New to Cable - HTTP delay? Or just me

Hi there

New to cable (and happy) but wanted to checked with some experienced users!

I previously was on Zen Business Unlimited (and trust me it was a 100% excellent service). So this is what my comparison is against. Also before anyone asks, the reason for the move was purely to save money (a lot of it!)

I subscribed to all the top bits and bobs (except sky movies) so am on 50mb package

I have noticed

1) HTTP - When browsing there seems to be a slightest delay when responding to an address I typed in. sometimes the browsing is quite "sticky"

2) Downloading - Seems to vary between 1.5mb - 4.5. But given these levels are above what im use to not complaining

So my questions

1) Is what Im seeing normal?
2) Is there a way to smooth things / optimise things?

Many thanks

fd

In reply to a post by FibreDiet:

1) HTTP - When browsing there seems to be a slightest delay when responding to an address I typed in. sometimes the browsing is quite "sticky"

I'm new to cable too but that sounds like a DNS issue. I've been using the google public DNS servers for some time and continued to do so after I switched to VM. I'd suggest that you give them a try to see if they are better than VM's

http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/

Thanks will try it!

possible upstream congestion, which would cause a delay like you described due to things like ack packets getting lost.

VM's upload is a major issue, as their networks are not designed for broadband originally, and even with all the upgrades, the ratio is still ridiculous >20:1 U/D, which easily gets over-saturated even just downloading.

#1 is possibly dns but I think more likely upstream congestion on your local node (UBR). On VM congestion is not uncommon.

208.67.222.222 if you want to try opendns, put that as your primary dns server.
if still slow and you using windows vista or windows 7 you can try enabling compound tcp as well as either disabling autotuning or setting highlyrestricted autotuning, they should both help with browsing on a congested link.

I see I replied twice to the same post my 2nd post more detailed tho so will keep it.

Edited by Chrysalis (Wed 02-Jun-10 14:36:28)

They set the upload high enough to allow full speed downloading, the bigger problem is the actual shared upload capacity getting saturated. The reason the uploads per user are set so low is that VM are providing upload capacity on the cheap.

VM also have an inherent problem that the shared capacity is split across many nodes. Contention is harder to manage eg. on a shared 55mbit pipe than it is on a shared gigabit pipe even if contending at the same level or lower.

Uploads are due to shoot up in 2011+ but my fear is although it will look good for marketing the upstream congestion issues will enter a new league. Is as ignition said, it seems to be quite common for people to use their upload heavily.