Best ISP for working from home in 2021?

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darrylb

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#289276 25-Aug-2021 08:35

I run a smallish business from home and recently moved to (central) Rotorua. I’ve been with Spark for the last few years and in our old location it was great, always got 100Mbps on fibre, but here in Rotorua, it’s a very different story. Often the connection speed will drop to less than 10Mbps and sometimes even lower than 1Mbps, before returning to 50-60Mbps.

Needless to say, Zoom calls get spotty at times, to say nothing of streaming media.

I’m not sure if the problem is Chorus or Spark. I’ve had Spark on the phone and they said they would monitor the connection and get back to me when they noticed a problem, but intermittent problems like this are often hard to pinpoint and isolate.

So, I’m wondering if anyone has any good suggestions for a good ISP. MyRepublic have been advertising on speedtest.net, and they look like they have a reasonable deal, but I figure this is probably the best place to get some good advice.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Recovering technology geek, business owner, Christian, generally friendly.

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#2766306 25-Aug-2021 08:38

Fault will be in your own local network. Key to finding a solution involves not testing over wifi.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

xpd

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#2766311 25-Aug-2021 08:50

I've been with Voyager and BigPipe over last few years, both awesome and very few (if any) connectivity issues.

But as above, does sound like its a local issue and not the ISP connectivity.

Tried another router ? Make sure you use cable and not wifi for testing. Replace cables.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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michaelmurfy

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#2766312 25-Aug-2021 08:51

It does sound like you're testing over WiFi - you need to test via Ethernet.

Also, DO NOT go with MyRepublic. What you're seeing is just very shady marketing (I actually believe this is a fair trading act breach personally). There are multiple posts on here explaining why MyRepublic is simply a terrible ISP.

Lastly - I wrote something about picking an ISP: https://murfy.nz/2018/02/06/picking-the-right-isp/

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

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wratterus

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#2766321 25-Aug-2021 09:02

As above. Don't go with MR. Spark are absolutely fine, and this almost certainly won't be a Spark issue. What router are you using? Have Spark supplied you with a new router at some stage while troubleshooting this issue?

Also as above, how are you running these tests? Are the clients wired, or wireless? Have you checked/replaced the Ethernet cable between the ONT & router, and confirmed you are definitely getting a Gigabit link between the ONT & router when these issues are occuring?

cyril7

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#2766324 25-Aug-2021 09:07

Hi, that does not add up, Fibre connections are rarely dodgy like copper, i have never seen a fibre connection not perform as per the number published on the tin, the chorus network and the L3 RSP networks behind it (well at least for the top teir RSPs of which Spark are top of the pack) simply are not built in a manner that cause the type of issue you are seeing. Sure odd and bad things do happen, but on fibre its rare enough to say, its not happening.

As for Rotorua being an issue, I was recently remotely supporting a few connections in downtown Rotorua, all on Spark fibre, some residential plans others 100/100 bus, all performed to full spec, each site had a local linux server on site to support various services, and occasionally I would run a speedtest via cli, every time 100/100 or 100/20 or there abouts depending on which plan they were on.

As the other have said, sounds like you have poor reticulation in your home/office, are you using WiFi to test, if so, DONT, use a wired connection and then test, then report back.

Cyril

dt

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#2766325 25-Aug-2021 09:09

Are you on fibre in Rotorua as well?

Has anything changed with your network setup? [can you list what you have an how youre connected?]

Wouldn't recommend switching just yet till you rule out network config and if you do decide to switch, dont go with my republic if youre running a small business from home

You should check out orcon, voyager or 2degrees business plans, they're very affordable these days with features like priority support, better SLA's and 4g failover back up connections etc

sbiddle

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#2766326 25-Aug-2021 09:09

The issue is almost certainly within your network at home rather than anything to do with your RSP.

Plenty of tips above and information you'll need to provide if you want want to get to the bottom of the issue.

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huckster

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#2766329 25-Aug-2021 09:12

Just to make it clear, you Rotorua connection is Fibre, VDSL, Wireless Broadband?

networkn

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#2766330 25-Aug-2021 09:12

dt:

Are you on fibre in Rotorua as well?

This is the question that needed to be asked and answered first :)

darrylb

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#2766390 25-Aug-2021 10:39

sbiddle:

The issue is almost certainly within your network at home rather than anything to do with your RSP.

Thanks for the replies!

Well, my local setup is not perfect, so I’m open to considering options.

The fibre terminates in an upstairs office (I’m downstairs) in another part of the house. The ONT connects to a Synology RT2600ac. That isn’t a very strong WiFi connection down into my office (distance, angled walls, etc), so I have a Synology MR2200ac extender in the room above the office, connected by 5Ghz to the RT2600ac. Using the Synology DSM to test the connectivity between these yields 130Mbps+ speeds both ways (at least right now).

I also have PoE for cabled access to the router, though I don’t find it particularly good.

I’ve tested the connection via WiFi and wired (wired via PoE and directly into the RT2600ac) but haven’t really noticed any real difference, hence my original question.

This is the same router I had before we moved (though I was sitting next to the router back then), but I’ve had to add the MR2200ac in the new place.

So, I’m open to thoughts how to improve performance if the issues are not with Spark.

Recovering technology geek, business owner, Christian, generally friendly.

wratterus

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#2766394 25-Aug-2021 10:43

Wow OK - what speed plan are you on? Do you have a Spark router you can connect to the ONT & run a speedtest over Ethernet (ideally using the Windows 10 app, not the speedtest site)? That would be a great place to start & confirm you get the same performance when testing over Ethernet with the Synology.

Are you using the IDS features on the Synology? I believe having this on can drop throughput to well under 100mbps.

Also, what do you mean by a PoE connection? Just Ethernet? Can you define 'not particularly good'?

darrylb

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#2766410 25-Aug-2021 10:58

Wow OK - what speed plan are you on? Do you have a Spark router you can connect to the ONT & run a speedtest over Ethernet (ideally using the Windows 10 app, not the speedtest site)? That would be a great place to start.

I should be getting 100Mbs

I run on Macs these days, so I don’t have a Windows machine to use. I do have a Spark ONT though - it was here when we moved in.

Also, what do you mean by a PoE connection? Just Ethernet? Can you define 'not particularly good'?

It is just Ethernet via Power. By “not good” meaning the same thing I get on WiFi I also see over PoE.

I should also mention that my router is set to reboot daily.

Recovering technology geek, business owner, Christian, generally friendly.

cyril7

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#2766411 25-Aug-2021 10:59

Hi so we still have no tests directly cabled to the router, can you please try that. As for PoE, I think you mean EoP, many of you know I loath these things, what works one minute does not the next, speeds vary depending on load at 50Hz, which means, you never know what you have, IMHO its one of the biggest junk network tech's on the planet.

Is there no way to achieve a proper cabled connection between the two floors, both to serve cabled services and to backhaul the MR2200.

Cyril