[WXC/VFX] Xnet International speed has turned to crap in the last few weeks.

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Xnet International speed has turned to crap in the last few weeks.

SiliconAudio

97 posts

Master Geek

#28145 19-Nov-2008 23:12

I know that there have been complaints about Xnet's international bandwidth for many months, but to be honest, it was always acceptable to me.

However, after being on Xnet for well over a year, and Fusion Naked DSL for several months, my international speed has only gone to the dogs in the last few weeks. My router connects at about 5 Mbps and I get really good speeds nationally, but my international speeds are now terrible. My downloads max out at well under 20 KB/Sec and speedtest.net is reporting only about 200 to 250 kbps to USA servers.

What went wrong with Xnet lately? Has it turned to mud only since they started selling their torrent plans?

jermsie

302 posts

Ultimate Geek

#178966 20-Nov-2008 01:19

Read previous threads. We've established international traffic is crap... how many times do we need to go over it? If you want to know what went wrong, ask xnet directly or take 5 minutes to read some older posts.

– J

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#178973 20-Nov-2008 03:16

he is righ though.. established that torrent speeds and international speeds r crap.. but i switched back to ppm plan.. was going bvery well.. but past 2 weeks crap again. anyway moving to orcon. cheers.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#178983 20-Nov-2008 07:46

Its simple not happy spend your money somewhere else.

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#179036 20-Nov-2008 11:36

johnr: Its simple not happy spend your money somewhere else.

It's never that simple. Xnet provide a lot of value-add with their other services, free VFX lines and free downloads for a few services such as gameplanet and akamai.

I am along with a lot of people very disappointed with Xnet's subpar peak time international performance, but I'm having a tough time deciding whether I want to give up my existing benefits in order to improve one factor of the service. The decision is complicated by the fact that there is no real reliable way to know if another ISP is going to be any better at all. And if I do switch I'm going to end up being locked into a contract.

I've already switched from one ISP who was giving absolutely abysmal international performance, and they have now just gone and won some 'fastest ISP' award... Maybe something changed in the 6 months since I was last with them.

In some ways I'm hoping that Xnet will get their act together in much the same way and improve their service. Maybe Xnet representives could come back and make a showing in these forums again. That'd be another reason to keep holding out a little longer.

JUPITER2K

131 posts

Master Geek

#179146 20-Nov-2008 21:40

free VFX lines .

I don't think this is free anymore that is after Xnet decided to put in contract and disconnection fee etc.

Am I right?

antbs

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#179151 20-Nov-2008 22:23

This is a well known problem. To the best of my knowledge Maverick and all the other WxC staff have left Geekzone due to constant whinging. Your best bet to get an official response will be to contact WxC directly.

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#179162 21-Nov-2008 00:20

JUPITER2K: I don't think this is free anymore that is after Xnet decided to put in contract and disconnection fee etc.

Am I right?

Maybe for new users, but they aren't charging me for mine and I haven't received notification that they are going to.

anthonybs: This is a well known problaem. To the best of my knowledge Maverick and all the other WxC staff have left Geekzone due to constant whinging. Your best bet to get an official response will be to contact WxC directly.

Yes I and many others have contacted and received a variety of answers. Getting answers from helpdesk does not carry the same weight to it that a more official response from someone higher up in the company carries.

But whatever, if hiding away because of a few vocal whingers is their answer then all they are ending up doing is destroying the goodwill they have built up over the years. The very goodwill that got me to join in the first place and recommend Xnet to family and friends.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#179166 21-Nov-2008 06:02

anthonybs: This is a well known problaem. To the best of my knowledge Maverick and all the other WxC staff have left Geekzone due to constant whinging. Your best bet to get an official response will be to contact WxC directly.

They are still reading our posts, just not replying about the speed. For example yesterday there was a post on the usage meter and not long after the post Cameronn replied with an explanation. They are simply ignoring the tantrums.

You can never have enough Volvos!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79294 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#179167 21-Nov-2008 06:55

Niel: They are still reading our posts, just not replying about the speed. For example yesterday there was a post on the usage meter and not long after the post Cameronn replied with an explanation. They are simply ignoring the tantrums.

Which is fine. There's so much one can reply to the same things, and then other people who don't read previous posts write all about it again, rinse, repeat...

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#179174 21-Nov-2008 08:21

Ignoring the speed issue because a few people had nothing constructive to say about it is to me ignoring a fundamental part of your business as an ISP. I have been watching the discussion since the problem reared it's ugly head again several months ago, and I haven't seen a single offical response to it from Xnet (If I'm wrong please point me in the right direction).

Now do you think if I was satisfied with the answers that I have deduced from the hearsay and anecdotes from disgruntled Xnet users I'd bother posting anymore about it? Sure there is only so much one can say about it, but I have seen nothing said about it from official sources. And sure, they have every right to not do that. And in the end it will cost them customers.

Whilst some people would never be satisfied without their problems being instantly fixed, others like me would jus t like to know that the problem is being addressed, and the occasional 'update' post from official sources would do wonders to restoring some goodwill and keeping people like me from leaving. Right now it feels like Xnet think the current level of service is acceptable, and they won't be doing anything further about it. And if that's the case, I won't be with them for much longer.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#179192 21-Nov-2008 10:51

freitasm:
Niel: They are still reading our posts, just not replying about the speed. For example yesterday there was a post on the usage meter and not long after the post Cameronn replied with an explanation. They are simply ignoring the tantrums.

Which is fine. There's so much one can reply to the same things, and then other people who don't read previous posts write all about it again, rinse, repeat...

Yes, I should have added that I am fine with it too.

friedCrumpet, these issues have been going on for over a year not just a few months. There was a post that they will not comment on it any further, because each time they say something the flame throwers come out and try to tell XNet how to run their business. Personally I think they are trying to see if ignoring the posts will solve the problem, just like they tried to solve it with the torrent plan. The only known way of improving the speed is to throw money at it which the large ISPs can do by cross-subsidising. XNet might find that ignoring the posts on this unofficial "support" forum is more efficient and in the end makes more profit. But that's only my thoughts, I do not know how they run things. You would have noticed that the happy customers are also ignoring these posts, as there are many more XNet customers on this forum than the handful that are complaining about the speed.

You can never have enough Volvos!

sumzitup

39 posts

Geek

Subscriber

#179200 21-Nov-2008 11:39

I must say that over the last 2 or so weeks the international speed has completely turned into custard. Dial up is getting to the point where it performs faster.

I agree... it would be nice if xnet just put out a newsletter or notice on there website with what is happening with frequent updates and a timeline of when/how they plan to fix there problems. i dont expect these problems to happen overnight, but dont keep customers in the dark.

JUPITER2K

131 posts

Master Geek

#179230 21-Nov-2008 15:22

Niel:

handful that are complaining about the speed .

I doubt it the ones who complaint has gone to other ISP..

I was moving house then and join Xnet because of good word of mouth, and I sure
many did the same.

In general Xnet do provide reasonable service but not likely getting recommendation anymore.

Lately the service is quite unacceptable, frequent intermittent short outage , usage meter issue;
average to below par customer service ;speed problem utube. streaming etc

Many users just sit tight and wait for perhaps 2 ~ 3 months ..hoping thing might improve and if current level of
service persit .

yes I will definitely move to other ISp for sure..

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#179275 21-Nov-2008 20:24

I've already switched from one ISP who was giving absolutely abysmal international performance, and they have now just gone and won some 'fastest ISP' award... Maybe something changed in the 6 months since I was last with them.

Classic NZ ISP cycle: you're small, nimble and fast and offer good deals -> lots of us churners move to you -> bandwidth and infrastructure is overloaded -> disgruntled churners leave -> service improves again for those who remain (hopefully).

There is an exit loop here, where the churners go and bog down some other ISP, and the cycle parallels itself in tandem. Gotta love it!

I'm staying with Xnet because I have faith in the above cycle, and personally I don't have a problem with speeds (abysmal youtube streaming aside), and also because it's a PITA to change VFx and naked DSL services, which are working flawlessly - perhaps Xnet is sensibly prioritising their precious bandwidth to the VFx service?

jesterpaul

98 posts

Master Geek

#180116 25-Nov-2008 01:18

I'm on of those who has posted on this issue on various Xnet threads.

I'm not happy with international speeds, and agree that silence is an abysmnal way to deal with an issue (loud whingers notwithstanding), but I've come to the same conclusion that the value and good aspects of the service I'm getting on naked fusion don't make a switch worthwhile. If I did I'd either have similar issues (try Slingshot next big thing) or have to pay Telstra/Telecom rates.

I guess I'm paying for what I get.