In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

its always nice to have things fast but p2p/usenet isnt speed critical. It wont break if you dont have full speed, where as browsing, streaming, gaming will if those are slowed down

I get your point.
It just frustrated me last night, I'm not a high bandwidth user, I don't download much either peak or off peak but when I do want something, I don't want to wait.

I've looked at Vivaciti but there is a stunning lack of information on their website.

having chatted with Customer Service - they state no shaping or throttling, but thanks to this thread it seems there is.
Just this second tested my usenet speed...running roughly 10-15 %

I might switch to [censored] plusnet. Cheaper and supposedly unlimited with no shaping.
who else is similar ADSL24 prices, unlimited off peak, no throttling ??

Edited by deleted (Tue 18-Mar-14 16:26:46)

Plusnet traffic manage usenet dont they?

CS probably havent been told as this is a trial according to PaulComs

Yeah tempted by plusnet too, but they do traffic manage to an extent.
More details here:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/do...

Drop down the package you are interested in.

Also: http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/tr...

So p2p/usenet is "bronze" whatever that means in reality

I think you can buy an extra package called Plusnet Pro for 5 a month that removes all the management.

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/products/pro-A...

The best starting point for Plusnet Traffic Management is this explanation. It is exactly what Paul has just mentioned, except Plusnet have it working fine.

You will find many gripes about it, nearly all of those being from (less than?) half a dozen non-customers of Plusnet who just want to object in principle and keep making a noise about it.

I only know of one customer who has some sort of issue, but all the rest are happy. Else they would have left years ago. Even the one with the issue has said that on balance he is happy with the (FTTC) service.

On the Plusnet unlimited products the Pro option is redundant, as if you read the doc I just linked to you will see it can only degrade time-critical applications such as gaming and VOIP. On the allowance products it is possibly worth having, but not in my opinion.

Once Coms get their equivalent working it should be OK for them as well, but I fear it could be a long time before they get it to an accepable state. Particularly for gaming, where recognising the game's signature to give it priority seems not to be fully automated at Plusnet. If at all.

In reply to a post by Lucifa42:

So p2p/usenet is "bronze" whatever that means in reality

Network capacity is upgraded frequently to keep up with the current growth in customer numbers, with the aim being that even bronze traffic through the Plusnet routers goes at full speed for everyone.

As per the article I just linked to, where the PN system matters is within the customer's own connection, if several activities are using it at the same time. P2P from other un-managed ISPs could make YouTube and other streaming service buffer if the particular line is being used to capacity. The system prevents that, but not by fixed throttling. Just prioritisation of time-critical apps.

Ironically if all heavy downloaders now jump ship, it will make the need for a throttle redundant

Think people are quick to want to leave any isp that throttle in some way, without working out if it will actually be an issue to them. This throttle is also something that will benefit them in regards to better streaming/browsing if the 'trial' works.

Like you say, some dont like the idea in principle, but i dont think you can have it both ways. People want a cheaper and cheaper package but want to download the world for it

Edited by bobble_bob (Tue 18-Mar-14 17:50:35)

In reply to a post by Benjanyan:

The only good things I can say is that your communication is above average due to your posts on here although that doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement. I've not really had to make use of your support very much but with my easy queries, they've been pretty quick and efficient.

I'd say communication is barely above average - as there seems to be total silence unless pressed about things - and in this case as they're trialling something, which would have been planned in advance (one would hope), there could have been an announcement about it. And if the support desk don't know about it either, then that says quite a lot to me about internal communication too.

Most customer service works like that unfortunately. Ive had issues with o2 where they CS have said there is no issues, even though their own network status reports there is

I would have to agree with Tony I am afraid as I do think their customer service is indeed o more than about average. Whilst they sorted out my problems after three days of no connection it has cost me a new router ( which was claimed to be the problem) when it was a faulty stack of IP addresses, I was also overcharged on my account since the move over. I did PM the two representatives about my issues as I felt that some "credit" for my issues should be applied to the account but have not heard since. To me that is not above average customer service and I was always under the impression that companies had a duty to respond to complaints. Maybe I am just impatient but an answer to my email would be nice.