I think I may have resolved my issues by enabling DoS protection on router (I think off due to it rate limiting of pings), it was almost immediate improvement on latency spikes on TBB monitor and the dropped packets reduced with a a few hours.- so not sure I can blame that on GEA

however where as when I first had the line Speed tests would show 900 mbs - I am now down to 750 max, and if I use the Zen servers 450

In reply to a post by Kenneth:

however where as when I first had the line Speed tests would show 900 mbs - I am now down to 750 max, and if I use the Zen servers 450

That's exactly the performance hit I saw from GEA, and it was absolutely repeatable. You could try speedtest to Voicehost's Norwich speedtest.net server if you can select it. That one tests at almost line rate for me on GEA still.

If you can't select it from the website, you might be able to in the speedtest standalone tester.

My router has built in speed tester provided by Ookla - which is same as zen-internet.speedtestcustom.com as linked from Zen support pages -

Zen London is one of the options and gave me just less than 450 an hour or so ago, the one labelled as dedicated London gives around 750

tracert says I going through several thn-lon.zen.net.uk (which would make sense for my location)


I'm not sure I'll be staying at contact end - but at it seems working OK at this point I live with it as most of the time I'm on WiFi and only one machine that can max the line out over wifi

In reply to a post by Kenneth:

My router has built in speed tester provided by Ookla - which is same as zen-internet.speedtestcustom.com as linked from Zen support pages -

Zen London is one of the options and gave me just less than 450 an hour or so ago, the one labelled as dedicated London gives around 750

I have noticed that the speed test performance gives vastly different results based upon which Ookla Test Site is used.

eg. When it uses the TNP ltd Manchester test site the ookla speed tests are around 500 mbps and and the speeds when the Ookla Test Sites in Sheffield are used are over 900 mbps.

I have wondered if the varoius Ookla Test Sites corrospond in some way with the Zen Gateways but I have no ides if that is the case.

In reply to a post by Kenneth:

I'm not sure I'll be staying at contact end - but at it seems working OK at this point.

Here is the rub of the matter.

I am already out of contract with Zen but I like Zen and would prefer to stay with them in the hope of consistently good service from now on, (plus the supposedly ongoing lifetime price guarantee), makes me reluctant to leave Zen while they are now mostly quite good but every so ofter my finger still hovers offer the order button for another ISP.

I do not need s static IP: BT 900 mbps are in pole position.

I have also considered Sky 900 mbps Gigafast but the Sky Website only offers 500 mbps to my address.

Talktalk seem cheaper but there is something about them that I do not like.

I don't know if BT or Sky would be any better.

If anyone leaves before me kindly let the board know how you get on elsewhere.

My Zen fixed price was £63 per month, so at the moment really not losing anything by moving away.

BT business is available with a static IP for about £56.50 per month after £80 cashback, or £59 with Halo backup.

I've been considering one of the monthly providers as I could try them and quickly work out if their performance is good. I think Cuckoo on Talktalk Business network for instance is £56 or so with a static IP.

Sky only offering 500Mbps has to be a sign of a lack of capacity in their network, so I'd imagine it is a steer clear warning if you want top performance.

Considering AAISP, but it is "reassuringly expensive"... And the 900Mbps service is a relatively recent addition, running on newly developed hardware.

In reply to a post by jimbof:

I've been released from contract now by Zen, so off to pastures new. Hopefully greener.

Recommendations for FTTP 900 providers (not on Zen backhaul for sure!!!) with strong single thread and multi thread performance very much welcomed. Need ipv4 and a static address, no other frills.

Aquiss is who I went with, they're brilliant and use BTW backhaul.

Thanks. I've just gone with AAISP, which went live this morning. Initial blip with me being connected to their older LNS that aren't quite capable of FTTP900, but their tech guys fixed it within an hour of me emailing them.
Now getting the fastest speedtest results ever to Zen's own speedtest server. On GEA it was capped around 450-550Mbps, on BTW with Zen it was around 910-915Mbps, now hitting 934Mbps:
https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/480464900

I've had to phone Zen's support team on Tuesday as it was getting really painful (kept putting it off as didn't need hassle at moment) - after going through the reset OTN etc with no joy, they've put monitors on and I disabled ThinkBroadband quality monitor so it didn't clash. - and Tuesday Eve/Wednesday Morning - was seeing 923mbs - but by yesterday afternoon (about time schools kick out) it had dropped 0.55 mbps down load (still 110 upload) guess how painful browsing was - later in evening seemed OK

This evening back to 923 - best until Tuesday was around 850 but normally 700 (with Zen server being 400 to 500)

I only moved to FTTP as the copper into house kept giving grief

A long way from being knowledgeable about the subject. Had very similar problems. Huge number of dropped packets. BQM should show this.

Maybe see if you had a recent GEA Migration. Orders on your Zen page. They moved quite a few recently, I believe.

I had endless problems on Zen's backhaul, Completely resolved by moving back to BT wholesale backhaul.

0.55Mbps? 550kbps? Or a typo?