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VIRIDIAN

9 posts

Wannabe Geek


#171812 1-May-2015 21:46
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Hi all,

For the last few months, I've been getting 1.0Mpbs to a maximum of 1.8Mbps.

The issue is, I am supposed to be getting 17Mbps (max), being on an ADSL2+ connection. I am located 100m away from the cabinet housing my individual connection.

Fed up, I decided to move the router to the main hallway (where I am about a metre away from the router). I got an increase in D/L speed from 1.8 to 2-3.0 Mpbs, though it now varies between two and three, never more than three. I then decided to buy an 802.11ac router today, as my previous one, though ADSL2+ compliant was about 9 years old. The ac one ended up slowing me right down. (Think 0.8 Mbps) So, I went and bought a Spark modem.

As I did before with the ac modem, I attempted to download some large files (in the order of 2GB), to check the D/L speed.

It was still the same as before, with the same speed of 2-3Mbps.

I have never, in the six years since rejoining Spark (2009), ever attained double digit Mbps (i.e. 10.0+). I am in Central Auckland.

I did, once I setup the Spark router, I ran a Spark speedtest, getting between 13 and 14 Mbps. This was slightly higher when connected by RJ-45 to the router, and again, slightly slower, when run via wifi (Yes, I do understand why it will be slower).

I have been on the phone (spent hours waiting) to Spark all day, and they wanted me to run a speedtest, but due to the ac modem having (back then) degraded the connection so much, the speedtest didn't even load.

The thing is, I consider the Spark test misleading, as it says I have 13-14 Mbps D/L, but I fail to understand why I (still) only get 3.0 Mbps, even with the Spark modem. I am worried that the helpdesk will take a look at it, say "all is fine", and then consider it closed (hence the "misleading" part). I have been told by the helpdesk my line is physically OK.

The router specs are as follows:

Manufacturer: Huawei
Model: HG630b

Could someone from Spark who occasionally pops their head in, please help out?

That would be much appreciated.

VIRIDIAN

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PeterReader
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  #1295326 1-May-2015 21:46
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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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quickymart
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  #1295337 1-May-2015 21:49
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If you can answer Peter Reader's questions it will help people greatly in trying to assist you :)

  #1295339 1-May-2015 21:51
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where are you getting these slow download speeds?

what devices are you testing on

are you getting consistent speedtests via ethernet? if so i dont think there is anything wrong with your connection nor anything that spark can really do

Try and answer peter readers questions above to provide us with as much information as you can to allow others to diagnose your connection



VIRIDIAN

9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #1295341 1-May-2015 21:54
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Hi all,

I'm in the middle of trying to do just that :)

Can you point me to where I can find the needed stats from the modem, please?

  #1295351 1-May-2015 21:59
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pretty sure there are pages with stats in them on the modem, but the product manual may help

yitz
2074 posts

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  #1295353 1-May-2015 22:01
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You are not confusing bits and bytes are you? Speed test will be measuring in Mbit/s while your download manager likely reports Mbyte/s.

Also if you are able to elaborate on how you have determined the "1.8 to 2-3.0 Mbps" what sites are you getting these speeds for?

VIRIDIAN

9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #1295355 1-May-2015 22:05
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OK so, in regards to the needed questions:

ISP: Spark
Plan: Unlimited Home Broadband
Connection type: ADSL2+
Location: Central Auckland, Urban.
Manfacturer: Huawei
Model: HG630b

DSL Stats

Channel Type: Interleaved
Downstream Line Rate: 17180 kbit/s
Upstream Line Rate: 1021 kbit/s
Downstream Line Attenuation: 7 dB
Upstream Line Attenuation: 4.7 dB
Downstream SNR: 12.4 dB
Upstream SNR: 13.3 dB

Tests are done on RJ-45 first, then Wi-Fi. Ethernet results are the ones I use.

Isolation test not applicable.

No large files are downloaded when I carry out my tests connected by RJ-45 to the router.


 
 
 

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VIRIDIAN

9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #1295357 1-May-2015 22:10
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Hi yitz:

I have done this by downloading updates via Apple, and watching the D/L rate.

I have also checked my PS4's stats, which is connected via RJ-45.

Steam also gave me a maximum of 2.0 MB/s (yes, I am aware of the distinction between Mbps and MB/s) :)

However, it was only there for about 20-30 seconda, before dropping to 1.5 (this was being directly connected to the router via RJ-45). This was not via the Spark modem, but the 9 year old one mentioned in the beginning.

Last night, before I bought the "ac" router, or the Spark one being used now, I moved the router, and they picked up from 1.0Mbps to 2-3.0Mpbs (wavering), once it was moved.

  #1295358 1-May-2015 22:10
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if you are getting 13-14mbps to the spark speed test server, try the vodafone one and the likes of yes optus in sydney, if you still get 13-14mbps then the issue is inside your network and its got nothing to do with spark.

its possibly how you have configured your network.

  #1295360 1-May-2015 22:13
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if its downloading at 2MB/s thats pretty much full speed for your connection and if it drops to 1.5MB/s there is still nothing to complain about, and the issue could be outside of sparks network, in one of the overseas networks that the data has to go through.

its unlikely you will ever get full speed downloading anything from the US or even anywhere overseas for that matter, its just the nature of the technology we use.

sloburn
70 posts

Master Geek


  #1296298 3-May-2015 21:38
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As above. 17Mbps equates to a download speed of around 2MBps. Hence if you're connecting at 17Mbps (which it appears you are) and you download a large file (which you said you did) you should expect it to download at about 1.5-2 MBps (which it does?)
Confused as to what you're actually expecting?

VIRIDIAN

9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #1296307 3-May-2015 21:56
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Hi sloburn,

Yes, everything does appear to be working as expected. I was expecting faster speeds, but it has just occurred to me that I got myself mixed up with Mbps and MBs, which was why I was expecting faster speeds.
Thanks for taking the time to post, it is appreciated.

coffeebaron
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  #1296394 4-May-2015 07:39
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Also with those stats, you can probably get VDSL.





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kiwikiwi
455 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1297401 4-May-2015 08:34
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Yeah with those stats I'd at least expect 45mbps+ dl out of VDSL with those stats. It's really worth it if you love huge amounts of media consumption.





You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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