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KenK2 · 10-01-2006, 18:58

I have always praised Telewest and their reliability but I have lost hope since the famous upgrade to 10MB.
It seems that things have gotten worse since the upgrade to 10MB and I am incapable of getting some consistency with their speed.
If I call their tech support they generally run a few tests (ping modem, etc.) and then blame my PC (even if it is Spyware and Virus free).
Occasionally, they cliam that having Skype, Messenger and a couple of other application in background will affect my bandwidth, even if the applications are NOT in use and NOT using bandwidth (according to X-Netstat Pro) but just listening to connection.
Further more I can hardly believe that few applications in background could affect my bandwidth to the point that the total bandwidth I get is 200 kBps.
Blueyonder suggests that I should be getting speeds between 1100 and 1200 kBps but I don't seem to be able to enjoy them.
If I connect ot their game server I can manage to get decent speeds when downloading however, the general internet usage is very low and, when I try to surf the web I get time out issues and a slow experience (and yes I have cleaned the cache, hystory, etc and got rid of tempo files if you ask as I use ccleaner).
This gets painfully bad weekends where I get a total bandwidth of 200kBps if lucky.
They way I verify it is by using an application called NetworX which, not only monitors bandwidth by the second but record the highest peaks.
Weekend, with some applications in background and me surfing the net (slowly and painfully) it harldy managed to get to 200 kBps top averaging 50-60.
I can also check each individual connection and bandwidth usage using X-Netstat and it does not show any major loss of bandwidth due to spyware or an application in background.

When you call them you get as much help as I could personally give to novices and does not solve the issue.
I have written to them twice to complain about it and requested them to clarify what bandwidth do they guarantee I should have at peak times and what is the contention ratio in my area.
Twice they failed to reply, let alone addres my complaint.
I have now managed to get a list of board of directors and I am now thinking of writing to each adn every one and cc my complaint to CISAS, ISPA and OFCOM as I am sick and tired of this lethargy. Things seemed better when I was on 4MB and paid £50 a month.

Basically, if applications in background are using 50 kBps shoudl I not be able to have the rest of my 1200 available for anything else I want to do? If so why the surfing experience is so bad and slow, no matter which webpage I visit?

Am I the only one that feels I am not getting enough badwidth to allow several applications to work at the same time?

Any suggestions?

10-01-2006, 18:58	#1
KenK2 Inactive Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9	Poor Speed Since Upgrading. I have always praised Telewest and their reliability but I have lost hope since the famous upgrade to 10MB. It seems that things have gotten worse since the upgrade to 10MB and I am incapable of getting some consistency with their speed. If I call their tech support they generally run a few tests (ping modem, etc.) and then blame my PC (even if it is Spyware and Virus free). Occasionally, they cliam that having Skype, Messenger and a couple of other application in background will affect my bandwidth, even if the applications are NOT in use and NOT using bandwidth (according to X-Netstat Pro) but just listening to connection. Further more I can hardly believe that few applications in background could affect my bandwidth to the point that the total bandwidth I get is 200 kBps. Blueyonder suggests that I should be getting speeds between 1100 and 1200 kBps but I don't seem to be able to enjoy them. If I connect ot their game server I can manage to get decent speeds when downloading however, the general internet usage is very low and, when I try to surf the web I get time out issues and a slow experience (and yes I have cleaned the cache, hystory, etc and got rid of tempo files if you ask as I use ccleaner). This gets painfully bad weekends where I get a total bandwidth of 200kBps if lucky. They way I verify it is by using an application called NetworX which, not only monitors bandwidth by the second but record the highest peaks. Weekend, with some applications in background and me surfing the net (slowly and painfully) it harldy managed to get to 200 kBps top averaging 50-60. I can also check each individual connection and bandwidth usage using X-Netstat and it does not show any major loss of bandwidth due to spyware or an application in background. When you call them you get as much help as I could personally give to novices and does not solve the issue. I have written to them twice to complain about it and requested them to clarify what bandwidth do they guarantee I should have at peak times and what is the contention ratio in my area. Twice they failed to reply, let alone addres my complaint. I have now managed to get a list of board of directors and I am now thinking of writing to each adn every one and cc my complaint to CISAS, ISPA and OFCOM as I am sick and tired of this lethargy. Things seemed better when I was on 4MB and paid £50 a month. Basically, if applications in background are using 50 kBps shoudl I not be able to have the rest of my 1200 available for anything else I want to do? If so why the surfing experience is so bad and slow, no matter which webpage I visit? Am I the only one that feels I am not getting enough badwidth to allow several applications to work at the same time? Any suggestions?