Oversubscription?

RyuKokoro · 14-10-2009, 23:45

Hi,

I've been having really slow speeds on my Virgin Media 10mbps broadband since about the beginning of September. I have a suspicion of what the cause of this is but I'll go into that later.

I have a standard ethernet cable modem and a Belkin G router. Speed tests done after about 5pm on any given weekday and all day weekends return no more than 1.5mbps (usually around 1mbps or less); this is the case whether the circuit is -Cable Modem > Router > Computer- or just -Cable Modem >RJ45> Computer-. I've done dozens of tests with and without the router in the circuit and the difference between the results is negligible. Results are the same, whichever testing site I use.

The tests have been carried out on a dual boot WinXP/Linux Ubuntu PC and on an iMac running OS X 10.5 so I know the computers are not contributing to the issue.

I've checked all the modem stats against the info in the stickied topic and they are all well within tolerance. I should probably mention that there is a 15db attenuator in the back of the modem which the coaxial cable is screwed into.

What I really want to know, if there are any VM staff amongst you, is this: as these slow speeds are occurring during peak hours, is this an issue with oversubscription in the area? I live in Fallowfield in Manchester and we get a huge influx of students every september. If it is due to this, it's hard to believe (in some ways) that VM haven't already rectified this issue by increasing capacity in the area. Do VM have any plans for fixing this in the near future? One of my colleagues at work (I work in Tech Support for a BT Network ADSL supplier so I'm ok with that but when it comes to Cable Internet, I'm useless) lives not far from me and is on the same exchange as I would be on were I to have a BT line; he gets 18mbps from BE. I don't want to have to go through the rigmarole of getting a BT line and getting BE's service on the line but less than 20% of 10mbps is not acceptable. I know it's "up to" but I would be happy with 4-5mbps.

I know it's been a bit long winded but I'd appreciate any insight/info on this issue. I'd also like to hear from anyone in the M14 postcode area who is having the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

broadbandking · 15-10-2009, 09:03

PM me your postcode

AbyssUnderground · 15-10-2009, 09:33

Just to confirm its safe to send broadbandking your postcode, as he works for VM and can find out some information for you.

Sir John Luke · 15-10-2009, 09:35

Not being funny, but I'd suggest new members wait for a CF team member to confirm someone works for VM.

AbyssUnderground · 15-10-2009, 09:41

Perhaps, but when you consider how long I've been registered, it would be difficult to get away with lying about such things

Plus I'd never do such a thing.

webcrawler2050 · 15-10-2009, 09:42

BenMcr will be able to confirm

It's only a postcode. Thats what you get for being helpfull.

Kymmy · 15-10-2009, 10:00

I can confirm that broadbandking is registered as a VM staff member

Lobey · 15-10-2009, 10:18

Just to say my experience is exactly the same - only I am in the G3 area of Glasgow.
Was fine till about a month ago - then down to sub 1mb every evening and weekend - actualy got it put up to 20mb(I was on 10mb) - just as bad.
Finally got an engineer yesterday - new modem and some tweaks at box in the street - was getting 10-15mb so thought it would be ok, by 11pm I was averaging 230k down - strangely up is always a solid 760.
I will try and get an engineer out again , but I have a strong suspicion something is well wrong further upstream.

RyuKokoro · 15-10-2009, 18:28

Okay, I'll PM you the postcode. I forgot to mention that I have already had a Technician out. He went through a lot of checks and eventually decided that the 15db attenuator will do the job to stabilise the connection (was originally an intermittent sync issue) and since then, I've been able to sync up fine.

caph · 15-10-2009, 20:07

Guys, if you have confirmation of oversubscription by VM, could you post in the thread http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...ibed-ubrs.html so that others can be made aware. Thanks.

fuzzface · 15-10-2009, 20:52

I'm just down the road from you in Chorlton and I'm having exactly the same issues. I've tried pretty much everything you have to make sure it's not a problem 'my end'. Several calls to support have been a waste of time. I noticed that the problems started about the same time as you did too. I haven't got anywhere near 10Mbps speeds since that time.

The only conclusion I can come to myself is oversubscription. I fully appreciate that it's sold as 'up to 10mbps' but I'm barely getting 0.5mbps the vast majority of the time which is a bit much to swallow on that premise. Most of the things I wanted to use this connection for are pretty much useless at the moment (TV on demand / youtube etc.) and a 10 Meg account should at least be able to run these ok surely?

usher · 15-10-2009, 22:02

Mines 10 meg & all day I usually get around 9.80meg
In the evening it plummets down to less than 5, right now it's wavering between 3.2 & 5meg, can't view anything with video without pauses.

Never had this problem till recently, I am connected to the Bromsgrove /wolverhampton system, seems offering 50meg to subscribers is robbing the lower bandwidths

RyuKokoro · 15-10-2009, 22:13

The thing with my issue is that the connection itself is very high quality; pings are always below 50ms and every test I do on pingtest.net comes back without packet loss. The problem is with the bandwidth/speed itself; I have a PS3 and Rock Band/Guitar Hero games and DLing additional content for them takes ages. On a 10mbps connection, a typical 30MB song should take let's say half a minute (30 megabytes x 8 = 240 megabits / 10 = 24 seconds) and should take less than a minute even at 5mbps. At present, I'm lucky if I get it in 10 minutes which if you work it out, is about 0.5mbps. That's completely unacceptable; "upto" or no "upto" you should still provide paying customers with a decent service. I would be happy with 3.5mbps + in the evenings as I accept that it's busier then. But hey, what ya gonna do?

broadbandking · 15-10-2009, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyuKokoro

Okay, I'll PM you the postcode. I forgot to mention that I have already had a Technician out. He went through a lot of checks and eventually decided that the 15db attenuator will do the job to stabilise the connection (was originally an intermittent sync issue) and since then, I've been able to sync up fine.

I will PM you with a update in the morning when I get to work.

---------- Post added at 22:21 ---------- Previous post was at 22:18 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by usher

Mines 10 meg & all day I usually get around 9.80meg
In the evening it plummets down to less than 5, right now it's wavering between 3.2 & 5meg, can't view anything with video without pauses.

Never had this problem till recently, I am connected to the Bromsgrove /wolverhampton system, seems offering 50meg to subscribers is robbing the lower bandwidths

As broadbandings has said I will say this 50Mb doesn't effect the lower tiers as it uses DOCSIS 3.0 NOT DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 which the other tiers use, it can be many issues, have you rung in yet to get them to check?

RyuKokoro · 15-10-2009, 22:29

Broadbandking, are the different tiers separated from each other? For example, if, because this is a student heavy area, all the student had subscribed to 10mbps as it is the cheapest and the 20mbps tier had relatively less connections on it, would upgrading help at all?