[TelstraClear] Telstraclear PDQ Congested Exchange? Advice?

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lesta

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#68347 19-Sep-2010 23:38

Hi Everyone.

I've had some speed issues with Telstraclear's ADSL service. Still on the old PDQ plans.

It has been checked out by the telstraclear's technical team or what ever they are called and they have said that the speed issues are caused by a congested exchange and that is Telecom's problem. And there is nothing they can do for me.

What are my options regarding this? Is what they say true and I have to just take it as it is?

Any advice would be much appreciated. I feel somewhat shafted by this as I am paying a full monies for a substandard service.

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#382085 20-Sep-2010 00:21

Can you elaborate on the speed issues, how slow?

What exchange/cabinet are you on? Check here:
http://www.telecomwholesale.co.nz/maps

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lesta

16 posts

Geek

#382087 20-Sep-2010 00:27

Slow as in high pings whilst gaming.

Slow streaming/buffering videos etc.

Did all the trace routes and speedtests for the telstra team and they came back with congested exchange. Sorry there is nothing we can do. Telecoms fault.

In regards to the exchange my place is on the red area. Bordering on some of the green (vdsl) areas but not where I am. Or I may just be reading it wrong.

lesta

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#382088 20-Sep-2010 00:30

Sorry didn't read your post correctly.

Services available at this address:

ADSL2+

Exchange Details
Exchange Area: Memorial Ave
Hide ADSL2+ cabinets
Hide VDSL2 cabinets/areas
ADSL2+ Upgrade: Aug 2007
VDSL2 Upgrade: Oct 2010

I have an ADSL2 modem but only connecting at:

ADSL Status
Connected

Data Rate Down/Up
3879Kb/166Kb

cyril7

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#382129 20-Sep-2010 09:32

Hi, more particular to your address, you say its within a Red ADSL2+ cabinet area, so if you click show ADSL2+ cabinets your address is in one of those area, what cabinet does it say your in.

Assuming you are in a cabinet area is it possible that you have been put on a TCL DSLAM at Memorial Ave exchange rather than a Telecom cabinet port, if you are in a cabinet area you should use the cabinet.

Cyril

lesta

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#382135 20-Sep-2010 10:01

The closest cabinet I am to is:
Cabinet Name: MMA/Q
Status: Scheduled Dec 2010

When I put my mouse over all the cabinets this is the cloest one. My address is just outside any of these boundaries.

However I am not in the pink zone (adsl2+ zone). Just on the regular red zone.

Telstra pretty much said that I was on a Telecom exchange and they couldn't do anything about the speeds. So I'm not sure if they are telling me lies to get rid of me?

cyril7

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#382198 20-Sep-2010 12:23

Hi so you are not on a cabinet, that would imply that you line length direct to the exchange is short enough that you need not to move. Next step is to do a isolation test.

Cyril

lesta

16 posts

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#382216 20-Sep-2010 12:53

Hi Cyril

So who does the isolation test? Me or telstra? Would they have done that when they tested their lines?

cyril7

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#382223 20-Sep-2010 12:58

Disconnect if possible all or your house wiring and see what speeds you get then. I presume you have several phones in the house, do they all have filters on them. A basic isolation test is to simply disconnect every phone in the house, this includes fax machines, sky boxs (if connected to the phone line) and ideally your alarm system if its a monitored one but this is typically not possible. Only the modem should be across the line, what speed do you get them.

A more exhaustive isolation test is to disconnect the house wiring from the inbound line as close as possible to the demarc point and test there.

Cyril

lesta

16 posts

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#382229 20-Sep-2010 13:10

Hi Cyril

I read up on the isolation test. I've already done this and the problems with speeds are around the peak times. Sometimes it goes fast e.g. Downloads at 200kbs and sometimes at 50kbs etc. Slow movie buffering etc..
This was confirmed with trace routes + speed tests done at different times throughout a few days period.

Its definately not my equiptment. I've tried all plugs in the house. Even bought a new linksys modem to test. I've run shorter cables. I've disconnected everything. New line filters etc.. Same problem.

lesta

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#382231 20-Sep-2010 13:12

I have line filters on everything.

cyril7

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#382235 20-Sep-2010 13:14

OK right was not aware of what you had done todate, but what is of concern is that you are presumably within the exchange loop (not on cabinets) yet getting such low sync speeds, this is not right, what is the reported line attenuation (and other noted items in the line stats page of the modem).

Also you must be aware that you are on a Fs/128k plan, this will limit the maximum TCP throughput to around 5Mb/s (not that it affects you currently as you only have 3.8Mb/s sync), but if you should make an improvement it will not be reflected in the end result due to the 166Kb/s uplink.

Cyril

lesta

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#382244 20-Sep-2010 13:38

Hi Cyril,

Ah I see that the upload speed may be the problem. Sadly all the new telstra plans are much more than what I am on now and switching to their max/max options is costly. Even their phone lines have gone up in price.

But what are your thoughts on a congested exchange? Regarding slow speed during peak times and off peak runs smoothly? When I did the trace routes from memory there was a timeout on hop 2 or 3 on international sites. I think it was a telstra server timeout. I will need to check these again.

When I get home today I'll try and find the details u requested.

Ragnor

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#382275 20-Sep-2010 14:53

I thought Telstraclear had installed their own gear in many Christchurch exchanges, eg: CDB, Riccarton. I would have thought they had their own gear in Fendalton and Memorial too.

cyril7

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#382278 20-Sep-2010 14:58

Hi Ragnor, yes that was my impression also, but it would appear that lesta is not on a cabinet but he has also been told he is on a Telecom wholesale connection.

Sounds like there are two things here, one is yes there would seem to be a congestion issue, but also not particularly good line sync considering he is in an ADSL2+ exchange area, not on a cabinet (so one presumes close enough to not be moved) yet only getting 3.8Mb/s

Do you have the remaining line stats lesta

Cyril

lesta

16 posts

Geek

#382281 20-Sep-2010 15:00

Yes selective areas only. I'm in Avonhead which misses out or else I would have jumped onto their cable, phoneline + tv package.
Apparently on my exchange its still on Telecoms so not on the Telstraclear one. Whcih apparently they are upgrading selective areas?
I asked them for an eta on when the upgrades will happen and recieved the response that if the more people from a certain area complain the faster it gets done. So pretty much need to round up the neighbours and complain.

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