update to my old thread on ADSL speeds across providers

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › update to my old thread on ADSL speeds across providers

Kalaren

93 posts

Master Geek

#59557 6-Apr-2010 22:36

In my old thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=57614&page_no=1#300461 I was discussing / asking reasons for why speeds would be so vastly different between Telecom and Vodafone. Due to the circumstances in my examples most replys pointed the finger at other factors, rather than direct differences between the two providers.

As an update, I have now shifted to Vodafone in my new house, with telecom on ADSL2+ I was connecting at 6mbit, and getting 5.5ish on speed tests.
Today, after the change over I am now at 9mbit connect rate - last speed test was 8.5mbit

This is a fairly huge difference in my opinion, and I'm curious to know why even after calling Telecom to make sure I was on correct profile etc they still couldn't make my connection much faster, but with Vodafone its at much higher speeds on day 1.

Gotta be exchange equipment yeh? If so... why is Telecoms equipment inferior?

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#315565 6-Apr-2010 23:00

Check the line stats in your modem's admin ui.

You will probably find that Vodafone run a 6 dB noise margin if you are connected to their equipment in the exchange (Red network).

For comparison Telecom run a more conservative 12 dB noise margin. I believe they've said in the past that they do this to maximise line stability at the expense of potential sync speed.

So it's not really inferior equipment but different design decisions.

uktuatara

149 posts

Master Geek

#315577 6-Apr-2010 23:24

Vodafone optimise for their Red network which is a confined area. Telecom have made design decisions based on the fact that they cover the majority of the country and therefore have to have a more conservative approach to their DSLAM profiles.

So in your case, you have an optimised profile becuase Vodafone know the area that you reside in (The Red Network) has certain characteristics, the know this becuase they have bound the Red Network to a known quantity.

Telecom could also do this, but to manage it across the amount of customers they have is not feasible unless they invest in something like DLM.