Skinny/Spark endless data - not fit for purpose?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Skinny/Spark endless data - not fit for purpose?

ageorge

626 posts

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#272158 12-Jun-2020 08:51

Hi there.

I recently went for the Skinny $36/month which claims endless data at 1.2Mbps.

Im retired electronics design engineer, and found that the ability to stream at that reduced speed is very patchy, even with a decent signal.

If you understand radio, you'll also understand that (particularly UHF) data can be quite patchy in any case.

However, IMHO if you make a claim for a specific throughput available, you need to be able to provide that within reasonable bounds, and telecos are not doing this when their data is throttled, it is too constrained and compromises their claims.

Please see examples below. You will note that all examples the signal is robust, but the throughput often is below spec.

Summary; to make the service fit for purpose, minimum speed should be increased to 2Mbps, which then should average out to closer to 1.2-1.5Mbps

Claimed performance:

Quite regular lack of uplink/lack of ability to send acknowledgements (notice signal bar)

Working within spec but ping always slow:

Use speedtest.net to compare:

Summary; to make the service fit for purpose, minimum speed should be increased to 2Mbps, which then should average out to closer to 1.2-1.5Mbps

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2528 posts

Uber Geek

#2503356 12-Jun-2020 09:14

You appear to be getting the max speed of 1.2Mbs^-1. This is only claimed to be a maximum, not a guaranteed rate.

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Delorean

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#2503379 12-Jun-2020 09:40

I am also on the endless data plan. It suits the market it was intended for. A way to give all users endless data for basic tasks, eg SD streaming, Spotify streaming etc.

If you are wanting more full speed data, then you have to step up the plan to suit your needs. It’s much better than the old overage cost per MB!

wellygary

7384 posts

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#2503430 12-Jun-2020 09:55

SirHumphreyAppleby:

You appear to be getting the max speed of 1.2Mbs^-1. This is only claimed to be a maximum, not a guaranteed rate.

This

Tthere is no guaranteed rate, its a throttle,

"claims endless data at 1.2Mbps." no it doesn't....... its quite clear, "the speed will slow down to a max speed of 1.2Mps"

It doesn't say slow down to a minimum speed of 1.2Mbs, which is what you are wanting...

Linux

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#2503436 12-Jun-2020 10:08

@ageorge I see no issue at all and have zero idea what you are on about

keepexploringnz

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#2503771 12-Jun-2020 17:17

Totally see no issue also,

Ive gone a long way over my full speed data (wont say by how much) and have not changed use habits - though now dont worry about having a data manager app installed.

Still able to stream, upload and dear i say it talk on the phone :) with no issue. - its nice not having to worry about how much data ive used in a month.

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2503829 12-Jun-2020 19:01

I'm on the equivalent Vodafone plan, but it's also limited to 1.2 Mbps. It's fine. Like others in the thread, I don't see what you're complaining about as you're getting what was advertised according to your speed tests.

I'm sure lots would love for that reduced speed to be quicker (everyone loves something for nothing). But 1.2 seems to be fine for some lighter use in my experience.

Jase2985

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#2503839 12-Jun-2020 19:45

no issue move on

ageorge

626 posts

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#2503845 12-Jun-2020 20:19

Glad most are happy, some friends advised they were having similar problems hence the reason for post. My issue is caused by the intermittent 0 upload speed, but it could be unique here since nobody has confirmed the same problem Im experiencing, which shows in speed tests and streaming (basically streaming stops till uplink returns). A slightly higher average throughput would allow caching to make the issue less intrusive.

Since nobody else is having same problem, I welcome sysadmin take this thread down if wanted.

Cheers, Al.

insane

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#2503853 12-Jun-2020 21:00

I guess there are a number of factors that could be in play, such as the method used for shaping, the buffer sizes on various interfaces, the latency to the hosts you're connecting to. If for example window sizes, mss etc are being manipulated then you'll likely not notice it as much as if the interfaces are being hard policed. With TCP and high latency it can take a while for the ramp up to occur before you reach full speed, so any loss or non receipt of an ack would severely impact your user experience. Google TCP slow start for some nice graphs to show that in action.

hio77

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#2503918 12-Jun-2020 23:30

signal shown on the device is quite often an averaged value, it also very much depends on the device for what figure the 'bars' are derived from.

Typically devices use what i'd personally see as the wrong figure. to give a good view of your likely end user experience.

Sony is one manufacturer that tends to break this form. however, they also suffer from the average consumer thinking they are worse as they often show less bars than other devices.

To take your own wording, If you understand radio, you'll also understand that RF is not simply just Signal strength.

This is the first time i've heard complaints about the upload rate; so i would say it's likely unique to your device, testing methodology or possibly even what other activity your doing on the device? - eg are you uploading in the background and already saturating the upstream?

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

nztim

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#2503919 12-Jun-2020 23:35

Their T&C say, it slows down to 1.2mbps when you hit your full speed cap, they set the plan with their rules take the service or leave it

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Linux

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#2505470 15-Jun-2020 21:36

Heard a ad on the radio this evening talking about the new Skinny unlimited mobile plans and how they are slowed down to 1.2MBp/s - Yes they used the word ' Bytes ' not ' bits

I suggest if someone in Spark / Skinny is reading this you get the wording changed ASAP

toejam316

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#2505524 15-Jun-2020 23:06

Linux:

Heard a ad on the radio this evening talking about the new Skinny unlimited mobile plans and how they are slowed down to 1.2MBp/s - Yes they used the word ' Bytes ' not ' bits

I suggest if someone in Spark / Skinny is reading this you get the wording changed ASAP

@hio77 probably knows the right door to knock on about that.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

hio77

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#2505562 16-Jun-2020 07:09

toejam316:

hio77 probably knows the right door to knock on about that.

Sounds perfect for you ;)

but yes, john and i had a chat last night, i'll pass it onto the right folk to look at, don't expect confirmation from me though. I haven't heard the ad myself..

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Sounddude

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#2505615 16-Jun-2020 10:02

I used this unlimited plan over the Xmas break. The ability to tether makes it fantastic.

Even at the throttled speed, 2 kids on ipads watching youtube worked well with no complaining kids.

Fit for my purpose.

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