UFB speeds significantly lower at night

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baileym1

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# 175036 15-Jun-2015 12:31

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Hi

We were on UFB 30 via Spark (Hamilton) - and were getting a solid 20-25 Mbps on Speettest via Andriod App all during the day
We went to naked UFB100 and now most nights we are lucky to get above 5 Mbps - during the day the results are in the 30-50 range - but at night it drops right down to under 10 and sometimes under 5.
We watch alot of Netflix and rarely at night time are able to get it to stream in HD (Apple TV, Sony Smart TV both utilised) - during the day no issues and it looks fantastic

Is this what is happening to everyone or is it a problem with our connection?
My friend who works at Spark says it is due to all the people using Netflix at night - but if this was the case I would have thought there would be more of an uproar
Weird thing is that UFB was working so fantastic for us and this is a recent issue (past 3 weeks)

Any ideas of what to try for better night time speeds?
Below is a screenshot - the 29 Mbps was in the morning - all the others are at night / weekend afternoon

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Geekzone

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# 1324915 15-Jun-2015 12:31

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.

l43a2

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# 1324928 15-Jun-2015 12:34

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using wireless as a messure of speed is never a good idea.

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Zeon

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# 1324933 15-Jun-2015 12:36

l43a2: using wireless as a messure of speed is never a good idea.

This.

I think the CIR of UFB isn't that high so you may be getting the service you signed up for.

baileym1

51 posts

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# 1324936 15-Jun-2015 12:40

but if you are comparing using the same medium then isn't it a fair comparision - i.e. multiple tests on wireless prior to issue Vs multiple tests after. Also wouldn't the wireless test be best since the devices that require internet are used via wireless i.e. apple TV, Smart TV, PS3 etc

Thought it would be a good indicator of speed even if it isn't exact?

RunningMan

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# 1324940 15-Jun-2015 12:45

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Do not test over WiFi. Your local WiFi throughput will vary during the day, depending on the amount of interference from other WiFi users nearby.

Try testing again from a wired ethernet connection to determine if the issue is inside or outside of your network.

Goes without saying that make sure no other devices are up or downloading at all during the test.

EDIT: emphasis added

Zeon

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# 1324961 15-Jun-2015 13:26

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baileym1: but if you are comparing using the same medium then isn't it a fair comparision - i.e. multiple tests on wireless prior to issue Vs multiple tests after. Also wouldn't the wireless test be best since the devices that require internet are used via wireless i.e. apple TV, Smart TV, PS3 etc

Thought it would be a good indicator of speed even if it isn't exact?

For wifi it isn't a fair test. It's unlicensed radio spectrum so as your neighbours come home and start using ti themselves at night thats going to decrease your performance. Only test on cable.

allio

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# 1324971 15-Jun-2015 13:41

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baileym1: but if you are comparing using the same medium then isn't it a fair comparision - i.e. multiple tests on wireless prior to issue Vs multiple tests after. Also wouldn't the wireless test be best since the devices that require internet are used via wireless i.e. apple TV, Smart TV, PS3 etc

Thought it would be a good indicator of speed even if it isn't exact?

The problem is that there are two potential causes for your speed issue: heavy contention on the UFB itself, or heavy use/interference on the particular wireless channel you devices use. As your issues only crop up during peak times, it's unlikely to be anything else.

The easiest way to eliminate the wifi as a factor is to plug in a wired computer and replicate your findings. If your speeds return to normal, you'll know that the problem is due to all your neighbours hammering their wifi in the evenings. In that case you're going to need to change the channel your network is on, and possibly upgrade to 5ghz if you're not already using it.

For what it's worth I think it's unlikely to be the wifi, but it is possible and you do have to rule it out. My wireless speeds tanked earlier this year after a new neighbour moved in, bringing what must have been a nuclear-powered router which completely destroyed 8 full channels of the 2.4ghz spectrum in my house.

Jase2985

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# 1324973 15-Jun-2015 13:45

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to prove there is an issue you have to minimise all the variables you can when doing your testing. This means testing over Ethernet not WiFi.

its as simple as that and no ISP will take your issue very far untill you can replicate your issues over ethernet.

timmmay

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# 1324981 15-Jun-2015 13:54

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As other have said you have to test using a cable, a neighbour with a bad microwave or power tool could be messing with your connection.

Talkiet

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# 1325033 15-Jun-2015 14:49

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If you are getting degraded speedtest.net results (TO THE SPARK HOSTED SERVERS) during the evening then it's not going to be our link to Netflix.

As above, you need to eliminate WIFI from the equation first please.

Cheers - N

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

bongojona

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# 1325069 15-Jun-2015 15:16

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I confirm I get significantly slower speeds on wifi at home than I do on my wired network.

(and I am the only person using my wifi at that time)

xADDICTx

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# 1325239 15-Jun-2015 18:36

Yup i feel your pain. Had to create an account just so i could let you know your not the only one and its not just the wifi thing ( i get similar results wired). Pretty much my exact story too. In hamilton, with spark, recently "upgraded" from 30/10 to 100/20. On the 80GB plan tho. Getting between 10 & 30mbps in the evenings (the only time we use the net). Was getting better results on the 30/10 plan. Called spark on friday i think and after the routine questions "have u reset the router..... bla blah" was given a ticket number but still no word. Speedtest.net must think im in Tauranga now too as it seems to be using the servers there by default unless i choose otherwise. Funny how the speeds suddenly change at lunchtime and midnight. Might switch back to the old plan if we cant get the speeds we'r paying for, or even try a new provider if they can offer closer speeds to the ones advertised. Dont know how to add an image of speedtest result yet but its currently 13mbps down, 22 up & 18ms ping.

quickymart

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# 1325246 15-Jun-2015 18:53

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Until we see wired speedtest results (yes, they are quite different) from the OP, nothing much else can happen. The wireless factor needs to be ruled out first - as everyone else is saying.

quickymart

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# 1325247 15-Jun-2015 18:54

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xADDICTx: Yup i feel your pain. Had to create an account just so i could let you know your not the only one and its not just the wifi thing ( i get similar results wired). Pretty much my exact story too. In hamilton, with spark, recently "upgraded" from 30/10 to 100/20. On the 80GB plan tho. Getting between 10 & 30mbps in the evenings (the only time we use the net). Was getting better results on the 30/10 plan. Called spark on friday i think and after the routine questions "have u reset the router..... bla blah" was given a ticket number but still no word. Speedtest.net must think im in Tauranga now too as it seems to be using the servers there by default unless i choose otherwise. Funny how the speeds suddenly change at lunchtime and midnight. Might switch back to the old plan if we cant get the speeds we'r paying for, or even try a new provider if they can offer closer speeds to the ones advertised. Dont know how to add an image of speedtest result yet but its currently 13mbps down, 22 up & 18ms ping.

Working as designed - your speed is up to 30 (or up to 100) - it's not guaranteed.

xADDICTx

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Geek
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# 1325261 15-Jun-2015 19:13

Huh? Designed to give us slower speeds on a faster more expensive plan?

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