DSL Nightmares...

[100Coogn]

OMG! 

Using CenturyLink.  Friday I upgraded to a 6 Mps plan, from some .700 Mps thing they sold me some time ago.  Of course I couldn't just upgrade the internet.  I Had to bundle it with all this crap for my telephone, which I'm hoping I don't need.
Any ways, I noticed I'm only getting 2.4 Mps and the not 6 Mps, so I called them.  They insist that there is a problem on my end.  I'm looking at my modem status on the computer.  The download feed is only 2.4 Mps.  Finally, after over an
hour, they locate the problem.  Something on their end. 

For anyone dealing with their phone company's.  I feel your pain...   

Coogan   

[RotBaron]

Just switched to Century Link from coaxial...

So far so good, but I haven't done any benchmarking. Where/how are you testing your speeds?  I had Cox communications and the bills were really starting to get outrageous. With DirectTV and Century Link, right now I'm saving $70/month in the first year, those savings will drop to about $30 in the 2nd year.

[100Coogn]

Just switched to Century Link from coaxial...

So far so good, but I haven't done any benchmarking. Where/how are you testing your speeds?  I had Cox communications and the bills were really starting to get outrageous. With DirectTV and Century Link, right now I'm saving $70/month in the first year, those savings will drop to about $30 in the 2nd year.

Century Link Speed Test

Ookla SpeedTest

They both seem to be consistent for me.  I must say that I'm happy with my ping.  .065.

Coogan

[Bizman]

Century Link Speed Test

Ookla SpeedTest

They both seem to be consistent for me.  I must say that I'm happy with my ping.  .065.

Coogan

Ping .065? Does that read 65 ms? The two tests would give quite puzzling answers if I didn't know something about ping times versus distance: If I run the Century Link test to Dallas, Tx, the  ping is +300 ms. The Ookla test tries to find a nearby server, which will give me a ping time of 10 ms. Interesting though, there are two servers in and very close to Helsinki, the one gives 10 ms while the other gives 26 ms. Could it be possible that there's one line of copper and another one of fibre? I really don't know, but it might be possible. There's a rule of thumb about how many milliseconds a certain distance will add using copper wiring, but I just can't recall it. Could it have been about 10 ms per 100 km?

[100Coogn]

Ping .065? Does that read 65 ms? The two tests would give quite puzzling answers if I didn't know something about ping times versus distance: If I run the Century Link test to Dallas, Tx, the  ping is +300 ms. The Ookla test tries to find a nearby server, which will give me a ping time of 10 ms. Interesting though, there are two servers in and very close to Helsinki, the one gives 10 ms while the other gives 26 ms. Could it be possible that there's one line of copper and another one of fibre? I really don't know, but it might be possible. There's a rule of thumb about how many milliseconds a certain distance will add using copper wiring, but I just can't recall it. Could it have been about 10 ms per 100 km?

Yes, I meant 65 ms.  That was from Michigan (my location) to Dallas Texas.
When I had dial-up my ping was around 300 ms, but is was very steady so the game was still very playable.  I've read that when the variance in delay fluctuates a lot, is when folks begin having issues.

Coogan

[smoe]

DSL speed can be affected by distance between you and the phone company building. The longer the distance the less chance the high-speed will work as desired. I worked for a  telephone company long ago and let me tell ya those guys are good at what they do, but they do need your feedback and persistence to get the job done sometimes.

[5PointOh]

If you have the century link PZ5001 modem prepare for discos every 1-2hrs

[100Coogn]

If you have the century link PZ5001 modem prepare for discos every 1-2hrs

I'm using a WesTell 7500, I believe it is.  They wanted to lease me a modem...

Coogan

[Gman]

We're lucky in Canada, we have pretty cheap fast bandwidth.  Not quite on par with Japan or Korea, but the next best thing.

I pay 70$ a month for 100 mbs down 10 mps up, and I get 96 on the bandwidth tests on three different sites on the closest/fastest servers.

I now get 60 to 70 ping to HTC's game server now too.  They have a bandwidth cap of 750 gigs per month, and even downloading all kinds of movies, tv shows, gaming a lot, and running netflix probably 6 hours a day, on their 5800kbps super HD rate, I still haven't even come close to half of that, ever.

I'm upgrading it to the 250 maybe now that it's come available, it'll drop my pings ever further, and for another 20$, so 90 per month, remove my bandwidth cap, which I don't hit anyway.

I had dsl with the local phone company, and it was just as expensive, 66 dollars per month, for lame 2.5 down and 1.5 up, and constant problems, ping swings, and all kinds of other BS they would try and pin on my PC, which was a laugh.

[rpm]

I've got Centurylink and they constantly have connectivity issues. It's a lot better than it was a year ago, but get used to the discos. I'd try someone else, but they are the only option out in the boonies where I live. I dropped my service to DSL only and saved about $60 a month. I never used the home phone and got tired of throwing away money. I'm paying 19.99 for 1.5 down.

[guncrasher]

I switched dsl for cable internet.  it's way faster and costs the same.  and if you threaten to get rid of cable internet they will give you the introductory price for a while longer.  up until when they call your bluff.



semp

[Shifty]

I switched dsl for cable internet.  it's way faster and costs the same.  and if you threaten to get rid of cable internet they will give you the introductory price for a while longer.  up until when they call your bluff.



semp

Most guys in rural areas don't have this option. They are at the mercy of Centruylink or rural telephone co-ops.

[Vulcan]

Dear Amerika,



(and yes I can get 98Mbps downloads from  US Servers)

That's in New Zealand, how does it feel to have 3rd world countries overtaking you in broadband speeds 

[rpm]

Dear Amerika,

(Image removed from quote.)

(and yes I can get 98Mbps downloads from  US Servers)

That's in New Zealand, how does it feel to have 3rd world countries overtaking you in broadband speeds 

Well add about 50 or 60 3rd World countries together and you might have a sample equal to the US in size. Pretty sure Honduras, Zimbabwe and Uganda are gonna hurt your average. 

[Masherbrum]

Dear Amerika,

(Image removed from quote.)

(and yes I can get 98Mbps downloads from  US Servers)

That's in New Zealand, how does it feel to have 3rd world countries overtaking you in broadband speeds 

Only you would be delusional enough to consider NZ a "Third World Country".