Is Spark screwing with my file downloads?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Is Spark screwing with my file downloads?

geekIT

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#154730 5-Nov-2014 22:39

I recently changed ISPs from XNet to Spark.

Ever since then, it seems that when I download files from certain hosting services, the speed drops from 1.5Mb\sec to 250kb\sec or less, and the Resume function no longer works.

Spark's helpdesk people maintain that they don't have a policy of selective interference with file downloads, but I think they do.

I also believe that Spark management aren't telling their rank and file staff the full story.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

NOTE: The robotic response below has been automatically appended to my post. However, it's not valid commentary because my speed only varies during the conditions I've described above.

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#1169609 5-Nov-2014 22:39

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.

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DarkShadow

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#1169624 5-Nov-2014 23:23

Can you post the URLs?

Jase2985

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#1169639 6-Nov-2014 05:44

what spark service are you on?
whats your connected speed (from your modem)?
what are you speed tests?
what are you trying to download?
is anything else happening when you download? (gaming, uploading anything like that?)

you do need to provide some of the information that Peter reader asks for as it does/can help people help you

wombus

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#1169691 6-Nov-2014 07:49

I was having a silmilar issue until recently on Vodafone ADSL2+, what i would call mini outages. Downloading a large file the transfer would suddenly drop which when downloading from a non-resumable site would mean starting again. Online gaming my ping would suddenly 999 for about 30 seconds, and it would often happen a few times during a session. I have now switched to Slingshot still ADSL2+ (NetCom router supplied) and this no longer happens to me, I put it down to either and issue with the ISP supplied Router (Vodafone station) or Vodafone.

Dont know if that helps.?

cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#1169710 6-Nov-2014 08:31

geekIT, we do not interfere with your downloads.
I would know.

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

tdgeek

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#1169717 6-Nov-2014 08:36

More info would be good.
Re "certain hosting services" I occasionally download from "certain hosting services" and I max out at 1.2 MB/sec. This is on a 14mbit connect rate ADSL2+ and over wifi to my rMBP the speedtest is 12mbit @22ms latency. So I get about line speed at "certain hosting services"

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Inphinity

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#1169743 6-Nov-2014 09:00

I have not experienced this issue on Sparks ADSL, VDSL, or UFB services.

chevrolux

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#1169821 6-Nov-2014 10:00

Yes Spark are watching your every move and singling out specific downloads if they don't suit their current marketting strategy.

.... see how ridiculous that sounds. Could you even imagine the resource that would

Paul1977

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#1170155 6-Nov-2014 16:09

chevrolux: Yes Spark are watching your every move and singling out specific downloads if they don't suit their current marketting strategy.

.... see how ridiculous that sounds. Could you even imagine the resource that would

Don't leave us hanging, "the resources that would" what?!?

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Talkiet

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#1170186 6-Nov-2014 16:55

cbrpilot: geekIT, we do not interfere with your downloads.
I would know.

I would know too, and Cbrpilot, you are, of course, totally correct.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Talkiet

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#1170188 6-Nov-2014 16:56

chevrolux: Yes Spark are watching your every move and singling out specific downloads if they don't suit their current marketting strategy.

.... see how ridiculous that sounds. Could you even imagine the resource that would

Dammit - the automated content scrubbing system didn't kick in until halfway through the message you posted... Not sure why it allowed you to post the rest of the message though - perhaps we need to upgra

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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n4

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#1170193 6-Nov-2014 17:02

chevrolux: Yes Spark are watching your every move and singling out specific downloads if they don't suit their current marketting strategy.

.... see how ridiculous that sounds. Could you even imagine the resource that would

I'm not saying it is happening in this specific case, but you would be naive to think it couldn't be done or isn't happening elsewhere. Slowing down non-time critical sessions (eg file downloads) to allow better service for time critical sessions (eg voice, video) is a sensible way to manage network congestion - even if only temporarily.

Like this.

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Demeter

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One NZ

#1170209 6-Nov-2014 17:21

n4: I'm not saying it is happening in this specific case, but you would be naive to think it couldn't be done or isn't happening elsewhere. Slowing down non-time critical sessions (eg file downloads) to allow better service for time critical sessions (eg voice, video) is a sensible way to manage network congestion - even if only temporarily.

Like this.

Are you referring to the traffic management policy which Spark are totally upfront about?

ETA - sorry, reading the above line, it sounds sarcastic and wasn't meant to be.

n4

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#1170215 6-Nov-2014 17:35

Demeter:
n4: I'm not saying it is happening in this specific case, but you would be naive to think it couldn't be done or isn't happening elsewhere. Slowing down non-time critical sessions (eg file downloads) to allow better service for time critical sessions (eg voice, video) is a sensible way to manage network congestion - even if only temporarily.

Like this.

Are you referring to the traffic management policy which Spark are totally upfront about?

ETA - sorry, reading the above line, it sounds sarcastic and wasn't meant to be.

I'm referring to the fact that anyone who thinks traffic management (on whatever basis) is too resource intensive to be implemented needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

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Demeter

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#1170218 6-Nov-2014 17:40

n4:
Demeter:
n4: I'm not saying it is happening in this specific case, but you would be naive to think it couldn't be done or isn't happening elsewhere. Slowing down non-time critical sessions (eg file downloads) to allow better service for time critical sessions (eg voice, video) is a sensible way to manage network congestion - even if only temporarily.

Like this.

Are you referring to the traffic management policy which Spark are totally upfront about?

ETA - sorry, reading the above line, it sounds sarcastic and wasn't meant to be.

I'm referring to the fact that anyone who thinks traffic management (on whatever basis) is too resource intensive to be implemented needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Oh, I see what you mean. I don't think that was exacly what chevrolux was implying though. I think it's more the assumption that ISP's are capable of scrubbing data at file level to pick/choose which exact packets to drop. If you want to split hairs, yep, technically it is totally possible but the resources needed for this type of granular control are just mindbogglingly massive.

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