Orcon gigabit - is there something strange here?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Orcon gigabit - is there something strange here?

tanivula

991 posts

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#272012 5-Jun-2020 13:28

TL;DR - Wondering if it's normal to not reach gigabit speeds to the Vocus speedtest servers via a Vocus (Orcon) gigabit connection, because it's definitely possible to hit that speed via a nonVocus ISP to the Vocus Speedtest server.

Hey all, this is another why is my gigabit connection... thread but with a twist. I was having some issues and noted some strange behaviour after moving to Orcon and joined in on the CDN performance thread which consequently lead to ringing the help desk. The rather script based help desk team lead me towards running speed tests via linetest.nz which consistently showed speeds of 300~400Mbps down. Once I got bumped to tier 2 support, the iPerf ones in the line diagnostic tool produces similar results albeit a bit higher than the linetest/speedtest ones, still <500Mbps down. After 5-6weeks of patience and having tickets closed a couple of times I thought I'd seek some geekzone advice.

What I'm failing to comprehend is why/how running speedtests to the Vocus servers (using the win Ookla app + ethernet) is slower from the Orcon gigabit connection, than a Vodafone one (both connections are in Wellington) - is this a routing/congestion issue? Or is VF traffic somehow got higher prioritisation?

For science and the most apples to apples comparison to take time of day out of the equation, I remoted to a computer on the VF connection and ran speedtests via both connections one after the other. Before the "can your computer handle gigabit" start, I can hit 900Mbit from my computer on either connection. Yes there are some speedtest servers I can get 900Mbps+ from the Orcon connection and because of this, from the support teams perspective there is no fault on my connection.

So to summarise and only looking at download speeds:

Vodafone < Orcon = Fast
Orcon < ACSData = Fast
Orcon < Orcon = not that fast?

Is it just the way it is and I should stop trying to look for an issue? Or is there something strange going on? Keen for your feedback.

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8912 posts

Uber Geek

#2499046 5-Jun-2020 13:46

Sounds as if your connection is fine, but some of the speedtest servers (or routing to them) aren't. Unless those speedtests are critical to your use of the connection, move on.

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Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499062 5-Jun-2020 13:49

This happens to me also. I am on Orcon and based in Wellington and cannot seem to get gigabit speeds on any of the VocusGroup NZ servers but can get gigabit on ACSData Wellington.

Dochart

804 posts

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#2499084 5-Jun-2020 14:23

@Tanivula are you based in Christchurch?

tanivula

991 posts

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#2499104 5-Jun-2020 14:26

RunningMan:

Sounds as if your connection is fine, but some of the speedtest servers (or routing to them) aren't. Unless those speedtests are critical to your use of the connection, move on.

No, the speedtest results aren't critical, however the strange routing issues I mentioned were (eg while downloading Win updates VPNing to the work Voda connection made things download faster). Unfortunately the only metrics I was queried on was speed related.

Dochart: This happens to me also. I am on Orcon and based in Wellington and cannot seem to get gigabit speeds on any of the VocusGroup NZ servers but can get gigabit on ACSData Wellington.

Thanks, good to know. I tried pinging another Wlg bod who mentioned they were with Orcon who had noted that were getting 900/450 but they never said how they were testing this.

@Dochart - nah, I'm in Welly. There are only 2 Vocus severs, AKL and CHCH.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499110 5-Jun-2020 14:34

Cheers for the update. It’s been like that ever since I’ve moved to Orcon. I wonder if the reason why Orcon is so cheap is cause they didn’t invest enough money in their servers. They should really have a VocusGroup NZ Wellington server.

I’m quite curious about those people who have Orcon gigabit plans in Auckland and Christchurch what speeds they are getting from the VocusGroup NZ server in Auckland and Christchurch?

Gordy7

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#2499112 5-Jun-2020 14:36

Some examples - I am with Orcon in Hawkes Bay

Windows speedtest app

Stuff Fibre Auckland 12/944/481

Vocus Aucland 11/821/443

Chrome web speed test

Vocus Auckland 11/612/470

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499117 5-Jun-2020 14:50

Gordy7:
Some examples - I am with Orcon in Hawkes Bay

Windows speedtest app

Stuff Fibre Auckland 12/944/481

Vocus Aucland 11/821/443

Chrome web speed test

Vocus Auckland 11/612/470

Cheers. Your Auckland VocusGroupNZ speed test is not bad. Still strange how Orcon own speed test servers can’t hit the 900mbps download speed when other ISP’s can.

They should really invest more money in their speed test servers and have a VocusGroupNZ server in Wellington.

RunningMan

8912 posts

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#2499125 5-Jun-2020 15:02

tanivula:

RunningMan:

Sounds as if your connection is fine, but some of the speedtest servers (or routing to them) aren't. Unless those speedtests are critical to your use of the connection, move on.

No, the speedtest results aren't critical, however the strange routing issues I mentioned were (eg while downloading Win updates VPNing to the work Voda connection made things download faster). Unfortunately the only metrics I was queried on was speed related.

Ah, the OP made it sound like speedtests themselves were the only issue, hadn't seen your CDN related posts.

DjShadow

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#2499166 5-Jun-2020 15:58

I've found when testing from Slingshot (presumably on the same network link as Orcon), I've found the best results come from testing against UFONE (Auckland) with 2degrees Auckland coming in almost as good.

UFONE I can get around 935mbit

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499169 5-Jun-2020 16:05

DjShadow:
I've found when testing from Slingshot (presumably on the same network link as Orcon), I've found the best results come from testing against UFONE (Auckland) with 2degrees Auckland coming in almost as good.

UFONE I can get around 935mbit

What speeds do you get when testing the VocusGroup NZ Auckland server?

dt

1152 posts

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Inactive user

#2499183 5-Jun-2020 16:45

I've always had *slower* results with Vocus's speed test server too, just assumed it was due to it getting smashed all the time

I'm in Auckland, both tests taken at the time of this post

Vocus

HD Net

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499184 5-Jun-2020 16:52

dt:
I've always had *slower* results with Vocus's speed test server too, just assumed it was due to it getting smashed all the time

I'm in Auckland, both tests taken at the time of this post

Vocus

HD Net

Orcon really need to fix their speed test servers. How come none of us are getting close to 900/500 on any of their Vocusgroup NZ servers but we get those speeds when we test on other ISP’s?

dt

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#2499190 5-Jun-2020 17:11

Dochart:

Orcon really need to fix their speed test servers. How come none of us are getting close to 900/500 on any of their Vocusgroup NZ servers but we get those speeds when we test on other ISP’s?

Would be "cool" if they fixed it but I dont think its really anything to worry about, its doesn't point to their network being congested or anything.. dont quote me on this but I think its due to the box that hosts the speedtest server getting smashed 24/7.. could be completely wrong..

@Sounddude may be able to comment on the matter though?

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2499196 5-Jun-2020 17:18

dt:
Dochart:

Orcon really need to fix their speed test servers. How come none of us are getting close to 900/500 on any of their Vocusgroup NZ servers but we get those speeds when we test on other ISP’s?

Would be "cool" if they fixed it but I dont think its really anything to worry about, its doesn't point to their network being congested or anything.. dont quote me on this but I think its due to the box that hosts the speedtest server getting smashed 24/7.. could be completely wrong..

@Sounddude may be able to comment on the matter though?

I just want to know the reason why. I understand since Orcon/Slingshot have one of the most cheapest gigabit plans and many customers sign up to it and could be the reason why the VocusgroupNZ servers are not good compared to other ISP’s but it would be nice if they could offer a reason why and if they are willing to upgrade their speed test servers and add a VocusgroupNZ server in Wellington.

RunningMan

8912 posts

Uber Geek

#2499197 5-Jun-2020 17:24

Having a speedtest server adds no performance, reliability or anything similar to your connection, so I can't imagine it's good use of money to install and maintain. If there's off network servers that can saturate the connection, then the only use is bragging rights.

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