Orcon @ ~2mbps, my neighbour gets ~13mbps with Xtra

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Orcon @ ~2mbps, my neighbour gets ~13mbps with Xtra

Maelstrom

68 posts

Master Geek

#90952 4-Oct-2011 11:03

Hey all,

As the title says, I'm using Orcon at home (forget which plan it is, but it's somewhere close to $100/m with the phone line -- at the time, I asked for whatever the best available was) and I get ~2mbps download on SpeedTest.

My neighbour over the road is with Xtra, and he gets (reliably) around ~13mbps. He's worked for a telco in the past and assures me that we'll be going through the same exchange / equipment (at the end of our street) so there really ought to be no reason why we get such wildly different speeds.

I rang Orcon and they said, basically "Restart your router. Check your ADSL filters. Replace your ADSL filters. Reset your router to factory defaults. Replace your router. You must do all this before we do any tech stuff, and, if we do tech stuff and it turns out to be something inside your property, you have to pay us fees for our time."

So, having done all the replacing and resetting and testing I can do without buying a new router, I'm biting the bullet and buying a new router. Truth be told, mine IS a few years old (an ASUS ADSL2 wireless of some description) but if I buy this new router and install it and STILL get a connection that sucks monkey balls, I'm going to be really annoyed.

To that end, couple of questions for you:

[a] I'm thinking of getting something like this to replace the old router. Is this a good move?
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=12370&ref=pricespy

[b] If I jump through all these hoops and my speed still sucks, any suggestions on what I should do? If I move ISPs, might that fix it?

TL;DR: is the modem I linked to a good choice, and anything I can do about my slow connection if I jump through flaming hoops of fire and it still sucks?

Cheers everyone!

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Biddle Corp

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#528911 4-Oct-2011 11:07

First thing is posting your exact wiring setup and your ADSL sync stats from your modem. Statistically speaking, your problems will likely be wiring related within your home.

The second is whether you're possibly still on an Orcon ULL plan despite possibly being cabinetised. As you haven't said where you are located this may not be an issue.

Zeon

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#528921 4-Oct-2011 11:15

You could have poor internal wiring and getting bad sync speed or be on a LLU plan with Orcon even if your area has been cabinetised. Either way we need the sync stats of your modem.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

jonb

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#528925 4-Oct-2011 11:18

The tp-link is a very good choice. But I would bet money that you live in an area that's been cabinetised, and you are still connected to Orcon's exchange equipment. See this thread (and others on geekzine, with a similar experience to you):

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=82&topicid=90247

Have a look at the map of where you live at http://www.telecomwholesale.co.nz/redirect.jsp?/maps

If it's in a cabinetised area, and you're not connected to it, you'll get slow speeds..

simon14

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#528951 4-Oct-2011 11:51

I agree, i bet this is because your area has been cabinetised but you are still on Orcon's LLU. Give them a call and check.

bener

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#528952 4-Oct-2011 11:51

I had issues with my speed on slingshot (even slower than yours) when my area was cabinetised. As sbiddle and others explained to me, the new cabinet was causing interference with my signal.

This is because Slingshot did not have their own hardware in the cabinet - my signal was running right back to the exchange (much further).

I am by no means saying this is definitely your issue (as others have mentioned), but if it is, then you will not see any improvement unless you can get Orcon to switch you to a connection provided by Telecom Wholesale (which may cost you around $5 more).

Once Slingshot switched me to Telecom Wholesale I saw an improvement. In the end I switched to Telecom Broadband and my speeds improved yet again - I am now on around 13Mbps consistently, like your friend over the road!

Maelstrom

68 posts

Master Geek

#528954 4-Oct-2011 11:53

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the replies.

Sorry I left out my location. I'm in Mt Albert, Auckland.

Thanks to jonb's link, I can confirm I have access to ADSL2 and VDSL2 in my area.

I haven't posted my router stats as I'm sending this from work (and the router's at home). The only thing I happen to have here is this:

My sucky 'net

Doesn't that break your heart? ;-)

Now, the idea of being on an OLD plan somehow does interest me, as does the idea of the internal wiring.

Is internal wiring REALLY that much of a culprit? I couldn't help but think I was being fobbed off there. What can I do about getting that fixed?

Again, thanks all, your responses are very much appreciated.

bener

272 posts

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#528956 4-Oct-2011 11:55

Just as a side note, I have had shocking issues with a TP-Link TL-WA701ND Access Point that totally failed to save any settings when power was removed and randomly reset.

Please note that this is a one off experience with TP-Link and I have never used any of their other equipment so their wireless router/modems may be better.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

simon14

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#528957 4-Oct-2011 11:55

It's far more likely to be because you are cabinetised.

Maelstrom

68 posts

Master Geek

#528962 4-Oct-2011 12:00

You'd think during my numerous calls to Orcon, it's something they might have checked -- but given that the pinnacle of their front-line support seems to be "HAVE YOU TURNED IT OFF AND ON? CAN YOU DO THAT AGAIN?" I don't doubt this is something to check.

And, am I right in saying I should be asking to be taken OFF the Orcon LLU and onto the cabinet? And that might incur an extra monthly cost? The latter not an issue, but just making sure I have this right.

Thanks (bener) for the further feedback on the TP router. I've seen others in here saying Cisco is really good but I get the feeling a ~$100 TP is really all I need for home as opposed to a ~$300 Cisco...

Finally, I feel your pain on Slingshot. I can tell you that after an absolute disaster with CallPlus at work, I would never, ever, ever go within a million miles of Slingshot or CallPlus ever again...

cyril7

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#528965 4-Oct-2011 12:04

Hi, as others have noted there are two potential issues, midspan injection issues resulting from having been cabinetised yet reverencing DSL service from the exchange and poor internal wiring.

Both of these need sorting through but if you if you had reasonable speeds previously then chase through moving back to a wholesale plan (so you go off Orcons gear and back on Telecoms cabinet) and then once thats done look at your house wiring.

But to answer your question, house wiring can have a major impact, each house is different depending on whats in there, but the classic way of wiring houses for phones is not friendly to DSL, and just adding inline filters on each phone whilst it can help does not give the ultimate speed that can be acheived its only a cheap way of installing DSL without a tech visit.

Cyril

Talkiet

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#528970 4-Oct-2011 12:08

You're right - IF you are in an area that's been cabinetised and you are still on an Orcon LLU connection, you would very likely get much better performance by asking Orcon to move you to a Telecom WHolesale connection. Orcon may charge you more for this, I'm not familiar with their current plans.

Before doing this though, you should paste the router ADSL stats here from your modem, if the issue is a bad physical ADSL connection, they should clearly show up the issue.

As for the router recommendation? Well, it's one of the cheapest available in NZ and it will probably be just fine. Personally though, I'd wait until after you have

a) Shown us the line stats and
b) Had Orcon confirm if you are in an LLU connection in a cabinetised area

before spending any money, you may not need a new router.

Cheers - 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.

bener

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#528972 4-Oct-2011 12:12

Haha yeah it was kinda rough but with the help of the GeekZone team I got there in the end. I had to pay $5 more for the Telecom Wholesale connection per month. It would be worth noting that Orcon would rather not have you on the Telecom Wholesale connection so it may be hard to sort.

If you have VDSL2 in your area you must have a nice new cabinet - the Chorus guy told me our one is a fiber connection back to the exchange and our connection is great.

TP-Link is pretty well priced, maybe look at something like this Linksys by Cisco WAG120N for $120ish

cyril7

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#528989 4-Oct-2011 12:42

It would be worth noting that Orcon would rather not have you on the Telecom Wholesale connection so it may be hard to sort.

So Orcon would rather you had 2Mb/s rather than 15Mb/s and treat it as a advantage of their service, I dont think that correct, the front line staff may have made it feel that way but I doubt those that make the commercial decisions that matter in Orcon would be pleased to hear that.

Further connections with midspan issues suffer badly from random disconnections and all manner of poor performance, its not to their advantage to have customers ringing up to complain day in and day out.

Cyril

bener

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#528999 4-Oct-2011 12:55

As I understand they take a profit hit by switching you to Telecom Wholesale as the $5 p/m extra cost does not cover it. Perhaps I should rephrase that, I may have sounded too certain.

** It would be worth noting that there is a possibility Orcon would rather not have you on the Telecom Wholesale connection so it may be harder to sort. **

I was given many different lines about the Telecom Wholesale service by the frontline support at Slingshot including "that service is only for ISP's, not consumers" which lead me to two possible conclusions - they had no understanding of how it works, or were trying to avoid admitting this was my issue.

I am by no means sure that this is the case at Orcon, I was just trying to imply that Maelstrom should be a bit more specific when he calls regarding cabinets vs. LLU and Telecom Wholesale.

Maelstrom

68 posts

Master Geek

#529003 4-Oct-2011 12:58

Just got off the 'phone from Orcon. They're saying "Yes, you're on the LLU service". They didn't offer to change me over to Telecom wholesale, but they said "We've made a change that moves you up to the 'fastest setting' -- can you see if that makes a difference?"

I do wonder if that's again a bit of a shut-up-and-go-away, but I'm prepared to check it when I get home, and call back again if(when?) there's no difference. I'll keep this thread updated, too, in thanks to those of you that have advised and in case others have similar issues. Thanks again all!

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