Really slow speeds :(

Hello's,

I've been having a problem recently with my ADSL connection, I'm not on a LLU enabled exchange.

I'm getting hideously slow speeds (coming out at 0.3) when I normally get around 7000kbps on speed tests, I phone my ISP (Ukonline) who seem dis-interested in my problem, so I've decided to switch to O2 today, but I'm wondering if the problem is on my side and if anyone can help!

Here's a few nuggets of info from my router (Netgear DGN2000):

Modem
ADSL Firmware Version A2pB023b.d20e
Modem Status Connected
DownStream Connection Speed 8128 kbps
UpStream Connection Speed 448 kbps
VPI 0
VCI 38

System Up Time 00:19:04
Port .........Status..............TxPkts.......RxPkts........Collisions......Tx B/s.....Rx B/s.....Up Time
WAN........PPPoA...............4029..........4371 ...........0................822.........3171.........00:18:36
LAN ........10M/100M......... 6625..........6586............0................4494.......1189 ........00:19:01
WLAN ......11M/54M/270M...175..........18................ 0................35............4.............00:18:50

ADSL Link........................Downstream.........Upstream
Connection Speed............8128 kbps............448 kbps
Line Attenuation................19.0 db................9.5 db
Noise Margin..................... 11.9 db................22.0 db

You have a very good connection and have the maximum sync rates for standard ADSL.

It looks like it's down to contention which is probably down to UKOnline.

Do you have any idea of how much data you download in GB per month?

Between 100-150GB most likely, I use a lot of on line services like the Xbox live market place (single downloads can be several GB) Itunes (HD movies..) iPlayer and other such things, I also use Direct2Drive as a source of buying games.

Their fair usage policy states 500Gb..

Edited by Link64 (Mon 28-Sep-09 21:52:57)

For non-LLU 500GB costs the ISP about £250 so it would seem to be an awfully generous Fair Use Policy. I'm not aware of the best non-LLU ISPs for the level of usage you have, you may well be best off staying put.

Per consumer? and O2 know the exchange isn't LLU and blatantly told me they don't have a fair usage, is that true, I can't find T&Cs...

Edit:
Just found UKonline's policy..
How will I know if my usage is excessive?
Our aim is to provide a fair service and not to cap services unnecessarily. Therefore, we think to impose an actual figure on what we consider to be �excessive� use is not necessarily helpful and may penalise users unfairly. What is deemed excessive will be determined by a number of factors including the length of time over which the usage occurs, as well as the amount of bandwidth being used.

Again, Not really true knowing they DO have a figure as everyone in tech support keeps quoting 500GB before they send you a "nasty" email, I've even been told they wont limit the speed if you ignore it, all by employees of UKonline/Sky tech support.

Edited by Link64 (Mon 28-Sep-09 22:29:42)

I was assuming you were talking about UKOnline's Fair Use Policy when you mentioned the 500GB, not that it makes any difference.

The Fair Use Policy applies when your usage is disadvantaging other users. If you are the only customer on an exchange you could probably download to your hearts content with any ISP.

The problem with a "generous" fair use policy is that it's a double-edged sword! Although it allows you to download plenty, it allows everyone else to do the same hence the contention that you're seeing

John.

UKO say they do not throttle the connection. What they do not say, is that they mean they do not throttle their LLU network customers. On the other hand, they do throttle their ipstream customers.
This is happening to all ipstream customers.