb-2014 18:38
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plambrechtsen: I would say it has nothing to do with your broadband cap but more to do with more congestion on your local ISAM in the chrous network caused by more neighbors using more data.

I think everyone around you would be experiencing the same or similar issue and nothing more than that.


Chorus will not sell VDSL on a congested node nor will they do the same with ADSL2+, If it is congested you will only see ADSL1. I believe there are very few ISAM's that run the 7330FD DSLAM now days over ADSL2+ That have minor congestion.

RunningMan
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  #988415 16-Feb-2014 18:47
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Linuxluver:
Jase2985: is the mobile streaming video being downloaded the same quality as the the one watched on the pc?


I'm not downloading anything. Only streaming. Sorry for any confusion there. 


Systematics - it's downstream data to your connection.

I think what Jase2985 was getting at was is it the same data rate for both videos - i.e. comparing apples with apples.

plambrechtsen
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  #988429 16-Feb-2014 19:15
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Log a case with the helpdesk and make sure you get a ticket reference number.

Then flick me an email "pl at telecom.co.nz" and I can follow up with the bbhd tomorrow. Also include your home line number and account number.

I doubt it would be handover congestion but I can talk with the core folks and find out the current situation is.

  #988458 16-Feb-2014 20:17
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Linuxluver:
Jase2985: is the mobile streaming video being downloaded the same quality as the the one watched on the pc?


I'm not downloading anything. Only streaming. Sorry for any confusion there. 


lol come on man, it comes in on your downstream connection weather its downloaded or streamed.

as runningman said are you compairing apples with apples?

ie streaming 1080p on the computer and streaming it with 1080p on your phone? not 1080p on your computer and 720 or 480p on your phone?



Kirdog
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  #988602 17-Feb-2014 01:12
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1) download
2) watch
3) delete
4) End of story :)




Sorry about my English guys :>

savaii
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  #988658 17-Feb-2014 09:26
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Thanks heaps for posting an update. Benefits everyone.

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