View Full Version : Extremly Slow in South Manchester
Daniel H
10-01-2006, 17:19
Is anyone else in South Manchester been experiencing a really slow and slugish service from around 1pm?
Am on 1mb and am finding it hard to load most pages without them timing out. Have tried resetting box and computer but still to no luck. Am using a router and laptop is working just as slow.
Daniel
Retrovertigo
10-01-2006, 23:15
Pathetically slow here with me as well (I'm in fallowfield).
I'm on 10 meg and am getting anywhere between 1.5 to 5 meg. Tech support has just informed me it is only sold as "up to" 10 meg. But surely 1.5 is taking the mick?
It was perfect up until a couple of days ago when they installed NTL in one of the other flats above me. It's now 3 peole taken off the same cable feed despite it being wired for each individual flat. I don't think that would affect things would it?
I don't think I am going to get any help anytime soon, as the Tech support guy has just asked me to right click on my computer to see what resources my computer is using - but as far as I'm aware I've only ever been able to check that by doing ctrl+tab+del - sigh.
He has also said I may have some P2P software running in the background - despite me convincing him that I know I haven't. He doesn't seem to believe me when I tell him I know my way around a P.C
If these people don't know the job they are doing I wish they wouldn't bother employing them. That's no disrespect to the ones who frequent here that work at NTL and obviously do know their jobs.
edit: I wanted to add that as with some others here I'm fairly sure I was transferres to a call centre in India. The guy couldn't make himself understood without repeating himself at least 3 or 4 times. Now I know that's not his fault as such, but it doesn't help when customers will already be frustrated enough to have prompted them to call tech support. This guy just didn't seem to want to accept it was an NTL problem. And reading from the other posts on these boards it most certainly is.
Unless you get through to a tech guy in this country I just don't see how any headway will be made. The 2 other occasions I have had problems, they have had someone out to me within the hour and even phoned me the day after to ask if I was satisfied. Can't see that happening anytime soon with this problem!
I just don't get why they can't accept that some customers know thier own machines well enough, to not only know what is running in the background etc. But that they are confident no changes have been made to the machine to illicit the problems being encountered.
this is the last speed test I ran while talking to him:
Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:31:18 GMT
1st 128K took 687 ms = 190789 Bytes/sec = approx 1587 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 719 ms = 182298 Bytes/sec = approx 1517 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 219 ms = 598502 Bytes/sec = approx 4980 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 594 ms = 220660 Bytes/sec = approx 1836 kbits/sec
I actually hung up on the guy when he asked me to start in safe mode to do the necessary checks. I am not wasting my time and money going through things that don't need checking. Thank god I'm well out of my service contract and am free to shop around for viable alternatives.
squirrel1970
10-01-2006, 23:26
Stockport here. Ethernet on both computers here (just installed this afternoon) in the belief that it would make the internet quicker... sorry, what? quicker??! hitting 2.9mb from the stated 10mb... and 2.9mb is the best speed we've seen since that particular roll-out began. Recent 'best' speeds have been approx 2.5mb. Also, clean install of XP on both machines - so... I know it's not our end. We don't have a router (yet) so that can't be at fault (we're too lazy to network really...) and if I was going to call up, I'd get asked to check all that....
I rather like to think that this particular area has been overlooked as regards the internet connection because we were practically the last to see the upgrade to 3mb - and if thats the case, then it'll be the middle of the year before we see anything as regards speed increase. As for the ethernet cards - a pair of 'em.. £4.99 from PCWorld - upto 100mb so, should easy handle 10mb with loads to spare.
Just wondering what game they're playing....
Speeds fine on my 1mb here in Sale
I'm in Sale , but 10meg isnt fine thats for sure.
PS
I should add that support from NTL has been excellent, ok the connection isnt what it was, but its obvious theres a bigger problem overall.
But i got everything possible tested, the guy on the4 phone escalated the problem, i got an engineer out next day, he fitted a new modem, and they called me twice after that, to see if things were better. And to be fair at least the modem has stopped cutting out every now and then.
So thanks to all those involved. :)
PCNutter
11-01-2006, 21:34
I'm in Urmston (manchester) and I getting slow download speeds as well, have been for a while:-
ADSL Speed Guide
Direction
Actual Speed
True Speed (estimated)
Downstream1139 Kbps (142.4 KB/sec)1230 Kbps (inc. overheads) Upstream488 Kbps (61.0 KB/sec)527 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Cable Forum Speed Test
Wed, 11 Jan 2006 21:23:16 UTC
1st 512K took 1314 ms = 389.7 KB/sec, approx 2962 Kbps, 2.9 Mbps
2nd 512K took 1719 ms = 297.8 KB/sec, approx 2263 Kbps, 2.2 Mbps
3rd 512K took 1751 ms = 292.4 KB/sec, approx 2222 Kbps, 2.2 Mbps
4th 512K took 2673 ms = 191.5 KB/sec, approx 1455 Kbps, 1.4 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 2226 Kbps, 2.17 Mbps
Modem Stats
Upstream transmit Power Level : 52.5 dBmV
Downstream Receive Power Level : -5.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 28.0 dB
I'm just hoping it will sort its self out, cant bring myself to ring NTL.
Ignition
11-01-2006, 21:53
Modem Stats
Upstream transmit Power Level : 52.5 dBmV
Downstream Receive Power Level : -5.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 28.0 dB
I'm just hoping it will sort its self out, cant bring myself to ring NTL.
Normally I don't bother with people who can't be bothered to help themselves but in your case I'll make a slight exception, your downstream SNR is too low, and if you can bear to do it speak to tech support and have them arrange an engineer.
In the meantime if you have an attenuator on the modem to reduce its' power remove it.
PCNutter
11-01-2006, 23:10
Thanks for the help Ignition. I didn't mean to come across like that, its just that when I first got broadband it was with ntl, and this is going back a good few years, and whenever I rang tec support with a problem they always pointed the finger at my set up.
I don't have an attenuator on my modem, just out of interest what should my downstream snr be?.
Ill give tec support a ring tomorrow:)
Ignition
11-01-2006, 23:41
Ahh that post above this one about cable modem signal levels :)
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=26006
I've seen issues at the level your downstream SNR is at the moment and think it's a fair bet that's ya problem.
They still will blame your set up mind you :)
PCNutter
12-01-2006, 18:54
Just spoken to tec support in India, quite a helpful guy. He ran some tests on my line and said that the cable I am on has to many connections on it. He said he will escalate this to the relevant department and that it should be fixed within the next two days.
And guess what he didn't blame my set up:D
So when he says the cable i am on is congested, do you think he means the box near my house? I also mentioned my downstream snr been low i.e 27.5 and he said this will be fixed when they sort out the congestion does this seem right.
Thanks
Just spoken to tec support in India, quite a helpful guy. He ran some tests on my line and said that the cable I am on has to many connections on it. He said he will escalate this to the relevant department and that it should be fixed within the next two days.
And guess what he didn't blame my set up:D
So when he says the cable i am on is congested, do you think he means the box near my house? I also mentioned my downstream snr been low i.e 27.5 and he said this will be fixed when they sort out the congestion does this seem right.
Thanks
With what provider, It says you are Bulldog 8meg under your name ;)
I hate it when people edit :rofl:
PCNutter
12-01-2006, 19:25
Oops forgot about that.
Edited :D
squirrel1970
13-01-2006, 00:48
Ok, seems I was right. Phoned NTL earlier asking "where's our 10meg?" when (as no surprise at all) they asked us about a router we don't have. Since then, and realising something, we did used to have cable tv and there's a 3-way splitter there (we got rid of the service a couple of summers ago now - was proving too expensive). Nope, they didn't take the *aeriel* cable with 'em and... well, its doing nothing, plus there's a little greyish attachment (small silver looking thing with the words 'digital signal filter enhancer' on it) to the back of the modem, which I'm guessing is an attenuator... I wonder if there's a possible chance that something there is slowing the connection???
I'd love to mooch around that dark corner of the living room but the full bookcase is in the way and not easy to move... the three way splitter sits loomingly on the underside of the computerdesk... easy to reach...
Am I onto anything?
Not with the attenuator no, if you remove that your service could cluster feck. :)
Ignition
13-01-2006, 07:22
Not with the attenuator no, if you remove that your service could cluster feck. :)
Get rid of the splitter if possible, especially if the unused bits on it haven't been stoppered up properly.
squirrel1970
13-01-2006, 15:37
Right, so no fiddling with the attenuator... ok.. good so far... for the splitter...any way I can use that for the other internet connection? there's one central 'in' and two 'out' on it...... if no, then ok, good, we can save up for a router (so that in the future, NTL can have something here they can physically blame)
If all else fails and circumstances don't change, then I think we'll have to move down to the 2meg tier. We're not exactly bandwidth hogs on constant download sprees, but the connection means a lot to us. It'll stop a particular friend of ours from constantly bending our ears to bleeding point about 10meg... or rather.. the lack of it... and judging by other comments around these parts, having full 10meg or 'dial-up' as some people have called it, we'd be doing ourselves possibly a bigger favour moving down a tier anyway - but we'll see.
Bluffdemon
13-01-2006, 17:43
Hi
I did another spped test today and my speed is yet again slow i am on 10mb and this is what i am getting like yesterday :
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:40:18 GMT
1st 512K took 1891 ms = 270.8 KB/sec, approx 2058 Kbps, 2 Mbps
2nd 512K took 548 ms = 934.3 KB/sec, approx 7101 Kbps, 6.9 Mbps
3rd 512K took 922 ms = 555.3 KB/sec, approx 4220 Kbps, 4.1 Mbps
4th 512K took 657 ms = 779.3 KB/sec, approx 5923 Kbps, 5.8 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 4826 Kbps, 4.7 Mbps I wonder whats going on with Ntl i am in chorlton and i wonder if anybody else today are having the same problems as i am
Anthony
well i am supposed to be 2 meg, but i get this
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:47:25 UTC
1st 512K took 3874 ms = 132.2 KB/sec, approx 1005 Kbps, 1 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2281 ms = 224.5 KB/sec, approx 1706 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2281 ms = 224.5 KB/sec, approx 1706 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
4th 512K took 2280 ms = 224.6 KB/sec, approx 1707 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 1531 Kbps, 1.53 Mbps
Vlad_Dracul
14-01-2006, 18:04
well i am supposed to be 2 meg, but i get this
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:47:25 UTC
1st 512K took 3874 ms = 132.2 KB/sec, approx 1005 Kbps, 1 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2281 ms = 224.5 KB/sec, approx 1706 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2281 ms = 224.5 KB/sec, approx 1706 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
4th 512K took 2280 ms = 224.6 KB/sec, approx 1707 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 1531 Kbps, 1.53 Mbps
Yes,the fact is that NTL are exploiting their customers. They are saying hey have 2mg,have 10meg,haveanything in order to give the impression that they are offering a better product,both to retain customers and attract new ones. What they really mean is hey have upto 2meg,have upto 10meg. Here in Stockport the service is slowwww. I'm supposed to be on 1meg and i was happy with it and it worked well until they upped speeds and marketed to get loads of new customers.
I got my 2meg up until they rolled out the gobling 10 meg now i get crap :(
I've just got NTL 10mbit installed today.
Download, upload and ping responses feel fast enough but web browsing is painfully slow (I can count to 3 before google has loaded).
I'm in Stockport.
I'm in North Manchester, well, Bury anyway.
Allegedly on 2mb, speed tests varying from the high 400's to mid 700's.
To say I am unimpressed is an understatement.
Im in Withington and alls good on my 2mb connection. dont know anyone round here with 10mb so i couldnt find out if its fast/slow
Kurt Alden
16-01-2006, 18:40
Hey all
I've noticed that in the last few weeks things have gone downhill. Pages take much longer to load and things just don't feel right. I kind of assumed that it's down to their network upgrade so have decided to put up with it for the time being and see what happens. Btw, I'm in Stockport.
Bluffdemon
16-01-2006, 19:11
Yeah i agree its very slow at the moment i am in the chorlton area of manchester and i HOPE !! it gets better because if these slow speeds carry on then i am going to downgrade for sure as its not worth £37.99 for speeds that are like 2-3mb , I went for the 10mb upgrade because i do alot of downloading flight sim stuff and uploading flightsim addons and i thought this new speed would be great but its proving to be a real pain
come on ntl this is no way to run a major business get your act together
sort your network out :mad: haha
Anthony
I'm in Marple (Stockport) and have to say that since the so-called upgrade to 10 meg (restricted to 5Mb through NTL's absolutely brilliant choice of set top box - Samsung), the connection has been nothing short of appallingly poor. I'm getting average speeds of 2.7, with very little variation at all times of the day, apart from the odd spurt upto the dizzy heights of 3 meg! Frankly the bb service was better when I was on the 3mb connection speed.
I know it takes time to get things balanced out, but am beginning to get rather frustrated by NTL's apparent lack of action/or even apology for charging over the odds for a service that does not come upto scratch or even meet the conditions of the Sale of Goods Act.
Rant over!!
First post to the group. Hello everybody!.
Cheers
PAUL :mad:
squirrel1970
16-01-2006, 23:27
Mon, 16 Jan 2006 23:26:38 GMT
1st 512K took 1454 ms = 352.1 KB/sec, approx 2676 Kbps, 2.6 Mbps
2nd 512K took 1470 ms = 348.3 KB/sec, approx 2647 Kbps, 2.6 Mbps
3rd 512K took 1454 ms = 352.1 KB/sec, approx 2676 Kbps, 2.6 Mbps
4th 512K took 1454 ms = 352.1 KB/sec, approx 2676 Kbps, 2.6 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 2669 Kbps, 2.6 Mbps
How odd... it's been doing this for the last hour... I wonder what on earth is going on here in Stockport....
subsequent readings have all looked identical...
I think all the 10meg people are sucking the system dry, but thats just me :)
@ cj_abi
Hi
would you mind telling me what app you're using to produce your bb line speed tests, please?
Cheers
PAUL :)
Hi,
It's only started getting worst over the last week or so; 2MB down to 1.63MB here using the NTHellWorld Speed Test.
Could it be congestion caused by all the 3MB users going to 10MB?
Who knows...
squirrel1970
17-01-2006, 02:25
phbar: I used the speed test thats in this site...
I've also used the Robin Walker one too... and the Irish speed test and the one on adslguide...
In fact, things have actually gone SLOWER since going ethernet here.. well, on the main pc anyway, for some perculiar reason, my 700mhz pc which is now 6 years old, that connects slightly faster (when it's connected...)
The only thing I do notice is that I can upload stuff, be using mIRC, emailing and listen to streamed audio and the speed remains constant.... maybe goes down to about 2.4meg... never any less...
One time it hit 4meg... lasted all of about 5 minutes...
havent seen it since... regret now not taking a screenshot for prosperity...
The ethernet cards are fine, bought them and installed them last week... as for the config.. well.. it's stuck on 3meg...
Network Access : Enabled Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 3072000 bps Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 300000 bps Maximum Number of CPEs : 1 Software Upgrade File Name : ntlhm120_ntl0002.cpr Software Upgrade AdminStatus : ignoreProvisioningUpgrade Software Upgrade OperStatus : completeFromMgt
it's had the upgrade flash... it's been rebooted over and over.... nothing.. sick of phoning CS and getting nowhere (hence the mention previously about the router we don't have causing a problem...) and realising there probably is more intelligent life somewhere out there in space (to quote a certain song..) Both machines here are squeaky clean because we gave them a jolly good formatting and fresh reinstall of windows.
I was thinking it's the modem for sure... everything else is really ruled out...
*looks in a glaring manner at the ambit 120*
only thing is... we don't have £50 for some tech-dude to swap it for a modem that might or might not work since better testing by said tech-dude hasn't been carried out on the current modem and since we're getting a stable connection... no luck in anyone wanting to send anyone out for anything....
Chrysalis
17-01-2006, 15:39
the speedtests are increasingly becoming less reliable because of the proxies. On paul's speedtest it is throttled by the leics proxies which are currently performing abysmal, if I set a proxy usually one in colchester it improves.
squirrel1970
18-01-2006, 04:36
and with our modem showing still the 3meg connection.... I think it's another trip to the phonebox... and another round of 'it's not the router we don't have'
I only pray none of the local drunks have peed in it again (the phonebox that is...)
the speedtests are increasingly becoming less reliable because of the proxies.
...but I'm not on a proxy at moment, according to this website (but PLEASE don't tell anyone :D )
I'm in Sale and have the 10Mb service, with the NTL Home120 modem.
I have just done a speed test
Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:04:37 GMT
1st 128K took 210 ms = 624152 Bytes/sec = approx 5193 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 171 ms = 766503 Bytes/sec = approx 6377 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 210 ms = 624152 Bytes/sec = approx 5193 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 170 ms = 771012 Bytes/sec = approx 6415 kbits/sec
Average = 5.66Mb/s
Judging by the other speed tests in this thread I should count myself lucky!
But in reality this is terrible, paying for 10Mb/s and only getting 56% bandwidth.
Which it's marketed as "upto".
At least your getting over 3meg, thats something. :)
Bluffdemon
18-01-2006, 16:20
We will be lucky if it goes anywhere near 6mb :p:
this is what i got for today :
Wed, 18 Jan 2006 16:18:27 GMT
1st 512K took 1859 ms = 275.4 KB/sec, approx 2093 Kbps, 2 Mbps
2nd 512K took 781 ms = 655.6 KB/sec, approx 4983 Kbps, 4.9 Mbps
3rd 512K took 1235 ms = 414.6 KB/sec, approx 3151 Kbps, 3.1 Mbps
4th 512K took 1656 ms = 309.2 KB/sec, approx 2350 Kbps, 2.3 Mbps
Overall Average Speed = approx 3144 Kbps, 3.08 Mbps
£37.99 is a RIP OFF for this
I only just noticed the upto. When I've previously complained about speeds to customer service and threatened to move to Bulldog, CS have always responded that Bulldog is only upto 8Mb in a very derogatory manner. I'll be better equiped now I know NTL is only upto 10Mb.
Which it's marketed as "upto".
At least your getting over 3meg, thats something. :)At the moment I'd be happy to be getting 3 meg.... :mis:
Chrysalis
19-01-2006, 13:16
Which it's marketed as "upto".
At least your getting over 3meg, thats something. :)
that comment made me laugh I was getting 1meg on 10mbit which was what made me downgrade.
I was getting 1meg on 10mbit When was that?
that comment made me laugh I was getting 1meg on 10mbit which was what made me downgrade.
Well i thought i must have downgraded mine in my sleep, though it got to about 420kb average since chrimbo, its been running better recently.
Not perfect, just better. ;)
Chrysalis
20-01-2006, 17:42
It started last monday Ramrod so I thought sod it I am downgrading, my speeds are steadily getting worse tho and here is my trace from 4.30pm today.
Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.131]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 327 ms 89 ms 263 ms UBR [10.8.143.254]
2 58 ms 23 ms 218 ms leic-t2cam1-b-ge914.inet.ntl.com [82.3.35.213]
3 18 ms 25 ms 77 ms leic-t2core-b-ge-210-0.inet.ntl.com [82.3.33.134]
4 386 ms 396 ms 46 ms nth-bb-b-so-230-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.188.114]
5 119 ms 1126 ms 340 ms nth-bb-a-ae0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.117]
6 25 ms 316 ms 553 ms gfd-bb-b-so-400-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.98]
7 338 ms 322 ms 374 ms redb-ic-1-as0-0.inet.ntl.com [213.105.174.138]
8 3325 ms 334 ms 217 ms 212.58.238.189
9 45 ms 61 ms * 212.58.238.149
10 379 ms 98 ms 563 ms rdirwww-vip.thdo.bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.131]
really frustrated that ntl appear to just leave this ongoing for 2 weeks, have had techs helping me in their own time but they are powerless to fix.
NTL have a seriously overloaded Point of Presence it would seem located at Baguley. After getting diagnostics run from Germany both ADSL and run from a Datacentre, Netherlands ADSL, Norway ADSL as well as ADSL connections fom within the UK. Diagnostics including Tracert and Pings run continously for over 24 hours yeilding zero packet loss and low latency interestingly enough 500ms + latency to the Baguley PoP. The issue is serious packet loss and high latency. Current testing is even proving results to bbc.co.uk and demon.net are running at serious loss (20% or Higher within the last 24 hours). Something is seriously wrong but they will not accept responsiblity. I have been given a replacement Set top box to no avail. I have asked my firends who also use NTL at different locations to run Pings and Tracerts, some using routers and some directly connected to the equipment, some using Cable Modems and some on Set top Boxes,(all permutations have been covered) all yeilding the same results. All produce at least 10% loss. NTL tried to pin the blame on my router or my PCs (to satisfy myself my PCs are not at fault, I have put them on an ADSL connection and found I had no dropped packets or high latency).
I have at my location used, 3 different routers (Dlink 3Com and Netgear) and 2 cable boxes now, with 4 different computers. They will not admit the fault and I have had enough. I'm canceling my account with them on Monday and Moving to ADSL. :)
squirrel1970
22-01-2006, 05:13
Well, seriously considered it now.. sick of reading posts of people with probs that have the 10meg* (even though we're supposed to be enabled here - and we're not, the modem cofig file clearly states we're on 3meg) so, come Monday morning, as soon as we can, we're going to jump the nearest phone box and scrabble down to 2meg...
I really am at my wits end trying to tell them our modem isn't upgrading to anything and I don't want to be paying out all that money for a service that can't be provided. Granted, it'll be slightly slower, but as we're surfing at a fairly consistent 2.6 meg** anyway, thats hardly going to be noticable.
I'd rather save the money than spend it... really...
We were happy enough with USB, we got an ethernet card for each computer... it's not the router we don't have thats caused a problem and it's certainly not our computers as these were recently reformatted and reinstalled with windows. Everything computerwise here is *fine* - how it should be.
I'll reconsider any possible changes back to *cough*10meg*cough* as and when the time is right to do so - and that day will be when we see fit and not before.
To further this, our friend*** is still batting our ears to death about getting 10meg, well, to him, I offer only words of a four letter variety and a series of hand gestures maybe including up to two fingers (or half a finger, if my hand was NTL.. which it isn't...)
So bring on Monday and a connection**** that suits our modem!!! :D
10meg* = dial up.. to some...
2.5meg** = we saw 4.5 once but that was it.. ONCE... the moment lasted longer than anything else....
friend*** = some smug know-it-all who ok, built his own computer, but at the same time, thinks he built *this* one.. which he hasn't.. (idiot)
connection**** = ah yes,the joys of actually having something that fair enough, it's a steady connection, but we're not getting the standard of service one would expect...especially as 3mb is like... gone now... and we can't make anyone accept that the modem has a fault... :banghead:
(chances are, they'll want to send out an engineer.. and a new modem...before they'll let us have 2meg... )
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 3072000 bps
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 300000 bps
and yes, it's an Ambit 120... source of a lot of gripes at the moment....
/steps down off soapbox...
i'm in north manchester and have been getting bad speeds for the past week or so, i'm used to 1000+Kbps
do the 50MB speed test here and see what your speed is half way through?--> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/testmyspeed/
i got around 800Kbps which isnt bad, but between 2Mb and 4Mb during normal times whatever speed u get in Kb times it by 8 to get your true speed in Mb's
800Kb x 8 = 6.4Mb and that was done at 5:30am
swoop101
22-01-2006, 08:41
No problems here in M23 (Baguley)
taken a few mins ago
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7135/dodgersspeedtest7qs.jpg
not bad for 10mb ;)
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