Have you had any issues with traffic management on Plusnet?

Potential new user here. This is BT's latest scare to stop me leaving BT and joining Plusnet.

Is it anything to be concerned about?

In reply to a post by leej:

Potential new user here. This is BT's latest scare to stop me leaving BT and joining Plusnet.

What is? Are you saying that a BT rep has said Plusnet uses traffic management?

Plusnet do operate what I'd call a QoS system(*) but that's not traffic management in the normal, negative, sense. The only time it's a problem is if their systems get out of sync with your connection speed but that doesn't happen often and is usually sorted out quickly.

(*)The basic idea is that Plusnet will prioritise traffic to your connection to ensure that time critical packets always get there. So with other ISPs if you're playing a game and downloading you might see a slight reduction in download speed and a bit of stutter in the game. But with PN you see a bigger reduction in download speed but no stutter in the game (which is a good thing).

QoS should produce a better overall experience but it's debateable whether an ISP should be applying it for its end users. It is a bit of a 'mother knows best' attitude

Edited by Andrue (Sun 24-Aug-14 15:55:20)

What is? Are you saying that a BT rep has said Plusnet uses traffic management?

I have just been speaking with someone on BT's cancellation line who informed me that "Plusnet uses traffic management," and he has "heard it's pretty bad." He was telling me how it slows down gaming, video and VOIP so I looked up Plusnet's page on traffic management and informed him that very traffic would be prioritised according to them. He then said "well I can only go by what I've heard in my area, but it's worth bearing in mind that BT doesn't do traffic management at all." This surprises me anyway. I thought BT did do traffic management.

Everything in quotes is paraphrased.

Thanks for the information anyway. It's good to know that it doesn't seem to be causing any problems.

BT do not engage in any traffic management etc.

PlusNet is as others have suggested.

I personally prefer ISPs who don't manage my traffic in any way. I can see how PlusNets service can benefit users but personally I would rather control things myself.

Either way I doubt PlusNet would be any worse.

In reply to a post by pcoventry76:

I've heard that BT lie in order to keep customers - but it appears to be true.

Well just like them all really, but as well the rep from BT probably doesn't know what traffic management is.

Also in all fairness plusnet do title it as traffic management though its should really be QOS

But surely you can can only control the data once it gets to your router. Plusnets QoS prioritisation happens in their part of the network, not yours.

Exactly that's why I dislike it.

As others have said, the BT rep is talking rubbish. I have never had a problem with "traffic management" and it is a good illustration of why I would not go near BT. Obviously I know Plusnet is owned by BT, that's a different matter.

Edited by kasg (Sun 24-Aug-14 20:34:40)