Internet very slow at peak times

Forums › Vocus (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre and CallPlus) › Internet very slow at peak times

w2krules

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#146812 29-May-2014 18:49

We recently changed to Orcon from Maxnet so that we could get VDSL. But despite a 3x increase in download speeds, general browsing seems much slower. It varies with time of day - it's OK early in the morning, but from about 4 pm to 10 pm, seems very slow. Our son has given up online gaming in the evenings because the pings to Australia are so bad.

I doubt that it's a problem at our end, as the down and upload speeds are fine and it's OK sometimes, like 2 in the morning!

Any ideas, before I call Maxnet and change back!

I was a geek before the word was invented!

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Geekzone

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#1056154 29-May-2014 18:49

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:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

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.

Jase2985

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#1056168 29-May-2014 18:57

read peters post then provide the info he has asked for

we cant diagnose your connection from the info you have currently provided

FireEngine

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#1056269 29-May-2014 22:30

w2krules: We recently changed to Orcon from Maxnet so that we could get VDSL.

It almost defies belief that Orcon VDSL could give you a worse general internet experience than Maxnet ADSL (or indeed anyone's ADSL), can you please PM me your account number so I can take a look?

We are aware that gamers using Oz servers are having issues, they are under action with a timescale of "very soon" so watch this space....

Regards FireEngine

w2krules

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1056338 30-May-2014 08:26

FireEngine:
w2krules: We recently changed to Orcon from Maxnet so that we could get VDSL.

It almost defies belief that Orcon VDSL could give you a worse general internet experience than Maxnet ADSL (or indeed anyone's ADSL), can you please PM me your account number so I can take a look?

We are aware that gamers using Oz servers are having issues, they are under action with a timescale of "very soon" so watch this space....

PM sent.

I was a geek before the word was invented!

andrewNZ

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#1056341 30-May-2014 08:33

Jase2985: read peters post then provide the info he has asked for

we cant diagnose your connection from the info you have currently provided

Is Peter Reader actually providing sound advice here? I was under the impression that new VDSL users should avoid turning off modems for the first month or two.

Location: Dunedin

gehenna

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#1056347 30-May-2014 08:54

Because.....?

andrewNZ

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#1056361 30-May-2014 09:06

gehenna: Because.....?

because... DLM? (whatever the initial automatic line configuration is called).

It appears (with a little more research) that the initial tuning time is only 10 days. Still, I have read several replies in these forums asking someone to not reset their modem in that period because it upsets DLM.

I don't know the answer, that's why I asked the question.

Location: Dunedin

FireEngine

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#1056363 30-May-2014 09:09

w2krules: PM sent.

Nothing received???

Regards FireEngine

FireEngine

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#1056458 30-May-2014 11:51

andrewNZ:
gehenna: Because.....?

because... DLM? (whatever the initial automatic line configuration is called).

It appears (with a little more research) that the initial tuning time is only 10 days. Still, I have read several replies in these forums asking someone to not reset their modem in that period because it upsets DLM.

I don't know the answer, that's why I asked the question.

DLM trains (adjusts) much faster in the first 10-day period after the port is reset, it checks the line continually and may make a daily (IIRC) profile change, usually in the 4-6am period - unless the line is very unstable in which case it may switch the line profile immediately. After the initial 10-days the tempo slows down with a daily line check and weekly profile change.

Ideally the modem would be left on for the 10-day period to maximize the training opportunity but the occasional modem restart doesn't appear to be a problem. Restarting the modem does not restart the 10-day training period, that is governed by the port.

What is clear however is that if the modem is being restarted (normally there is some issue prompting this, perhaps due to a line quality issue - lets say the error rate has gone up), then DLM may take the opportunity to shift to a more robust/tolerant profile upon restart OR it may be unable to achieve stability on the previous profile when restarted. In either case the user may then see a distinct sync drop post-restart.

Regards FireEngine

w2krules

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1056467 30-May-2014 12:12

FireEngine:
w2krules: PM sent.

Nothing received???

I've sent another PM. Not sure what happened to this morning message.

I was a geek before the word was invented!

FireEngine

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#1056476 30-May-2014 12:41

w2krules:
FireEngine:
w2krules: PM sent.

Nothing received???

I've sent another PM. Not sure what happened to this morning message.

Got it thanks, you have high CRC errors with a 38/9.5 sync speeds, just having the Assurance guys look at it, likely line issue or possible CPE.

Regards FireEngine

FireEngine

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#1056553 30-May-2014 14:29

w2krules: We recently changed to Orcon from Maxnet so that we could get VDSL. But despite a 3x increase in download speeds, general browsing seems much slower. It varies with time of day - it's OK early in the morning, but from about 4 pm to 10 pm, seems very slow. Our son has given up online gaming in the evenings because the pings to Australia are so bad.

I doubt that it's a problem at our end, as the down and upload speeds are fine and it's OK sometimes, like 2 in the morning!

Any ideas, before I call Maxnet and change back!

So we have had a look and are currently running a line test but some basic parameters and thoughts:

Sync is 38/9.5 which looks a little low for the distance/attenuation, also some CRC errors since last reboot so hence we are running a line test.

Usage in a full month - 50GB up/300GB down.

Devices: 23 devices showing, all showing as ethernet but there are some obvious Wireless devices 9(iPhones etc),so clearly you have one (or more) downstream router/WAP running. I can't see the voip service registered on our CPE although the service is up so I'm assuming you have our voip service terminating on a device of your choosing?

I'd investigate whether the upstream load is conscious (i.e. seeding or similar), which can be time-shifted, or unconscious (iCloud syncing or similar), as even with VDSL, if there are periods of you saturating the upstream, it will still reduce the downstream capability and you have the possibility of that with the number and types of devices I can see connected.

Clearly with that number of wireless devices connected there is the opportunity for the WiFi to be saturated even if the VDSL is not, that is more likely on VDSL than possibly on your previous ADSL connection as the VDSL line may simply feed enough data to fully saturate the WiFi in circumstances your previous ADSL did not.

Will be in touch when the line test has completed.

Regards FireEngine

w2krules

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1056578 30-May-2014 14:47

23! I didn't think it was that many... There are 4 of us - everyone has a iPhone and a desktop and/or laptop. There's also a couple of printers, a server, game consoles, tablets - it all adds up. Usually there's just the 4 of us here.

We're not using the Orcon VOIP. There is currently a Asus dual-band router being used as a wireless AP.

I suspect most of the up is file sharing, I should check that the others have a bandwidth limit set for uploads.

I was a geek before the word was invented!

FireEngine

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#1056581 30-May-2014 14:55

w2krules: 23! I didn't think it was that many... There are 4 of us - everyone has a iPhone and a desktop and/or laptop. There's also a couple of printers, a server, game consoles, tablets - it all adds up. Usually there's just the 4 of us here.

We're not using the Orcon VOIP. There is currently a Asus dual-band router being used as a wireless AP.

I suspect most of the up is file sharing, I should check that the others have a bandwidth limit set for uploads.

Cool and that sounds a god idea, I'll be in touch when the line test has run....

Regards FireEngine

FireEngine

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#1056767 30-May-2014 19:05

FireEngine: We are aware that gamers using Oz servers are having issues, they are under action with a timescale of "very soon" so watch this space....

So.....anyone noticed anything different on trans-Tasman games/sites????

Regards FireEngine

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