4MB Package upload speed not what it should be

[dreadnaught]

First let me say that I have been a pretty happy NTL customer in the Cambridge Cable area since 1994, with both phone and TV, then dial-up and 128k, 600k, 2MB and now 4MB broadband. I have found no problem with the service, and when i have, they have been fairy responsive and prompt. The only real gripe is with the fact that that when i called BB tech support recently (for the first time ever i might add), i had trouble with the accents which I'm guessing are from the Indian sub-continent somewhere (not that I hold that against the individuals)

What I do have a problem with is this - right here http://www.ntlworld.com/digitalliving/security/speed-upgrade.php NTL state that they have increased upload speed for 4MB ustomers from 200k to 400k. This is a lie, plain and simple. the modem config reports a change to 400k, but when you call BB Tech Support, they tell you that the network needs upgrading before this can be supported.

To see if you get the same as I do, Ixia have a tool called QCheck http://www.ixiacom.com/solutions/display?skey=qcheck. This is a tool that lets you test throughput between 2 end points. I have access to a device at an ISP, and I have an endpoint installed on it. When I run the test i get pretty close to 200k (please don't ask where it is, as opening it for all would not be a bright idea on my part). If you want to play with this with a friend, just get them to install the endpoint on their machine, open up the releavnt ports (the endpoint listens on TCP port 10115), and you can connect to it directly - you'll not be able to test download speed, but there are plenty of places you can do that, just not many who do upload.

It would be interesting to see if this is just a Cambridge thing or not.

[Nemesis]

We have a Speed Test of our own, open to all, just check out the Speed Test link in the top navigation bar.

[dreadnaught]

Can it test upload speed? didn't seem to when i looked. The "To repeat this test from the source server click here." link sounded like it should, but it still tells me i have 3MB(!)

[Nemesis]

In which case the modem may well be able to run at 4MB but the underlying network may only support speeds to 3MB.

[dreadnaught]

the fact that i don't get 4Mb down doesn't bother me too much - it's the fact that NTL are selling a 4Mb/400kb service, but are only delivering a 4Mb/200kb service. And they are admitting it. I work from home a lot, and my VPN performance would benefit from the extra bandwidth. If it's just Camdridge area, then the odds are they are at least doing something about it. if it's everyone, lets at least get them to stop lying about it.

I'm so not bothered by the download speed that I wonder what the 100Mb triallers are doing with their bandwidth. I bet none of them can fully utilise it. Might be nice to try though :-)

[Nemesis]

There are parts of the ntl Infrastructure that cannot support the faster speeds without Major upgrades. Many of these areas have been promised this for a long time, and yet still have to suffer.

The original Langley areas and a majority of the Bromley Network are capable, and are, supporting the increased speeds, however areas such as Inner London, still on an old legacy network cannot.

This is also shown by the difference in packages available to those areas.

We would need someone with more experience of the Cambridge area to give us a bit more detail as to what network you are on, and any known issues for that area.

[OldGeezer]

I wish I could get 200kbps upload!

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/09/5.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I'm on Bromley (S. Manchester) and have never had a decent upload.

[jamesaki]

I have to say, that i think sometimes users forget the very nature of the internet itself. Remember that whenever you go from one network to another, you then enter someone else network, then someone elses, etc, etc, till you reach your destination, so running endpoint trials is useful, but cannot always determine fault.

I personally dont think ntl are "lieing" because i geting eactly what they sell me - 4mb download , 400Kb upload.. yeah sure it aint always full speed, i just tested and i get a measly 3857kb downlink and 351 Kb uplink, but no network ive ever seen works 100% all the time. Perhaps this Cambridge area is overworked - it is after all quite a big city.. and sometimes isps dont allow sufficient bandwidth to cope with the massive demand for an area.. probably too many pople p2p'ing....

and maybe to fix the problem, more isp's should start using packshaping, as it would enable you probably to get the full 400kb upload you want..

[deathtrap3000]

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/10/30.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I got less than what i shud get but more than 400k

[dreadnaught]

I have to say, that i think sometimes users forget the very nature of the internet itself. Remember that whenever you go from one network to another, you then enter someone else network, then someone elses, etc, etc, till you reach your destination, so running endpoint trials is useful, but cannot always determine fault.

I personally dont think ntl are "lieing" because i geting eactly what they sell me - 4mb download , 400Kb upload.. yeah sure it aint always full speed, i just tested and i get a measly 3857kb downlink and 351 Kb uplink, but no network ive ever seen works 100% all the time. Perhaps this Cambridge area is overworked - it is after all quite a big city.. and sometimes isps dont allow sufficient bandwidth to cope with the massive demand for an area.. probably too many pople p2p'ing....

and maybe to fix the problem, more isp's should start using packshaping, as it would enable you probably to get the full 400kb upload you want..

I'm not saying it's broken - i'm saying the network in Cambridge (probably) is not configured to support above 200k upload right now. my measurements are always 190-201k upload and i mean ALWAYS - there's no way that could be accidental, and in fact shows that in my area, i'm possibly quite lucky, as i always see my full upload speed :-)

NTL BB TS tell me when I call that this is in fact the case - upgrades are allegedly pending so, bearing in mind your upload speed, it is just on an area basis that this is wrong. no eta for fixing it though :-(

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/10/26.png (http://www.speedtest.net)