Network problems Tonight ? - Page 4

IanUK · 11-08-2005, 19:14

Good stuff, hope it gets fixed soon

I'm tentatively hoping that its been fixed here, I'm getting full speed from Cogent now on the Poplar Proxy, so fingers crossed., I'll wait a couple of days to see if its actually fixed or just a fluke.

IanUK · 11-08-2005, 21:59

Scrap that, Poplar proxy still rubbish, port 119 connections to Cogent are fine, email connections to Cogent are fine and Bageley proxy connections are fine - Poplar proxy web connections are rubbish - I've started to see other sites suffering the same problem with the Poplar proxies as well now (3dgamers for one - 100k with Poplar - 370k with Bageley)

This needs to be fixed

There's no point in Poplar area users having 10 meg connections when the rubbish proxies can't even handle 3 mb

IanUK · 17-08-2005, 11:42

OK, so I used the Responsetek thing last week and have had no answer and the speeds are still terrible through Poplar proxies to many sites (fine through Baguley still) - what now ?

I repeat, what is the point of NTL crowing about 10mb speeds when those of us with poor proxies can't even reach 3 mb (and we had to moan about the proxies last time to get them changed to achieve that !!)

Why do NTL seem to go very quiet when the Proxies are mentioned ?
It seems they know some are substandard but they do nothing ?

Very disappointed

Chrysalis · 17-08-2005, 11:56

Getting serious problems myself at the moment having to click twice on every single link to every site on my default proxy.

This triggered me to ring simon duffy office and I told them feedback they should provide proxyless service for extra 1-2 pound a month since they wont do it for nothing.

IanUK · 17-08-2005, 12:08

They really need to sort them out, forget more speed, its absolutely useless when the proxies stop any web downloads getting above 100k a sec.
It can be done - AOL proxies are superb, full 3meg speeds from virtually all sites - mind you the baguley NTL ones seem pretty good too, but my default Poplar ones are rubbish, in fact they stop me getting my paid for speed

daniel larusso · 17-08-2005, 17:02

This is abit of a long shot but its not a recent MS security firewall patch which is causing you hassle is it?

My connection has been appalling the last week, both uploading files to friends over msn and downloading from newshosting. I checked my network settings and it appears a windows patch has activated the windows firewall on my network ports without me even knowing. Disabling it seems to have cured all my problems.

IanUK · 17-08-2005, 17:26

Hi Daniel,

I don't think thats the problem here, switching to other proxies fixes the problem completely, its just the Poplar ones which seem to be the problem for me.
Also things like direct pop3 access and ftp'ing are unaffected to the same domains, just the web browsing with Poplar proxies.
I'm pretty sure NTL know this, but for some reason (money ?) they seem to just ignore anything that is reported as wrong with a proxy server.

The proxies really are a pain, and cripple the web browsing on so many occasions its just not funny any more

Ignition · 17-08-2005, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Getting serious problems myself at the moment having to click twice on every single link to every site on my default proxy.

This triggered me to ring simon duffy office and I told them feedback they should provide proxyless service for extra 1-2 pound a month since they wont do it for nothing.

I somehow don't think phoning the CEO's secretary / PA will get you very far.

You may want to consider other options, such as feeding back via the official means, and also take note that it's not possible to provide a proxyless service at the mo.

jonholyfield · 17-08-2005, 20:05

Hi I've just registered so be gentle.

I'm a PC technician in Woking and I've been doing this stuff for a while (I worked in the Lotus Development messenging support team for a time).

Deal mainly with home users and small companys now.

This week I have had so many customers with NTL problems that it is not true.

I spent 2.5 hours on the phone to India for a deaf customer this week and despite having got the same problem fixed for another customer last week by the changing of proxy server, this time the nice chaps in India didnt have a clue.

I was back to the "Its something on the PC" routine.

Despite having demonstrated the problem on a laptop as well and the fact that the customers PC connects to my network fine. I spoke to the supervisor et al and it was like a brick wall.

Every proof I threw at them was countered with "No it tests OK here its the PC" I only lost my rag once and ended the call politely but its bloody frustrating.

So what are the other options for broadband over cable? None I assume.

So my customers will have to go through the grief of cancelling and then paying for an additional phone line or ditching NTL (which seems to be a fair option, to be honest).

Cheers

Jon

IanUK · 17-08-2005, 21:16

I've just had a reply to my responsetek entry.

It says that someone from Technical Support will be looking into the matter and contacting me directly.

Fingers crossed !

I feel your pain jonholyfield, the proxies are a real problem here, just today I've had Gamespot,Expedia & Ebuyer all fail to work and needed a proxy switch - If I didn't know about the proxies then I would have probably thought those sites were down, or wasted my time (and theirs) ringing support, and when sites do work they are more often than not very slow.
Usually switching proxies fixes it - for a while, then its the proxy dance again, it was amusing at first, then an annoyance, now its just pathetic.

Oh and Welcome to the forum

jonholyfield · 17-08-2005, 22:45

The other proxies that I was asked to use when on customer support last week all pointed to the same f...Sorry server. So a complete waste of time. I am tempted to re-direct NTL customers to one of my servers but that is madness.
__________________

I feel very sorry for the support people in India.

It appears they have been given no information and no escalation system.

'kinhell, I've left places for less.

If you put aside the massive issues of outsourcing offshore then ffs give the staff there some ability to fix the problem.

Scripts.. Yeah OK fine, I've written them.

But bottom line when all else fails "it is your fault"

I think not.

Chrysalis · 18-08-2005, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignition

I somehow don't think phoning the CEO's secretary / PA will get you very far.

You may want to consider other options, such as feeding back via the official means, and also take note that it's not possible to provide a proxyless service at the mo.

It got me further then the official means, I have lost account the number of times I have used the responsetek form and had no response. But I spoke to someone on the phone who was in central office which gives me more satisfaction. How do you know its not low level staff who read responsetek?
and whats so bad about going high up the food chain.

Right now doing this post the smilies on the right had 7 failed icons, yet more proxy issues I couldnt refresh the page or anything thinking the site is down but I switched to my own proxy and it instantly loads.

It is possible to do proxyless connection, I have had it before when I signed up, it can be done on mass by turning of the proxy server which to be honest should be done until they work, or it can be done via acl lists.

jonholyfield · 18-08-2005, 19:33

Been on the phone to NTL at another customers house today. Spoke to Raj again (or another Raj). Tonight the story has changed from "No problem exists" to "We are fixing a problem in the Woking area, it should be fixed by 19.30".

Not holding my breath but at least its a step in the right direction.

I'll let you know the outcome next week when I am expecting responses from several customers.

Cheers everybody.

20-08-2005, 13:53

im so glad its not only me thats gettin hackoff with NTL
sayin theres no fault and sayin its my software thats the prob
i got 3mbit line and my downloads are about 100kbps each from some site its fine min 360k
reinstalled windows 3 times last week thinkin it was a leech or something like that but no still slow laggy

and i kno this prob is all over the UK and it started about 26 july
but i dont think that NTL knos there is a problem had 2 tecs round this week to sort my prob but they cant under stand it ether

so any help would be great

Ignition · 20-08-2005, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

It is possible to do proxyless connection, I have had it before when I signed up, it can be done on mass by turning of the proxy server which to be honest should be done until they work, or it can be done via acl lists.

Where there are mass proxy issues they are turned off, as has happened in Nottingham, Luton and Manchester in the past. This was due to issues with the servers and resulting complaints.

I'm aware that it can be done with ACLs however I'm buggered if I'd want to administer it all manually. I'm guessing you had a chat with a network bod regarding WCCP. Nonetheless yes ACLs can be done exempting but as IPs aren't static, such a system would have to be administered manually for at least some time and masses of ACLs may induce performance issues it's not really a viable option.