Is my upload uncapped or not?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Is my upload uncapped or not?

newbornbaby

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#27413 25-Oct-2008 08:49

Hello all forum member, newly join.

I am on Xtra 'Adventure' plan. Recently I see my upload line speed change from the ever constant 160kbps to around 830kbps, but when I test my DSL speed from various speed test site, I still only get around 120-130kbps upload! I have tried all the reboot, reconnect...etc. And test through from early 6am to late 11pm for over 7days and the results are pretty much the same. So is my upload speed uncapped already or not? Or is there anything Telecom/Xtra yet to do to upgrade? (as they actually promise upgrade 'by the end of Nov') Please help

magu

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Uber Geek

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BitSignal

Lifetime subscriber

#173592 25-Oct-2008 18:47

Unless you get the same upload speed as your download speed then yes, it is capped. Even the 820kbps is capped.

Where did you see the speed increase: the modem or a website?

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

Detruire

1771 posts

Uber Geek

#173611 25-Oct-2008 20:46

magu: "Unless you get the same upload speed as your download speed then yes, it is capped."

What are you talking about?

ADSL stands for "Asyncronous Digital Subscriber Line".
Asyncronous means that upload and downloads speeds aren't the same.

If you read the ADSL article on Wikipedia, you'll know that ADSL (1) has theoretical maximum rates of 8Mbps downstream, but only 1Mbps upstream (or 12Mbps/1.3Mbps for G.DMT)

Even ADSL2+ is limited to just over 1Mbps downstream, with a theoretical maximum of 24Mbps downstream.

newbornbaby: Recently I see my upload line speed change from the ever constant 160kbps to around 830kbps, but when I test my DSL speed from various speed test site, I still only get around 120-130kbps upload!

It sounds like you're syncing at the higher (FS) upstream speed, but are being capped by your ISP (Xtra) on their equipment.

Try uploading a file (~4MB) to a server you know has sufficient bandwidth via FTP. That will give you a better idea of real-world speeds. If it's still obvious that you're still at 128k, wait a few days before giving them a phone call and ask them if this is intended behaviour or not.

rm *

magu

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#173631 26-Oct-2008 00:04

Thanks for the info, Detruire. I do know what ADSL stands for and I do understand the sync speed/cap difference.

What I pointed out in this case is that if he's on a plan like some that have 128k/128k up/down speed, then it is safe to say that his upload speed is capped in comparison to the theoretical ADSL speeds, but not in comparison to the download speed, which I think is what being questioned here. Hence the question as to where he saw the speed increase: the modem or a speed test website.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

retrakker

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#173700 26-Oct-2008 13:55

Same for me, I am running circles with the tech support - I am on a Explorer plan and swapped my Dlink with a Thompson ADSL2+ capable modem. First the profile wasn't updated (166kbps to sync) - now it is - the rates are okish. and the tech tells me the sync data from my modem which I know already and now I am supposed to do a Telecom speedtest proceedure (3tests on 3days) which is pointless (kind of) as it doesn't include the upload rate. I say "kind of" as the download rate seems way below what speedtest.net reports.

Thats what I get:

xDSL linestate up (ITU-T G.992.5; downstream: 8450 kbit/s, upstream: 945 kbit/s; output Power Down: 20.0 dBm, Up: 12.0 dBm; line Attenuation Down: 38.0 dB, Up: 21.0 dB; snr Margin Down: 12.0 dB, Up: 14.0 dB)

but thats what's really coming through (Telecom speedtest):

Date: 24/10/2008
Time: 8:43 pm
Broadband Gateway/Modem: Thomson ST536
Connection Type: Ethernet
Estimated line speed: 2052.8 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 251.6 (kilobytes/second)

Date: 26/10/2008
Time: 10:33 am
Broadband Gateway/Modem: Thomson ST536
Connection Type: Ethernet
Estimated line speed: 868.3 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 106.4 (kilobytes/second)

From speedtest.net I get something along like this (last item is a month ago before the ADSL2+ upgrade):

10/25/2008 9:31 PM GMT 125.237.179.* 7097 kb/s 148 kb/s 77 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/25/2008 9:27 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 5976 kb/s 120 kb/s 76 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/24/2008 10:12 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 7222 kb/s 132 kb/s 84 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/24/2008 7:58 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 6535 kb/s 124 kb/s 82 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/24/2008 7:45 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 7038 kb/s 138 kb/s 76 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/24/2008 6:52 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 7132 kb/s 113 kb/s 177 ms Canberra ~ 1400 mi Open

10/24/2008 6:51 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 6933 kb/s 136 kb/s 76 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

10/24/2008 6:26 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 6807 kb/s 116 kb/s 76 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

9/24/2008 7:22 AM GMT 125.237.179.* 3467 kb/s 138 kb/s 89 ms Christchurch < 50 mi Open

Detruire

1771 posts

Uber Geek

#173717 26-Oct-2008 17:48

magu: What I pointed out in this case is that if he's on a plan like some that have 128k/128k up/down speed, then it is safe to say that his upload speed is capped in comparison to the theoretical ADSL speeds, but not in comparison to the download speed, which I think is what being questioned here.

I see.

I'd never think of it in that way because it's been years since 128k/128k plans were grandfathered.

rm *

JUPITER2K

131 posts

Master Geek

#173718 26-Oct-2008 17:55

I thought Telecom will kill the all the 128 up and change to FS upload i.e 768 KB/s as in November regardless of connection?

Detruire

1771 posts

Uber Geek

#173719 26-Oct-2008 17:57

I doubt it'll be for any connection. (They're still advertising 128k up plans on their site)

rm *

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stu28

273 posts

Ultimate Geek

#174255 28-Oct-2008 22:29

Detruire: I doubt it'll be for any connection. (They're still advertising 128k up plans on their site)

Only for the Basic & Go plans

Detruire

1771 posts

Uber Geek

#174402 29-Oct-2008 17:50

And? If they were going to scrap the 128k up plans it wouldn't make sense to offer them after the last plan upgrades.

rm *

Nizan

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#175358 2-Nov-2008 23:15

FYI: There are 2 ways your upload speed is controlled by Telecom

1) Through your connection rate

2) Through a profile assigned on Telecom's side

Just to clear all the confusion, your connection rate has increased 830kbps however your throughput profile has yet to be changed. Most have been advised, November will the time when the full change will take effect. However even when I typing this (and since the thread was created a few days back) you might already be experiencing the new speeds? No?