[Snap] Is VDSL worth it?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › [Snap] Is VDSL worth it?

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105 posts

Master Geek

#624090 12-May-2012 18:52

hads:
McGee: I love my VDSL, It's not super fast like some lucky people on 17a but it's great for downloading linux ISOs etc.

Uploading is also great, Specially when you work as a photographer and for online backups.

It's a great tool if you plan to use it wisely.

Certainly not saying that it isn't great - it is. The upload difference is fantastic, especially for uploading video to local servers.

What I am saying is that if you're looking for faster downloads from International servers then VDSL isn't the answer.

No matter what connection type your're on, you are still restricted by latency for TCP international downloads per thread.

This tool here is quite useful for calculating theoretical max speeds for TCP given latency and window size etc.
http://osn.fx.net.nz/LFN/

Zeon

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#624107 12-May-2012 20:08

I'ts quite possible to get line speed on VDSL2 for international if you have enough TCP connections.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

hads

392 posts

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#624110 12-May-2012 20:11

Zeon: I'ts quite possible to get line speed on VDSL2 for international if you have enough TCP connections.

It's quite possible to get 100kB/s on VDSL2 for international.

It's dependant on the upstream of the individual provider.

nicegear.co.nz - VoIP, DVB and other Linux compatible hardware

frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#624129 12-May-2012 20:45

Yes all these aspects including peering and number of threads will influence speed. But as an overall guide to those who are interested to how the TCP protocol is effected by various factors its quite good :)

McGee

200 posts

Master Geek

#624288 13-May-2012 11:40

If you want better international throughput then move countries :D

But seriously I can pull 15-20mbit international easy, Plus might mean you have to wait another 30 seconds for something to download if it's not super fast. Not the end of the world :P

Zeon

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#624289 13-May-2012 11:46

The big reason I suggest people get VDSL2 is for the faster upload. If you don't need it then it may not be necessary for you.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

NZSimplicity

135 posts

Master Geek

#624478 13-May-2012 18:01

McGee: I love my VDSL, It's not super fast like some lucky people on 17a but it's great for downloading linux ISOs etc.
Uploading is also great, Specially when you work as a photographer and for online backups.
It's a great tool if you plan to use it wisely.

Yup, I agree with you there, I love my new VDSL as well...
Just as an indication, this is what I had and what I have now :)
speedtest image

While it not as fast as a lot of people who have VDSL, it still plenty fast than what I was used to

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zCelicaDude

171 posts

Master Geek

#624508 13-May-2012 20:11

I have snap Vdsl and I run a flat , it's great for lots of concurrent connections , I.e 3 or more different users . Unfortunately you are limited to the size of the pipe for things like YouTube . Snap needs to lift there game in the international data sector . The 10mb upload really helps tho :)

Digmarx

139 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#633237 31-May-2012 11:24

Depending on what Vodafone does with their naked DSL plans, I'm considering jumping ship to Snap and am weighing my options. I have a couple of questions for you Snap VDSL users.

1) Is the Fritzbox 7340 a required purchase? I've already got a Billion BiPAC 7800n which handles my wireless/GigE duties and has a WAN port, so a basic bridged VDSL modem should suffice.

2) On the website, they state "Please be aware that for new residential VDSL connections a wiring charge of $402.50 will normally apply - our provisioning team can discuss this with you when you sign up." Did all of you have to pay this charge? I've got a pretty reasonable ADSL sync rate as it stands, if that matters.

Basically what I'm trying to understand is whether or not Snap needs to have their hand in my pocket for almost $800 just to get me up and running.

Zo

networkn

Networkn
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#633240 31-May-2012 11:26

Digmarx: Pay the $400 for wiring (Even if it's optional), trust me. Plenty of people here will back me up, but I do these for customers all the time. VDSL is a lot more sensitive to line noise than ADSL and a fully split jackpoint is really the only way forward.

In terms of modems, I would go with a Zyxel personally.

McGee

200 posts

Master Geek

#633247 31-May-2012 11:35

networkn: Digmarx: Pay the $400 for wiring (Even if it's optional), trust me. Plenty of people here will back me up, but I do these for customers all the time. VDSL is a lot more sensitive to line noise than ADSL and a fully split jackpoint is really the only way forward.

In terms of modems, I would go with a Zyxel personally.

I agree, I do wiring type work often and had to re wire from the grey pillar all the way back to the modem.
Before doing this I had 12meg down 4meg up after it was 35meg down and 10 up.

If you're fairly clued up on wiring etc already then id try to make your line as basic as possible and remove any potential issues, Other devices and jack points etc.
My line currently runs straight from the road into the modem with only joins at the road side and the termination into the modem.

If you're due for UFB in your area within the next 6 months then it's likely worth the wait but if you're like me in ChCh and having to wait a good 5+ years it's a good choice to upgrade to in the interim.

I've also heard the draytek modems are good for VDSL too.

Ragnor

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#633258 31-May-2012 11:44

frizianz:

No matter what connection type your're on, you are still restricted by latency for TCP international downloads per thread.

This tool here is quite useful for calculating theoretical max speeds for TCP given latency and window size etc.
http://osn.fx.net.nz/LFN/

To some degree yes but modern OS's eg: Windows 7, Mac OSX, Linux implement TCP window scaling which allow higher throughput on higher latency downloads.

International transit contention ratio's are a big factor.

CUnl

26 posts

Geek

#633275 31-May-2012 11:57

Digmarx: ...

2) On the website, they state "Please be aware that for new residential VDSL connections a wiring charge of $402.50 will normally apply - our provisioning team can discuss this with you when you sign up." Did all of you have to pay this charge? I've got a pretty reasonable ADSL sync rate as it stands, if that matters.

There are 3 types of installation for VDSL. I'll list what our charges are - they're generally inline with everyone else ans it's based off Chorus's wholesale charges.

* Connection only - $99
This is NOT recommended - the failure rate of these install is rather large. Only perform if you are an existing VDSL customer.

* Connection & Wiring - w/ POTS - $199
Highly recommended. It covers the cost of a tech visit to your premises to check wiring (up to the demark), as well as includes a splitter being installed.
If you don't install a splitter, you're asking for problems.

* Connection & Wiring w/out POTS - $399
As above, but without an existing POTS line. They wont install a splitter.

If they're stinging you $400 for any connection & wiring, they're ripping you :)

networkn

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#633279 31-May-2012 12:01

I'd suggest the $400 is for the third option, he just hasn't relayed it correctly (or his isp hasn't).

$400 for a Connection and Wiring without POTs is the ripoff in general.

CUnl

26 posts

Geek

#633288 31-May-2012 12:05

networkn: $400 for a Connection and Wiring without POTs is the ripoff in general.

Yes, it is.
We queried this when they introduced it (Nov/Dec 2011 IIRC) but no one in Chorus could justify the price hike to us.

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