Xnet vs Slingshot - Advice Please

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msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#26942 8-Oct-2008 01:22

Hi guys. I am currently with Xnet. But have been facing alot of problems with speed. I cant seem to load international websites or surf youtube videos etc. It takes really long to load an international website and I feel like im on dial up. I like Xnet because they are flexible and have no contracts, but I saw slingshot and their plans look attractive as well.

Just want to know if it is possible to sign up with Slingshot without going into the 12 month contract. It says free modem and bla bla bla if u sign a 12 month contract , so does this mean that I can go in without a contract if i dont want any of their stuff? I am not a very fussy user, I used to be able to get 150 kb/sec download speed on Xnet.. Im on the river plan.. However nowdays I cant even load pages or watch videos.. Xnet told me everything looks fine with my connection.. So I guess I need to change ISP.

What I need is advice, on how slingshot is like. Those on slingshot.. how are your speeds like... peak and off peak.. any problems with torrents? (heard orcon has problems).

foobar

186 posts

Master Geek

#169750 8-Oct-2008 05:21

Hello!

Strange problems you have there with Xnet. I'm also with Xnet and my speed is just fine (videos without problem, wideo conferencing, lots of international traffic, etc.).

Maybe you should consider whether the problem might be with your particular setup, before you switch ISPs and then find that you still have the same problems. After all, in the end they are all forced to use Telecom's infrastructure anyway.

It also depends on where you are located. What does your DSL router tell you about your SNR margins and line attenuation? What does the router list as up/down speeds? If those numbers are off, then changing the ISP won't make any difference at all.

What does speedtest tell you about your national and international access speeds?

AmooMan

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#169771 8-Oct-2008 08:10

My works DSL is also with Xnet and it streams Youtube fine..
Not that i should be looking at youtube lol

cyril7

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#169785 8-Oct-2008 08:46

Not related to this is it.

Cyril

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#169919 8-Oct-2008 16:52

Hey guys thanks for the replies.
Cyril, I just saw the link you posted. So maybe there is something going on after all. I have the same problems listed on there 1) Cant stream anything2) Browsing websites super slow3) Cannot log into MSN at times
And to answer the other questions, about my setup (maybe thats also causing some problems). I do not exactly know what to check, but this is on my modem page:

SNR Margin --> Downstream: 9 Upstream: 21Line Attenuation--> Down: 58, Up: 31Data Rate--> Down: 1728, Up: 160
Does this look ok? I am located near the botany downs area, I have no clue where the exchange is or what Im supposed to be getting. I am on the River Plan.

Also, could this be a router thing? I am using D Link DSL 604T. ADSL Firmware Version: 5.00.04.00 - 5.00.03.00 - 5.00.03.00 Annex A - 01.07.2b - 0.52

cyril7

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#169922 8-Oct-2008 17:03

Hi, your speed is poor, but your line appears to be around 4.5km (58dB) so you cannot expect more. Its another couple of years before you can expect an improvement (ie Cabinetisation)

Without knowing the real distance (or approx) to the exchange and if it relates to the above figure then there is no way from here to see if there is any improvement that can be made.

Cyril

eXDee

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#169926 8-Oct-2008 17:12

It seems that both Xnet and Slingshot are having issues at the moment. Xnet has the constant 'all traffic dies at 12am' + general international issues, and according to an old slingshot tech, misconfiguration of slingshots shaping equipment or something has caused many peoples speeds to go to crap.
If you're looking for a new ISP, in general Telstraclear, Maxnet, Telecom and Vodafone seem to be fairly reliable candidates for no issues at the moment.

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#169933 8-Oct-2008 17:23

its a real shame that i have to wait a few YEARS to see some improvement lol. Simply Dreadful.
Anyway I was only looking at xnet and slingshot because their deals are really worth it at the moment. I cannot afford to spend more than 50 a month so I am limited to these companies. I was with XTRA some time back and was getting crap speeds then as well. So yeah.. I dont know. Guess the whole internet infrasructure in nz must be pretty crap then.

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cr250bromo

222 posts

Master Geek

#169961 8-Oct-2008 19:34

if your sync rate is that bad and you've eliminated your own internal wiring at fault, tried a few modems and so on, I'd say you'd be higher up on the list to be cabentised than a few years away, ie point chev has already been done because historically they had very bad sync rates being so far from the Mt Albert exchange.

I notice up the road from me they have dug a pit for the new cabinet and laid concrete and so on. The chorus site says the cabinet I am on will be done by 01/01/09, can't wait given I get pretty bad sync rates. :)

Talkiet

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#170441 10-Oct-2008 16:09

portunus: if your sync rate is that bad and you've eliminated your own internal wiring at fault, tried a few modems and so on, I'd say you'd be higher up on the list to be cabentised than a few years away, ie point chev has already been done because historically they had very bad sync rates being so far from the Mt Albert exchange.

I notice up the road from me they have dug a pit for the new cabinet and laid concrete and so on. The chorus site says the cabinet I am on will be done by 01/01/09, can't wait given I get pretty bad sync rates. :)

It's important to note that the date in the spreadsheet you refer to is the date at which Chorus advise the transfer may take place. The reality for service transition to the cabinet is that it will be within 90 days of the date listed. I agree that the terminology used in the public spreadsheet isn't clear but I have confirmed this information.

Regards - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

raytaylor

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#170749 12-Oct-2008 18:21

==================

== Dont go to Slingshot ==

==================

Even on their highest FS/FS plan, they shape you to 256k once you have downloaded more than 11mb of data. See on their forums http://forums.slingshot.co.nz for more info. You have to close all internet activity for 2 minutes before you are given full speed again.

I have been testing last night and found that they may have increased the threshold to 30-somehing mb but im still not 100% sure.

So basically they are now useless for p2p, downloading iso's, or even downloading AVG now takes 23 minutes.
Unless all you need is 256k

Ray Taylor

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Detruire

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Uber Geek

#170756 12-Oct-2008 18:48

Slingshot are awful. They're shaping connections far too far and, like Xnet used to, lie when the issue is raised.

rm *