New to Orcon in Christchurch. Are slow speeds normal?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › New to Orcon in Christchurch. Are slow speeds normal?

friendlymonkey

180 posts

Master Geek

#76919 8-Feb-2011 20:10

We have been with orcon for around three weeks now. We live in Christchurch, close to the cbd.
Currently at 8pm we are getting a download speed of 1.37mb. This is not an uncommon occurrence. I have been able to get up to around 8mbps at off peak times (occasionally).
With telecom we were constantly getting 11mbps+

Is this slow speed usual with orcon?

1 | 2

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#436991 8-Feb-2011 20:51

Why did you change if your speeds were so good?

I have no idea why people do this.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#436998 8-Feb-2011 20:59

All the usual questions...

What's the modem sync speed?

Where are you pulling data from to do your testing?

Is this a hand over issue? I've already been told that some ISPs are getting a 'higher tolerance of the 45k limit' than others.

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#437004 8-Feb-2011 21:06

xtra gets higher backhaul/handoff speeds than other ISPs, assuming you're on telecom wholesaled gear.

So you'll see crap performance on peak vs xtra.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#437008 8-Feb-2011 21:16

How do you know that? Or are you just speculating or do they get better performance because they have more of the mum and dad customers who aren't doing squat with their connection and are just to rich and lazy to move to a different ISP?

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#437015 8-Feb-2011 21:23

kyhwana2: xtra gets higher backhaul/handoff speeds than other ISPs, assuming you're on telecom wholesaled gear.

So you'll see crap performance on peak vs xtra.

This is not really correct

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#437021 8-Feb-2011 21:30

johnr:
kyhwana2: xtra gets higher backhaul/handoff speeds than other ISPs, assuming you're on telecom wholesaled gear.

So you'll see crap performance on peak vs xtra.

This is not really correct

It might not be "technically" correct, but it sure feels that way. I've done speedtests (Both speedtest.net and seperate NZ/US servers) on my xnet dsl connection and a friends xtra connection (We live in the same apartment complex, same wiring, same exchange, etc).

Guess what happened?
..
That is, the xtra connection was pulling full line rate (~15mbit/s) national on both tests, while my xnet connection was only getting half that. I repeated these tests a few times, during off peak and on peak. It was definetly backhaul/hand off congestion in xnets case

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#437025 8-Feb-2011 21:39

speedtest.net is not a good test in the first place.

ISPs play with the results and it doesn't really tell you must other than BIR.

If you're going to use the Chorus network then it does make sense to use their biggest customer.

A smarter move is to use another network.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

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.

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#437036 8-Feb-2011 21:59

DonGould: speedtest.net is not a good test in the first place.

ISPs play with the results and it doesn't really tell you must other than BIR.

If you're going to use the Chorus network then it does make sense to use their biggest customer.

A smarter move is to use another network.

D

As I said, i've pulled files off NZ/US hosts, not just speedtest.net

But until a few days ago, there wasn't any "other networks" in Hamilton. Orcon just unbundled the hamilton central exchanges..

Actually, I was going to say they don't do naked DSL, but they do. Purple+ is naked, 25GB for $80/month. Tempting! Although I don't know of any "public" IPv6 trial with Orcon. I shall enquire.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#437040 8-Feb-2011 22:05

kyhwana2: But until a few days ago, there wasn't any "other networks" in Hamilton. Orcon just unbundled the hamilton central exchanges..

Well it's time to start fixing that then. I've got about 10 layer 1 choices in my area in Christchurch and I'm currently planning another one just because I'm not happy with what I've got.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#437044 8-Feb-2011 22:14

Could you folks please stop hijacking threads left and right? Back on topic now or everyone gets banned.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#437048 8-Feb-2011 22:17

Sorry boss.

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

old3eyes

9120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#437126 9-Feb-2011 08:43

friendlymonkey: We have been with orcon for around three weeks now. We live in Christchurch, close to the cbd.
Currently at 8pm we are getting a download speed of 1.37mb. This is not an uncommon occurrence. I have been able to get up to around 8mbps at off peak times (occasionally).
With telecom we were constantly getting 11mbps+

Is this slow speed usual with orcon?

Are you talking local NZ or international?? I'm on Orcon in AKL and local speed test says 12~16 Mbits at 8.00PM but intl I'm lucky to see 1 ~ 2 Mbits on speed tests or real world.. At about 7.00am intl says about 5~8Mbits..

Regards,

Old3eyes

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#437134 9-Feb-2011 09:04

Pressure is mounting on providers and those without capital to jump up capacity quick smart are really going to take a hammering.

I suspect that Telecom Retail/Xtra have made a business choice to put capital into their links which is why we're seeing the profit margins down in the dumps.

However this must be cheaper for them than paying penalties via the ComCom when they promote something that doesn't live up to the hype - Go Large.

TelstraClear chomping on their heals must be keeping them in line, with capacity on the HFC networks actually running at line speed all of the time.

The problem that providers are now faced with is that their wholesale providers - Telecom Wholesale/Chorus are now delivering them more fast tails than ever before.

My two recent examples - my own Dad who's on ADSL1 running at 3.9mbits is about to jump to 8mbits, another site I manage was on 1.6mbits and has now jumped to 4mbits.

In both cases the tail is over doubling and both sites are also more than over doubling their usage.

In my own case TelstraClear has increased my speed by another 50%. As a result I've over doubled my quota.

The difference between me and the other two Chorus based sites is that TelstraClear have generated more revenue from me because I'm paying for more data.

In the case of my managed site, they're not paying more, they're just using what they're already been paying for.

In the case of my Dad I'm moving him to a new carrier because Chorus don't have a published plan to service his requirements.

We're heading into a time where over selling your product and just not worrying, that your customers aren't using most of what you claim to be selling them, is going to bite you as those customers start using that capacity requiring you to deliver it to them.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
1928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#437269 9-Feb-2011 13:54

We have got a fault logged with Telecom Wholesale about speeds in the Chch region at peak time.

Will let you know when I know more.

friendlymonkey

180 posts

Master Geek

#437473 9-Feb-2011 20:28

I really don't care which speed test is most accurate. Its more the inability to browse at a good speed. National and international traffic.

Thanks Sounddude...

If this doesn't improve soon will have to switch back. Are all other isp's speeds subpar to telecom or is it just orcon? We only changed due to a billing complaint which telecom did not resolve for over a year for us.

1 | 2