Why is my download speed faster via an overseas proxy or vpn?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Why is my download speed faster via an overseas proxy or vpn?

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#201373 16-Aug-2016 10:25

I have a question regarding my download speed, and how it changes when using vpn or proxy.

I'm on 1Gbit fibre.

Recently I tried to connect to a certain overseas video streaming service, and using direct connection with a smart DNS proxy I got only about 150 KB/s and regular connection drop-outs.

When I connected to the same service via a VPN, I got the speed of 470 KB/s with no dropouts.

When I connected via a transparent proxy located in the same country as the VOD service, I got the speeds up to 4 MB/s.

Can someone shine some light on why this speed difference would be the case? Is Orcon doing some sort of DNS hijacking or traffic management or something else I don't know about?

Thanks

1 | 2

6018 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1612350 16-Aug-2016 10:25

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

you have reset your modem and router
your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing - you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap
your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing
you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

Your ISP and plan
Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)
Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)
Your general location (or street)
If you are rural or urban
If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin
If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service
If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

These links are referral codes: Sharesies | Mighty Ape

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1612360 16-Aug-2016 10:33

Obviously being routed via slower providers. If you trace via Orcon to the site, then compare to a trace via the VPN, you'll find different paths used.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#1612361 16-Aug-2016 10:39

Thanks for your reply.

So if I understand correctly, you're saying direct ME->ORCON->VOD route will be much slower than ME->ORCON->PROXY/VPN->VOD?

When you say "trace paths", how do I go about doing this tracing?

Cheers

Behodar

10503 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1612363 16-Aug-2016 10:44

"traceroute example.com" from a command line will show the path taken to example.com on most platforms (on Windows it's "tracert").

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#1612370 16-Aug-2016 10:49

Nice. Thanks for that.

So, apart from using VPN/proxy, there's nothing I can do to increase international speeds with my direct connection?

KrazyKid

1238 posts

Uber Geek

#1612372 16-Aug-2016 10:55

Change ISP?

Lias

5589 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1612373 16-Aug-2016 10:56

toaster:

Nice. Thanks for that.

So, apart from using VPN/proxy, there's nothing I can do to increase international speeds with my direct connection?

Switch to a decent ISP

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#1612376 16-Aug-2016 11:02

That's very vague, guys. If you suggest radical changes like that, I will need ISP names.

When I signed up with Orcon years ago, they were THE ONLY ISP offering fibre on my location, and at the best price by far.

They were also THE ONLY ISP without the ridiculous fair use policy. So no other choice really.

If this has changed over the past couple years, and you can suggest an ISP to switch to for 1Gbit fibre without fair use policy, I'm all ears.

Feel free to send me a pm if you're scared to name the competition in an Orcon thread. ;)

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1612377 16-Aug-2016 11:05

How much data are you using per month that you're worried about fair use?

I'd suggest bigpipe or 2 degrees.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

UHD

655 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1612378 16-Aug-2016 11:09

I thought all those large VoD services used global CDNs to serve content. Orcon -> VoD service should be much faster regardless.

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#1612380 16-Aug-2016 11:17

I have 2 degrees mobile and their service couldn't be more terrible. I can't imagine them as a good ISP, sorry. Truenet shows their Fibre speed is less consistent as well.

I will look at BigPipe though. But even if I change ISP, how do I know international speeds with them will be better?

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1612387 16-Aug-2016 11:37

Not sure what truenet graphs you're looking at, but I've found 2 degrees very consistent and haven't seen anything in truenet results that suggest otherwise. Streaming from various sources (Netflix, amazon, BBC, etc) has always been rock solid for me. Their mobile infrastructure is a completely different beast to their broadband stuff, and IMO they've actually done a very good job keeping the broadband performance on track from the snap days.

*shrug*

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1612390 16-Aug-2016 11:47

Talk to Orcon, explain the problem you're having and they might find one of their route providers has gone to crap and needs to be changed.

Cant/wont fix things if noone tells/complains. :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

toaster

62 posts

Master Geek

#1612464 16-Aug-2016 13:32

I sent an email to Orcon early this morning touching on the issue somewhat, and never received any reply.

I understand Orcon reps are on these forums, so hopefully they read this and are able to shine some light on it. Hopefully is the key word.

Meanwhile, I spoke to a few ISPs again and unsurprisingly, none of them can even guess if international speeds would be better with them than Orcon. My guess is it would be more or less the same, since they're all using pretty much the same infrastructures, providers and protocols...

So what if I have to use proxies or VPNs to get decent speed on a 1Gbit fibre? At least we have 1Gbit fibre, it's a small price to pay when you look at what broadband hole Australia is in for example.

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#1612518 16-Aug-2016 14:43

Have you done the tracert's? This info will be needed to follow up your problem.

1 | 2