Any point in changing providers to change speed?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Any point in changing providers to change speed?

Geektastic

11246 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3579

Trusted

Subscriber

Topic # 189121 17-Dec-2015 14:50

We are often told that changing providers will bring great improvements.

We have VDSL on copper and there are - according to Chorus maps - no plans to bring fibre here ever.

Given that all providers of broadband use the same wires then, would it make even a scintilla of difference who I paid every month in terms of speed?

PeterReader

5499 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 241

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1452325 17-Dec-2015 14:50

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

Jase2985

7664 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2519

Subscriber

Reply # 1452339 17-Dec-2015 14:57

nope your isp has little to no control over your final speed

sidefx

3146 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 883

Trusted

Reply # 1452340 17-Dec-2015 14:58

One person supports this post

Yes, because some ISPs will have better routing, peering, international capacity, caching, etc.

Unless the issue is your sync rate - then changing ISPs will probably not fix that - but past that "last mile" not all ISPs are equal (though most are getting better, and for your average Joe there's not that much difference these days...)

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1571

Reply # 1452348 17-Dec-2015 15:11

sidefx: Yes, because some ISPs will have better routing, peering, international capacity, caching, etc.

Unless the issue is your sync rate - then changing ISPs will probably not fix that - but past that "last mile" not all ISPs are equal (though most are getting better, and for your average Joe there's not that much difference these days...)

this.

your sync rate and your speed to access stuff within NZ will be basically the same on all ISPS.

your international speed (particularly at peak times) could well be better or worse on other ISPs.

look at truenet for a (somewhat debateable) measure of peak time speeds on different ISPS

https://truenet.nz/isp-performance-trend

note that the difference between most ISPs is pretty small - variance of +/-5% which probably falls within the margin of error for Truenet. anything above 90% is pretty good.

The ones to watch out for (i.e. avoid) are the ones where performance drops below 90% (biggest candidate for this is slingshot)

robjg63

2623 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 501

Reply # 1452354 17-Dec-2015 15:22

sidefx: Yes, because some ISPs will have better routing, peering, international capacity, caching, etc.

Unless the issue is your sync rate - then changing ISPs will probably not fix that - but past that "last mile" not all ISPs are equal (though most are getting better, and for your average Joe there's not that much difference these days...)

Sums it up nicely - though the first point is still something that varies from time to time. ISPs sometimes seem to throw extra resources at their "routing, peering, international capacity, caching" and things are good - it only stays good if they are increasing resources continuosly as the load on the network increases - if they dont, then.....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2600
Inactive user

Reply # 1452358 17-Dec-2015 15:30

@Geektastic in your case zero difference as you will still be connected to the same hardware and same distance from that hardware,

You need to move closer to the serving handware, Buy a new house next to a cabinet / exchange

Geektastic

11246 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3579

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1452389 17-Dec-2015 16:38

johnr: @Geektastic in your case zero difference as you will still be connected to the same hardware and same distance from that hardware,

You need to move closer to the serving handware, Buy a new house next to a cabinet / exchange

Yes, that was sort of the point I was getting at.

Surely for most people this will be true, so any advertising claiming your connection, on a like for like basis, will be 'faster' is probably bunk then...

Geektastic

11246 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3579

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1452390 17-Dec-2015 16:39

How do you find out sync rate? (as opposed to sink rate, if you're a pilot...!)

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2600
Inactive user

Reply # 1452391 17-Dec-2015 16:48

Geektastic: How do you find out sync rate? (as opposed to sink rate, if you're a pilot...!)

In your modem

Geektastic

11246 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3579

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1452395 17-Dec-2015 17:00

johnr:
Geektastic: How do you find out sync rate? (as opposed to sink rate, if you're a pilot...!)

In your modem

Does it have a different name? There isn't a line item headed "Sync Rate".

Geektastic

11246 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3579

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1452396 17-Dec-2015 17:00

johnr:
Geektastic: How do you find out sync rate? (as opposed to sink rate, if you're a pilot...!)

In your modem

Does it have a different name? There isn't a line item headed "Sync Rate".

solival

153 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 20

Reply # 1452398 17-Dec-2015 17:12

Run from command line traceroute to site that you want speed improvements (for example: traceroute youtube.com) and bring result here. It will allow us to tell you a bit more.

RunningMan

4843 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1504

Reply # 1452399 17-Dec-2015 17:15

Geektastic:
johnr:
Geektastic: How do you find out sync rate? (as opposed to sink rate, if you're a pilot...!)

In your modem

Does it have a different name? There isn't a line item headed "Sync Rate".

Try xDSL line stats or similar.

Jase2985

7664 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2519

Subscriber

Reply # 1452453 17-Dec-2015 18:23

what modem do you have?

probably called downstream rate, Connection speed (kbps), Modem DSL Stats, DS Actual Rate, Rate (kbps) or something similar