20mb problem, please help? :)

[KungFuKitty]

Hey guys
Before anyone says "it's peak time" i know that lol but the connection has been pretty sucky all day :/ Anyone else having trouble in Bristol?

my speedtest result totally sucky lol, even checking speedtest on here gives me:
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:52:30 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 2297 ms = 445.8 KB/sec, approx 3673 Kbps, 3.59 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 2094 ms = 489 KB/sec, approx 4029 Kbps, 3.93 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 2359 ms = 434.1 KB/sec, approx 3577 Kbps, 3.49 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 4516 ms = 453.5 KB/sec, approx 3737 Kbps, 3.65 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 3754 Kbps, 3.67 Mbps
I always seem to get on average 13mb's worth of line the highest i seen was once i got 18mb's worth very late at night and i check alot during night times too... i upgraded from 2mb > 20mb on thursday and feeling kinda stupid doing so.. when i'm only getting close to a 10mb line rather than 20mb...
Could i downgrade to 10mb before 30 days since last thursday when i upgraded? because i can change the contract so to speak untill then right? i really don't want to downgrade but the speeds never getting to what i 'should' get really stinks, was lookin' forward to this new line too!
If anyone wants info incase it could be a fault my end.. i'm using the Motorola Surfboard 4200i, my signal levels are as follows...
Frequency 339000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 38 dB
Power Level 8 dBmV
The Downstream Power Level reading is a snapshot taken at the time this page was requested. Please Reload/Refresh this Page for a new reading

Upstream Value
Channel ID 4
Frequency 29200000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 32 dBmV
Currently networked to my pc, girlfriends laptop and our ps3.. although none of them are on during my speedtest, using a Belkin Router (F5D7230-4 6000) all connections are wired not wireless and i dont have wireless enabled.
I realize i maybe capped at the moment but like i said its kinda been like it throughout the day and i always average 13megs worth
So anyway what do you guys think? change some of my settings? change modem? router? or give up and downgrade to 10meg?
Also for some reason i have another network 1394 connection in my Network Connections which i cant get rid of, says its in-use 400mbps 0 packets sent or recieved.. in the properties of it all the settings are turnt off could this be related aswell?
Thanks for readin..
~ Disappointed Kitty x

[Jonnymeg]

Do not ever rely on speed test sites. They are often very wrong.

For example look at this screen shot. There is about 1 minute between the speedtest result shown and the download from usenet. They are not running at the same time.
The speedtest shows a **** poor speed but look in the top corner of the image and you will see the true download speed i am getting from giganews, 2.6mbps. This is slightly above 20meg.
As you can see there is a massive difference between what these sites report and what is often your true speed.

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]




I am not denying there may be real issues with the service but there are many people that complain when speedtest sites show false speeds and in my experience Speedtest.Net is a regular offender!

[KungFuKitty]

Oh i know, hence why i also stated the results from the speedtest on here. Thing is i've tried it every which way... speedtest.net is actually pretty accurate for me 8-9 times outta 10, my upload rate since thursday i upgraded has always got the full amount but download rate peaks around 13-15mb on a good/normal day... usually at night as i'm abit of a nightowl If i were to be getting say 18meg on average i wouldn't have a prob at all, but being closer to the 10mb line mark and paying for the 20meg is abit of a bad joke
I've tried alot of different settings on my pc, checking my router... putting under DMZ and off again etc etc... direct connection also but its all pretty much the same, sadly. As for the modem setup i can only change the channel and freq, which i tried too. It's so tiring and i just feel like i'm fighting a losing battle, knowing that if i am capped currently till 12 it's only going to go back up around 13megs worth.. ugh
I just need some solid advice to try and sort this problem out, it's doin' me head in to be honest, i'll try anything i can do myself if you guys advise it / show me how.
It doesn't make sense for one day i can get 18megs worth late at night all the rest are just the same ole 13megs... ok i'm ranting i dunno what else to do.. advice please
~ Kitty x

[Jonnymeg]

Originally Posted by KungFuKitty

Oh i know, hence why i also stated the results from the speedtest on here. Thing is i've tried it every which way... speedtest.net is actually pretty accurate for me 8-9 times outta 10, my upload rate since thursday i upgraded has always got the full amount but download rate peaks around 13-15mb on a good/normal day... usually at night as i'm abit of a nightowl If i were to be getting say 18meg on average i wouldn't have a prob at all, but being closer to the 10mb line mark and paying for the 20meg is abit of a bad joke
I've tried alot of different settings on my pc, checking my router... putting under DMZ and off again etc etc... direct connection also but its all pretty much the same, sadly. As for the modem setup i can only change the channel and freq, which i tried too. It's so tiring and i just feel like i'm fighting a losing battle, knowing that if i am capped currently till 12 it's only going to go back up around 13megs worth.. ugh
I just need some solid advice to try and sort this problem out, it's doin' me head in to be honest, i'll try anything i can do myself if you guys advise it / show me how.
It doesn't make sense for one day i can get 18megs worth late at night all the rest are just the same ole 13megs... ok i'm ranting i dunno what else to do.. advice please
~ Kitty x

Well i already told you to get a new modem, that would be the best place to start.

[KungFuKitty]

Originally Posted by Jonnymeg

Well i already told you to get a new modem, that would be the best place to start.

Hi Jonny, i know you said to get a new modem i'm just asking for other opinions as the problem may lay somewhere in my setup not sure what but its worth a check before i get on the phone to a uppity customer service bloke telling me my modem is fine and i dont apply for a new one
~ Kitty x

[Jonnymeg]

Originally Posted by KungFuKitty

Hi Jonny, i know you said to get a new modem i'm just asking for other opinions as the problem may lay somewhere in my setup not sure what but its worth a check before i get on the phone to a uppity customer service bloke telling me my modem is fine and i dont apply for a new one
~ Kitty x

It seems that you have been through all the stuff a user can do and check. Save yourself the stress of trying to fix something you may not be able to and call in the experts!

[KungFuKitty]

My network card & settings incase the problem lies there..

Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection:
Adaptive Inter-Frame Spacing: Value 1
Adaptive Technology: Value On
Adaptive Transmit Threshold: Value 200
Coalesce Buffers: Value 8
Enable PME: OS Controlled
Flow Control: Generate and Respond
Link Speed & Duplex: Auto Detect
Locally Administered: Not Present
Log Link State Event: Disabled
PCI Bus Efficiency: Disabled
QoS Packet Tagging: Disabled
Recieve Descriptors: Value 48
Retransmit Inter-Frame Spacing: Value 10
Transmit Descriptors: Value 16
Wake On Link Settings: OS Controlled
Wake On Settings: OS Controlled

Driver Version: 8.0.19.0

Anything there seem off? thanks guys
~ Kitty x

[AmAtoL]

You know what KFK, if you have ever seen 18 meg then I would say it is a fair bet that your setup is ok, a lot of people on here see speed varying from 1 to 20 without touching any of their settings, why would they.
This is me now :-
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:30:41 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 422 ms = 2426.5 KB/sec, approx 19994 Kbps, 19.53 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 422 ms = 2426.5 KB/sec, approx 19994 Kbps, 19.53 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 484 ms = 2115.7 KB/sec, approx 17433 Kbps, 17.02 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 1047 ms = 1956.1 KB/sec, approx 16118 Kbps, 15.74 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 18385 Kbps, 17.95 Mbps

Still plays games like a dog though.

[KungFuKitty]

Originally Posted by AmAtoL

You know what KFK, if you have ever seen 18 meg then I would say it is a fair bet that your setup is ok, a lot of people on here see speed varying from 1 to 20 without touching any of their settings, why would they.
This is me now :-
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:30:41 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 422 ms = 2426.5 KB/sec, approx 19994 Kbps, 19.53 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 422 ms = 2426.5 KB/sec, approx 19994 Kbps, 19.53 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 484 ms = 2115.7 KB/sec, approx 17433 Kbps, 17.02 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 1047 ms = 1956.1 KB/sec, approx 16118 Kbps, 15.74 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 18385 Kbps, 17.95 Mbps

Still plays games like a dog though.

Wish i got that on an average basis and yea your right, i shouldn't have to go through all this setup ordeal, i'm sat here rackin' my brain thinking "what have i missed" and i'm never like this... i'm a fairly experienced pc user. When i ring up CS to say there's a problem it always results in "Oh it must be your end.. blah blah blah". I'm ringing up tomorrow again and requesting a new modem, so ****ed off with this, if i get told my old dusty Motorola SB4200i modem is "totally fine!!" i'm seriously gonna reach down the phone and rip the persons throat out How can they denie me a new modem when they dont even use the sb4200i anymore when installing new connections and i'm paying £37 for p.o.s service and connection
Sorry as you can tell this is really pullin' on my last nerve, all i've been doing all night other than messing with settings is refreshing this page and doing constant speedtests to see if any replies / differences have happend
Let ya all know how things go...
~ Kitty x

(Quick update: Now off-peak getting 12-14mb's worth of line, deffo ringin' up tomorrow )

[KungFuKitty]

Rang up AGAIN paying the usual 25p a min for bad customer service, hurray
Once again told my modem is fine, also that this guy has the same modem as me... and it works fine... funny that how every time i speak to a member of CS they have the exact same modem as me and theirs works fine isn't it?
Told him the connection i'm getting is closer to a 10meg line than 20meg, 13-14mb's just isn't cutting it and i've been advised by several VM techs through forums and VM newsgroups that i should ask for a new modem because they're more capable of delivering close to 20meg speeds... again i was told my modem is fine and he'll check if there's a problem in my area... "nope no problems in your area must be your end, 13-14meg worth is acceptable as it's only UPTO 20mb speed" ..... .... .....
About £3's worth into the call now i'm startin' to lose patience as he tells me the same as the other unhelpfull bloke "you'd need to be at your computer so we can test it" ...again i mention that its not possible for me to be on the phone and pc at the same time, having my pc upstairs and the phone downstairs makes this not an option.. "you'll have to get an extention cord for your phone then" ...great... same responce as the other guy, god knows what they'd do if i was calling from somebodie elses house if i didn't have a phone line in my own house. Telling him that its not possible again and mentioning to get the phone upstairs would need a ****ing huge extention lead i get.. "well sorry but thats not our problem" THANK YOU VM CS! charging me again another £5 call for some unhelpfull prat who simply doesn't give a crap
So there we go, i'm buggered paying for 20meg line and getting closer to a 10megs speed, so fed up with this... and what can i do about it? call again? for the fantastic service?!
Great...
~ Kitty x

[AmAtoL]

Originally Posted by KungFuKitty

Wish i got that on an average basis

Unfortunately I don't Kitty, I know school's out now but this a fairer representation :=

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:00:08 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 7063 ms = 145 KB/sec, approx 1195 Kbps, 1.17 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 1453 ms = 704.7 KB/sec, approx 5807 Kbps, 5.67 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 1594 ms = 642.4 KB/sec, approx 5293 Kbps, 5.17 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 2437 ms = 840.4 KB/sec, approx 6925 Kbps, 6.76 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 4805 Kbps, 4.69 Mbps

[bigsinky]

KFK,
Is it just because you pay for a 20 meg service that you want a 20 meg service. for surfing, can you tell the difference between pages that load. newsgroups like easynews or giganews should max out your 20 meg connection so unless you are download a crapload of movies or music the what difference does it make if you are getting 14 meg or 20 meg.

[KungFuKitty]

Originally Posted by AmAtoL

Unfortunately I don't Kitty, I know school's out now but this a fairer representation :=

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:00:08 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 7063 ms = 145 KB/sec, approx 1195 Kbps, 1.17 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 1453 ms = 704.7 KB/sec, approx 5807 Kbps, 5.67 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 1594 ms = 642.4 KB/sec, approx 5293 Kbps, 5.17 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 2437 ms = 840.4 KB/sec, approx 6925 Kbps, 6.76 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 4805 Kbps, 4.69 Mbps

That sucks sorry to hear your having problems too mate, i read they were bringing back free CS calls... too right too, with all the bull we go through with them it's kinda insulting to have to pay 25p a min aswell... heh.

KFK,
Is it just because you pay for a 20 meg service that you want a 20 meg service. for surfing, can you tell the difference between pages that load. newsgroups like easynews or giganews should max out your 20 meg connection so unless you are download a crapload of movies or music the what difference does it make if you are getting 14 meg or 20 meg.

I surf, game, stream etc etc so yea i do 'need' the line so to speak and yes of course i want what i'm paying for... i guess everyone would? The fact is i'm not expecting a solid 20meg line constantly i'm expecting near it though, 18-19meg would be lovely and i wouldn't have a problem.. damn even 17 would be nice.
There becomes a big problem when people just 'make do' when their getting a crappy service and that's not me, i would rather get it resolved. VM in my opinion/experiences are sloppy with their customers, i come here for information/help to
1. sort out if its anything my end and..
2. to be well enough informed about the service to put up a decent argument if need be to the uppity CS people who try give you the run around
When your running a network like me... pc / laptop / ps3... every little counts really, my girlfriend is online alot as am i.. i also got this line for gaming without lag which i know isn't just resulting in my connection but that contributes to it.. i want the service i'm paying for that's all i ask.
Also i don't know about everyone else but i don't actually have alot of money, this 20mb line is 'my little treat' so to speak and i should be able to get a decent service/quality for £37's which is alot to me.
Anyway i guess that's a summary of my point.. cheers for your opinions / help thus far everyone
~ Kitty x

[bigsinky]

as i have said before i just must be one of the lucky ones. always have good solid connection speeds in belfast, helped by the green cabinet being at the bottom of my garden. i understand where you are coming from, if you pay for a service you expect to get it but you can be sure that VM will have their A$$es covered by quoting your service "is up to 20Mbit". annoying i know but they always have you by the short and curlies

[AmAtoL]

I can spit to the green cab from my front door, so that's not it
I'm like Kitty and a lot of others nowadays who like to game, everyone knows even a 2 meg line would be good enough for gaming as long as it was solid. We are getting flaky connections with lots of loss or some other disruption which makes gaming a proper trial.
It doesn't matter what supposed "up to" speed you are on the connection quality is still as bad.