Maximum rates with daytime + evening STM in force

[ceedee]

Originally Posted by mojo

Thanks to the OP. It would be interesting to see figures if you avoid being traffic shaped (i.e. no downloading during periods of throttling, so you can browse and download files/email normally without fear of having your internet connection crippled).

It's not that complicated to work out -- see the (very basic) STM timetable for an XL connection.

The reason I mention it is that before this nonsense started I had uTorrent set up not to download anything between 4pm and 9pm. Traffic shaping absolutely kills my connection, so that even if I then stop download web browsing is slow and pages time out, gaming is impossible and streaming video cuts out a lot.

STM shouldn't cripple your connection to that extent.
Probably worth doing a (proper, simultaneous multiple-file download) speed test when you're next STM'd?
Maybe the STM parameters for your UBR are incorrect?

Okay... 10 hours of traffic shaping per day, so that's a 43% reduction in bandwidth available for downloading, not to mention the inconvenience.

I think the reason throttling wrecks my connection is the upstream limits. They are already quite pathetic when not throttled, but when it kicks in the connection becomes chocked easily and I seem to get a lot of dropped packets.

I have tried to raise the issue with tech support, but they are not interested and either don't understand or won't understand and just blame me for the problem. "You must be downloading" they always say. Actually I'm a computer technician, and and studying for Cisco qualifications, plus my router is a pfsense box which gives me exact details on what traffic is flowing, but anyway...

[ceedee]

Nice firewall!

Even allowing for the pitiful upload speeds when STM'd, you should still be able to browse web pages (and just about stream video) without too many problems. Could be worth ignoring TS's BS and trying to diagnose yourself.

Well, I know for certain that packets are being dropped. I figured it was the traffic shaping just randomly dropping stuff to keep the speed down (since they don't appear to re-configure your cable modem to actually send less data). It seems odd as there is no problem when not throttled, so maybe it is due to incorrect configuration as you suggested.

I really have had it with VM. For four years now they have been unable to correctly bill us, and the service just keeps getting worse. I noticed that they are doing much better offers for new customers than existing ones too, which is a nice reward for nearly a decade of loyalty. I'd sign up with Be today if it wasn't for concerns over my line - Be said 8-10Mb was all I could expect and an old fault (cracking on the line) which took BT a year to fix last time has re-surfaced recently too :-(