Speed testing new Fibre connection

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Speed testing new Fibre connection

Foiler

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#198689 19-Jul-2016 10:18

A new 30/10 fibre connection in Remuera is testing 9Mbps/5Mbps with http://speedtest.net but the hard wired LAN users comment that the fibre seems a bit slower than the previous ADSL.

The Spark speedtest, however, yields 30Mbps/11Mbps at http://www.spark.co.nz/myspark/myinternet/testyourspeed/

For this site there seems to be a big disparity between good router connect stats, ok speed test results, and an unhappy user experience. Even with a speed test result of 9Mbps/5Mbps I am surprised that web browsing is slow.

What other performance tests are useful?

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Geekzone

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#1594891 19-Jul-2016 10:18

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:

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.

xpd

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#1594902 19-Jul-2016 10:20

Theyre not running any streaming apps or anything in the background ? Steam, Torrents etc....

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Talkiet

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#1594921 19-Jul-2016 10:56

What speedtest server are you deliberately picking that only gives 9/5? If your computer is setup correctly and you aren't using some strange DNS or VPN config then speedtest.net should select a Spark server (which you say is giving you the expected speeds)

try a NZ server on http://nperf.com and see what you get from Netflix's speedtest at http://fast.com

From your post it also sounds like your initial speedtest.net test was done on wifi ("But the hardwired users report")... If that's the case all bets are off. Test on an ethernet connected PC and report back please.

[edit I see you note the Spark test server URL which is actually hosted on the same servers as the speedtest.net nodes we host]

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.

Foiler

220 posts

Master Geek

#1594938 19-Jul-2016 11:05

Thanks, good thinking .. but I don't think so .. am looking at detailed throughput logs on the Mako router and there are no significant uploads or downloads apart from upload data when Crashplan runs a backup but this is definitely set to outside business hours.

Possibly the Mako router slowing throughput?

xpd:

Theyre not running any streaming apps or anything in the background ? Steam, Torrents etc....

Talkiet

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#1594940 19-Jul-2016 11:09

Foiler:

Thanks, good thinking .. but I don't think so .. am looking at detailed throughput logs on the Mako router and there are no significant uploads or downloads apart from upload data when Crashplan runs a backup but this is definitely set to outside business hours.

Possibly the Mako router slowing throughput?

xpd:

Theyre not running any streaming apps or anything in the background ? Steam, Torrents etc....

I worked with a much earlier generation of the Mako equipment and at that time (ADSL1 only!) there was no issue. However they are a feature laden device and it's conceivable that it could be a factor. Please try the tests suggested (from a wired connection only)

Also, given you have a mako device, I presume you have a business or larger network - how confident are you that the links are unused when you are running the speedtests?

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.

Behodar

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#1594949 19-Jul-2016 11:35

Was the previous connection also with Spark? I once had slow speeds after changing ISP and eventually discovered - to my great embarrassment - that I had my previous ISP's DNS servers hardcoded somewhere :)

Foiler

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Master Geek

#1594954 19-Jul-2016 11:53

http://nperf.com 28/12

http://fast.com 29

The nperf server is showing as Ketu Bay, Marlborough District, and the speedtest server is Wellington. I that odd?

I did wonder if the VPN to Wellington is pulling general traffic through it but a tracert to google seems to indicate Auckland gateways in use.

Woops .. the dns server issue is a real possibility, was using 202.27.158.40 202.27.156.72, have just changed to 122.56.237.1 210.55.111.1

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Jase2985

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#1594969 19-Jul-2016 12:18

and the result is?

Brumfondl

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#1594970 19-Jul-2016 12:20

Out of curiosity, why did you go with 30/10 instead of 100/20, especially as a growing number of ISPs are not even offering 30/10 any more?

Talkiet

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#1594971 19-Jul-2016 12:21

Still waiting for several answers and bits of info but at this stage it doesn't look like there's a problem with the network or the connection.

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.

Foiler

220 posts

Master Geek

#1595045 19-Jul-2016 14:12

Changing the dns has not made any apparent difference.

speedtest.net still reporting 9/5 and still preferring to use a Wellington server.

Earlier question re wireless - no it is an ethernet connection.

Talkiet

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#1595047 19-Jul-2016 14:19

Foiler:

Changing the dns has not made any apparent difference.

speedtest.net still reporting 9/5 and still preferring to use a Wellington server.

Earlier question re wireless - no it is an ethernet connection.

Well if you're getting expected speed to the other spark speedtest (hosted on the same actual server as the speedtest.net servers), nperf and Fast.com, then I think it's something on your end.

I have seen dramatically degraded performance on speedtest.net due to PC/browser based issues (Lots of animated ads presumably)

You say "a Wellington server"... Did you manually select the Wellington Spark NZ Speedtest.net server through their interface on your browser? (Can you try the Auckland and CHCH Spark NZ Speedtest.net servers as well?)... I have just checked all three servers and they are just idling, plus giving me expected results on my 50Mbps VDSL line.

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.

yitz

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#1595062 19-Jul-2016 14:40

Maybe this connection is still in that 'not fully provisioned' state that Spark assign for unauthenticated connections?

I'm not sure if that impacts performance (i.e. a shared bandwidth pool), other than the PPP disconnection every 4 hours.

Foiler

220 posts

Master Geek

#1595063 19-Jul-2016 14:40

Tests just now ..

speedtest.net Auckland-Spark 13/7 3ms

speedtest.net Chch-Spark 13/6 20ms

nperf.com 27/14 32ms

Talkiet

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#1595065 19-Jul-2016 14:41

yitz: Maybe this connection is still in that 'not fully provisioned' state that Spark assign for unauthenticated connections? I'm not sure if that impacts performance (i.e. a shared bandwidth pool), other than the PPP disconnection every 4 hours.

That doesn't impact performance, and the user has confirmed that several different speedtests are showing full speed.

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.

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