XT network slowdown

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › XT network slowdown

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#75079 12-Jan-2011 21:05

For various reasons (like living in Makara, Wellington) we use the XT mobile network for our broadband connection. When we first set it up back around April 2010 I was pretty stoked - our average connection speed was around 1.5 to 2.5 Mb/s, which was a vast improvement over the satellite solution that I'd installed 2 years prior.

Unfortunately, the average speed has slowed down massively since around November, down to 0.15 Mb/s (about the same as the average speed in Cameroon). Occasionally, usually at night, it will improve to around 0.75 Mb/s.

I'm curious whether this is a wider XT network issue, or whether its limited to our area.

So - has anyone else noticed a slowdown in the XT network over the last few months?

1 | 2

30 posts

Geek

#426645 12-Jan-2011 21:27

seems to be pretty slow tonight cant get past 10KB/s
usually ten fold this
i have been on since NOV 09, lots of my probs cleared up when i upgraded to 7 (same hardware)
its been pretty good overall, i just need more data

matisyahu

1623 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#426648 12-Jan-2011 21:33

redazzo: For various reasons (like living in Makara, Wellington) we use the XT mobile network for our broadband connection. When we first set it up back around April 2010 I was pretty stoked - our average connection speed was around 1.5 to 2.5 Mb/s, which was a vast improvement over the satellite solution that I'd installed 2 years prior.

Unfortunately, the average speed has slowed down massively since around November, down to 0.15 Mb/s (about the same as the average speed in Cameroon). Occasionally, usually at night, it will improve to around 0.75 Mb/s.

I'm curious whether this is a wider XT network issue, or whether its limited to our area.

So - has anyone else noticed a slowdown in the XT network over the last few months?

I haven't noticed any slow downs - what equipment do you use?

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#426652 12-Jan-2011 21:40

It wouldn't surprise me if there are a lot of people out there relying on XT for internet since your choices are so limited.

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#426656 12-Jan-2011 21:57

Where are you located tristanp?

You could be right sbiddle. However, given the relatively small population out here, and the equipment that I've had to install, I'd be surprised if its due to local contention.

I use a 1m yagi directional aerial, in conjunction with a 3W amplifier, hooked up to a 3G wifi router. It was all good for much of last year, and then went pear-shaped around November for no clear reason. My signal strength has remained unchanged during this period.

tristanp

30 posts

Geek

#426666 12-Jan-2011 22:15

i am in rural north otago, there would only be three houses with xt sticks off my tower

mclayma

104 posts

Master Geek

#426669 12-Jan-2011 22:27

Im sure you have done so but have you logged a Fault for this? Its difficult for issues to be investigated if they are not reported. Cheers

skyplonk

451 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#426678 12-Jan-2011 23:16

I have a XT T-stick here and my Milestone and things are a lot slower than usual.

Tonight at home using the speedtest.net app on my milestone I am getting on average 432kbps down and 567kbps up

vs

5-01-11
3106/1402

12-12/-0
4291/1366

03-12-10
3660/1488

28-11-10
2550/1455

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

matisyahu

1623 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#426679 12-Jan-2011 23:20

redazzo: For various reasons (like living in Makara, Wellington) we use the XT mobile network for our broadband connection. When we first set it up back around April 2010 I was pretty stoked - our average connection speed was around 1.5 to 2.5 Mb/s, which was a vast improvement over the satellite solution that I'd installed 2 years prior.

Unfortunately, the average speed has slowed down massively since around November, down to 0.15 Mb/s (about the same as the average speed in Cameroon). Occasionally, usually at night, it will improve to around 0.75 Mb/s.

I'm curious whether this is a wider XT network issue, or whether its limited to our area.

So - has anyone else noticed a slowdown in the XT network over the last few months?

According to XT Network coverage map the coverage in your area is very limited so I'm not surprised if you are having issues given that you're on the edge.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

ActiveMatrix

94 posts

Master Geek

#426729 13-Jan-2011 08:35

Hi There,

I've been in Nelson over Xmas and now that I've returned home to CHCH with my XT Sierra Wireless 308 card I've noticed the performance in the evenings is pathetic! - Either I have no connection or no more than 0.20MBit, prior to this I used to get 12-14Mbit which was amazing! - XT is my sole internet connection so I'm basically dead in the water without it working. The 3G connection on my iPhone which is also XT doesn't seem to work either, so it's not just my card or SIM...

Darned if I know what to do, but I'm at my wits end! - I basically have no internet! - If you can offer any assistance, I'd also be greatly appreciated!

~ Jay

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#426735 13-Jan-2011 08:41

redazzo: Where are you located tristanp?

You could be right sbiddle. However, given the relatively small population out here, and the equipment that I've had to install, I'd be surprised if its due to local contention.

I use a 1m yagi directional aerial, in conjunction with a 3W amplifier, hooked up to a 3G wifi router. It was all good for much of last year, and then went pear-shaped around November for no clear reason. My signal strength has remained unchanged during this period.

What sort of amplifier? These have the potential to cause massive problems.

quickymart

13935 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#426897 13-Jan-2011 17:55

ActiveMatrix: Hi There,

I've been in Nelson over Xmas and now that I've returned home to CHCH with my XT Sierra Wireless 308 card I've noticed the performance in the evenings is pathetic! - Either I have no connection or no more than 0.20MBit, prior to this I used to get 12-14Mbit which was amazing! - XT is my sole internet connection so I'm basically dead in the water without it working. The 3G connection on my iPhone which is also XT doesn't seem to work either, so it's not just my card or SIM...

Darned if I know what to do, but I'm at my wits end! - I basically have no internet! - If you can offer any assistance, I'd also be greatly appreciated!

~ Jay

Log it through to Mobile Faults on 0800 400909...although I'm a little surprise you say you live right in Christchurch and you don't have any other internet connection available whatsoever?

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#426920 13-Jan-2011 19:44

kawaii:
redazzo: For various reasons (like living in Makara, Wellington) we use the XT mobile network for our broadband connection. When we first set it up back around April 2010 I was pretty stoked - our average connection speed was around 1.5 to 2.5 Mb/s, which was a vast improvement over the satellite solution that I'd installed 2 years prior.

Unfortunately, the average speed has slowed down massively since around November, down to 0.15 Mb/s (about the same as the average speed in Cameroon). Occasionally, usually at night, it will improve to around 0.75 Mb/s.

I'm curious whether this is a wider XT network issue, or whether its limited to our area.

So - has anyone else noticed a slowdown in the XT network over the last few months?

According to XT Network coverage map the coverage in your area is very limited so I'm not surprised if you are having issues given that you're on the edge.

You're quite correct - coverage is limited (in fact, more limited than indicated on the map. Without an external directional aerial, the signal is effectively zero). As an aside, I'm an electronic engineer with a background in RF design, so fixing this wasn't a problem.

Signal into the T-stick is consequently not an issue.

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#426922 13-Jan-2011 19:51

sbiddle:
redazzo: Where are you located tristanp?

You could be right sbiddle. However, given the relatively small population out here, and the equipment that I've had to install, I'd be surprised if its due to local contention.

I use a 1m yagi directional aerial, in conjunction with a 3W amplifier, hooked up to a 3G wifi router. It was all good for much of last year, and then went pear-shaped around November for no clear reason. My signal strength has remained unchanged during this period.

What sort of amplifier? These have the potential to cause massive problems.

True - however, the problems are typically caused by interference with existing signal, and is normally an issue for others. Fortunately (or unfortunately, from my point of view), the signal is so weak here that there is practically no pre-existing signal to interfere with. As someone who was an electronic engineer during a prior life I can assure you that the setup itself is not the issue.

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#426924 13-Jan-2011 19:57

skyplonk: I have a XT T-stick here and my Milestone and things are a lot slower than usual.

Tonight at home using the speedtest.net app on my milestone I am getting on average 432kbps down and 567kbps up

vs

5-01-11
3106/1402

12-12/-0
4291/1366

03-12-10
3660/1488

28-11-10
2550/1455

Tonight I managed to get - 610kbps down and 770kbps up, which is an improvement over my more recent measures. This is still way down from my usual 2.5 Mbps. Sigh ...

redazzo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#426926 13-Jan-2011 20:02

mclayma: Im sure you have done so but have you logged a Fault for this? Its difficult for issues to be investigated if they are not reported. Cheers

Embarrassingly, no I haven't. My first thoughts were that it was simply due to XT being used more and more (I initially chose the XT network soon after the big XT faults occurred as I figured its uptake by others would be slowed down as a result ...

1 | 2