[WXC/VFX] Gone too far.

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Gone too far.

Kooz

23 posts

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#26065 11-Sep-2008 00:50

Okay so its getting worse. Torrent plan at night past 12 midnight.
Games dont run, at all. Browsing international web pages loads at about the same speed as a 56k dial up. We cant do anything outside local and its really getting on my nerves. WE ARE PAYING FOR ADSL 24/7. WE ARE NOT ON THE TORRENT PLAN. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH INTERNET SPEEDS WORSE THAN DIAL UP AT ANY TIME DURING ANY DAY!

Can anyone seriously suggest an option that is similar too Xnets current ADSL plans. We're on the Max Download / 128 Upload plan with a cap of about 10-15 gigs a month. Xnets plans are perfect for the way I use the internet, until they made these plans. We cant seem to find anything similar or anything close to the price range. Everyone is much to expensive or wants you to have tolls.

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#163654 11-Sep-2008 01:02

The only better ones I can see are on LLU plans by Orcon (Or vodafone) depending on availability in your area - does mean a total change in providers, but I've heard plenty of good things. Similar if not cheaper pricing. (Given wxc use teleom wholesale they would be the best for what they offer)

Noodles

487 posts

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#163659 11-Sep-2008 02:21

I agree. I'm also on a normal plan (i.e. not torrent) and surfing/browsing suffers immediately after midnight. I don't understand why normal users are lumped in with leechers when we pay for the traffic at this time (where as torrent users get it free).

nexttothemoon

35 posts

Geek

#163732 11-Sep-2008 11:05

My understanding of BB (and I'm certainly no expert) is that every customer in an ISP is sharing the same bandwidth pipe no matter what plan they are on... so network wide slowdowns like the one that happens on XNet after midnight each night effect everyone.

Of course each plan varies so some people have for example 128/FS on a relatively low synching line while others may be FS/FS on a high synching line (or even on an ADSL2+ enabled line) so every user experiences different speeds and thus different end results when there is high network congestion as well.?

The basic fact is that everyone is sharing the same pie... just that some people have bigger slices of the pie to begin with and others have only small slivers so they are more severely affected when network wide slowdowns occur.

The only real option when you have unusable and unacceptable speed slowdowns daily is to try FS/FS if you aren't already on that plan... or simply switch providers to one that may or may not have less congestion on their networks. It's a bit of a crapshoot in NZ switching and chasing acceptable levels of bandwidth from provider to provider and it seems most (if not all ISP's) have issues with overloaded networks at some stage... some are just more proactive at trying to remedy the problems than others.

nate

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#163797 11-Sep-2008 15:42

Have you tried contacting the Xnet helpdesk to voice your concerns? It may not be the Xnet side, but a configuration issue on your end.

Just a helpful reminder, this isn't the proper support channel for Xnet, you do need to use the methods mentioned on their website.

sampler

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#163809 11-Sep-2008 16:59

nate: Have you tried contacting the Xnet helpdesk to voice your concerns? It may not be the Xnet side, but a configuration issue on your end.

Just a helpful reminder, this isn't the proper support channel for Xnet, you do need to use the methods mentioned on their website.

No im sure many people can confirm that post 12pm at night there is a huge drop in speed to any number of international locations. It was the whole point of the plan to move the "heavy torrent" users into this time frame. I also notice the drop around that time of night.

As the bulk of this traffic is now "time automated" maybe it would be possible to move the "start point" back a little. How about 2am? I’m sure the most hardy surfer/gamer should be ready for bed time at least by then?

Cheers

Sampler

jermsie

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#163810 11-Sep-2008 17:00

Sounds like the new Go Large (well when it was first out)

– J

Ragnor

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#163818 11-Sep-2008 17:35

I'm looking for a new ISP atm also, I was on Xnet 6 months ago their performance was rubbish then and it sounds like it's still rubbish now. I went for a more expensive but more reliable option. However just recently these free off peak plans are tempting me... Slingshot looks the best imo:

- Data banking: If you buy a datablock the unused amount rolls over into the next month (each block lasts for upto 12months)

- Free Off-Peak: 1am till 7am, starts 1 hour later than xnet so it's less likely to intefere with late night gamers. Several people have told me their QoS is solid and you don't get xnet style performance on priority traffic (gaming etc).

- FS/128 kbps $49.95 /month, option 1: 15GB data, option 2: 5GB data ($10 worth of free toll calls)

So basically the same price as Xnet HSI torrent for 15gb without the horrible performance.

Quic Broadband

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nexttothemoon

35 posts

Geek

#163823 11-Sep-2008 18:09

In theory Slingshot looks to have the best bang for the buck at the moment... but every time an ISP seems to come up with a package that entices a lot of users into their network... like night follows day... the speeds usually decline and crap performance is the result.

I'd like to give SS a go as well because they do look to have easily the best plans but the idea of being stuck in a 12 month plan while speeds potentially go down the tubes is not one I want to experience. I still may have to bite the bullet and make a "leap of faith" with SS and go for it in the end as XNet isn't looking like a valid alternative and Orcon (where I am now) is more pricey than SS while giving much less data (especially with the free off peak/data banking features SS is offering).

nate

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#163844 11-Sep-2008 19:59

sampler: No im sure many people can confirm that post 12pm at night there is a huge drop in speed to any number of international locations. It was the whole point of the plan to move the "heavy torrent" users into this time frame. I also notice the drop around that time of night.

As the bulk of this traffic is now "time automated" maybe it would be possible to move the "start point" back a little. How about 2am? I’m sure the most hardy surfer/gamer should be ready for bed time at least by then?

Just go to bed earlier, problem solved

Seriously though, logging a fault with WxC is the best way to raise attention to this. While techs from WxC read these forums, it's not an official support channel, more a way for WxC to easily interact with their customers.

Kooz

23 posts

Geek

#163876 11-Sep-2008 22:37

Thing is, not everyone goes to bed just before or on midnight, wether they're working, or just doing it because they feel like it.
Either Xnet needs to start shaping their internet for full paying customers so it doesnt nuke the non-torrenters during 12-8am. Or they push it back. I noticed someone said 2am. I would also agree with this. its roughly the latest I stay up most nights i need to be up past 12. Hope someone at Xnet is reading this. Seriously consider it please.

boby55

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#163881 11-Sep-2008 22:52

before the torrent plan was introduced, I could hardly watch a youtube video at 4pm in the afternoon, I would imagine less than 8% of non torrent users are online after midnight and they are going to have to cope with it as with the free nat users did when xnet removed it because abuse.

Kooz

23 posts

Geek

#163902 12-Sep-2008 01:29

So you think its fair we pay full price during the day for okay internet, then the same price for worse than 56k from 12-8am? Atleast push it back a few hours. it gives gamers and late nighters more viable internet time. Most torrents are illegal. We shouldnt be enocouraging people to use them.

JoeBloggs

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#163906 12-Sep-2008 02:00

Surely it's possible to allocate just 1/3 or 1/2 of all available bandwidth to each plan? That way the torrent users slow down at midnight and the non torrent plan users don't have the headaches. Telstraclear can throttle customers based on their plan, surely Xnet can do the same.

Kooz

23 posts

Geek

#163910 12-Sep-2008 02:48

JoeBloggs: Surely it's possible to allocate just 1/3 or 1/2 of all available bandwidth to each plan? That way the torrent users slow down at midnight and the non torrent plan users don't have the headaches. Telstraclear can throttle customers based on their plan, surely Xnet can do the same.

I rung Xnet helpdesk and asked about some sort of priority plan similar to what you suggest. The man I spoke to simply said "Xnet does not shape its bandwidth". Meaning they apparently dont do this. However from what I can tell they do. The torrent plan is shaped. Its forced to slow during the day, then unleashed during the midnight hours.

Xnet please, if you wont listen to calls, if you wont pay attention to formal letters, then atleast pay attention to these threads. You need to prioritise these plans more and keep EVERYONE happy. I dont see why it is so hard to do what Joe has said, Allow non torrent customers to have some sort of priority over the torrent plans. Its fair to us and we dont feel like we're wasting so much money during these hours. I would perfer something like this. however changing the time from 12 - 8am to something like 2 - 8am or 2 - 10am would be just as good.

scottjpalmer

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#163914 12-Sep-2008 05:22

Kooz: however changing the time from 12 - 8am to something like 2 - 8am or 2 - 10am would be just as good.

What about the people that want to use the internet at 8am, just because you are asleep then after being awake half the night doesn't mean they should be slowed down???

I would like to think that the smart folk at WxC assessed the times of the day that the torrent plan would have the least effect on the most users and set the start and end times accordingly.

There isn't a huge chorus singing your support unlike what we have seen here with previous WxC issues, maybe being in such a minority with such a precious issue (which I don't doubt causes you substantial inconvienience) you may need to consider other ISP options?

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