Contact Energy broadband - regretful move

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1427 posts

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#2899528 10-Apr-2022 16:04

Jase2985:

have your tired a different router?

I had a play around today and on ethernet I'm lucky enough to be getting 800mbps download speed - maybe everyone is outside enjoying the sun today!

However, clicking into a youtube video I'll be watching a wheel spin for the entire length of a facebook video recording (I sent it to contact and the video rendered just as my recording hit the time limit).

So even though the speedtest is "fast" the actual experience is worse than ADSL1 from 2008. I think there's some nasty traffic shaping going on in the background saying hey please wait we're loading margarets email, ok tom there's your banking page, now it's time to do that youtube video thanks for waiting.

b0untypure1

1427 posts

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#2899529 10-Apr-2022 16:06

Jase2985:

what router are your using? your own or contacts one?

My trusty steed - Asus R8000 :) I feel like it was purchased back in 2014 for about $400 but boy o'mighty does it keep up with todays requirements!

b0untypure1

1427 posts

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#2899530 10-Apr-2022 16:07

mcarans: I think Contact has issues today, particularly with Google services. Those same services are working fine using mobile data.

This would explain my experience today, things load but nothing google owns. I've tried using google public dns but that's no help sadly. Although, many 4mbps and 10mbps speedtests during the weekdays proved painful. Especially working remote using google meet and slack video chats! How is your experience going?

mdf

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#2899532 10-Apr-2022 16:15

b0untypure1:

My trusty steed - Asus R8000 :) I feel like it was purchased back in 2014 for about $400 but boy o'mighty does it keep up with todays requirements!

If I'm remebering correct, Vodafone is IPoE, Contact is PPPoE. I'm no network engineer (just someone who reads GZ really...), but I believe the orthodox view is that you need hardware optimised to get gigabit speeds over PPPoE. I don't know if the R8000 fits in that category or not. I'd encourage you to try Contact's router and see if that addresses your problems.

mcarans

27 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#2899534 10-Apr-2022 16:19

Jase2985:
have your tired a different router?

I don't have another one to try unfortunately.

allio

895 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 529

#2899830 11-Apr-2022 13:20

mdf:

b0untypure1:

My trusty steed - Asus R8000 :) I feel like it was purchased back in 2014 for about $400 but boy o'mighty does it keep up with todays requirements!

If I'm remebering correct, Vodafone is IPoE, Contact is PPPoE. I'm no network engineer (just someone who reads GZ really...), but I believe the orthodox view is that you need hardware optimised to get gigabit speeds over PPPoE. I don't know if the R8000 fits in that category or not. I'd encourage you to try Contact's router and see if that addresses your problems.

On older firmwares the R8000 disabled CTF (hardware acceleration) with PPPoE connections, so it is possible that if OP is running a very old firmware version that the shift from VF to Contact would result in a big speed drop. However even without CTF the R8000's CPU should be able to do 4-500mbps. If OP was getting 800mbps this morning, I don't think the router is at fault here. Together with the huge drops in performance at peak times, it sounds like just a poorly performing ISP.

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BenTM

22 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2899839 11-Apr-2022 13:39

It's bizarre to see so much hate for Contact because I have been with Contact for Broadband for a while, on their Max Fibre plan, and I consistently get great results. Never had any issues with connection. Did have some woes when I moved house and they somehow forgot to connect the new place and then tried to double charge me but that is just par for the course ISP nonsense in my experience.

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#2899864 11-Apr-2022 15:02

BenTM:

It's bizarre to see so much hate for Contact because I have been with Contact for Broadband for a while, on their Max Fibre plan, and I consistently get great results. Never had any issues with connection. Did have some woes when I moved house and they somehow forgot to connect the new place and then tried to double charge me but that is just par for the course ISP nonsense in my experience.

Are you running contacts router or your own? And Obviously you are testing on ethernet

1000/400 is pretty good

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

BenTM

22 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2899868 11-Apr-2022 15:12

nztim:

Are you running contacts router or your own? And Obviously you are testing on ethernet

1000/400 is pretty good

Yep, on ethernet just to show the actual connection speed. Using Contact's supplied NetComm as the modem but have my own router attached for wireless because the wi-fi on the NetComm is fine but not good. It can definitely pull decent speeds in close proximity but the range is pretty lame.

quickymart

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#2899903 11-Apr-2022 15:56

It would be great if everyone's experiences with them were as good as yours was. Sadly, this isn't the case.

BenTM

22 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2899921 11-Apr-2022 16:11

quickymart:

It would be great if everyone's experiences with them were as good as yours was. Sadly, this isn't the case.

Totally agree! A pity because their support and price are both pretty great I've found. Sucks that people are having network issues with them, for sure. Fingers crossed I stay lucky.

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nztim

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#2899945 11-Apr-2022 16:47

BenTM:

Yep, on ethernet just to show the actual connection speed. Using Contact's supplied NetComm as the modem but have my own router attached for wireless because the wi-fi on the NetComm is fine but not good. It can definitely pull decent speeds in close proximity but the range is pretty lame.

Netcomm wifi is terrible also are you based in Auckland? The reason I ask is Devoli don't have local BNGs round the country and everything is Layer2 to MDR and goes out from there

Which is fine if you are in Auckland but pretty shocking if you are elseware in the country

I wonder where the OP @b0untypure1 is based?

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

prat33k

182 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#2899948 11-Apr-2022 16:54

nztim:

Which is fine if you are in Auckland but pretty shocking if you are elseware in the country

From the screenshot of the speedtest looks like he is from Dunedin and speedtest server was from Wellington. Pretty nice result imo.

BenTM

22 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2899950 11-Apr-2022 16:55

I am in Auckland, so that’s likely the reason. Would be interesting to see the divide between Aucklanders and the rest of NZ

prat33k

182 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#2899957 11-Apr-2022 17:04

BenTM: I am in Auckland, so that’s likely the reason. Would be interesting to see the divide between Aucklanders and the rest of NZ

Oh interesting, that Dunedin in the client location could be due to the CG-NAT'ing that Contact does. If this is the case and if the server location is correct then even more impressive I guess. 1000/400 from Auckland to Wellington? Unless someone can correct me if i'm thinking wrong.

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