DSL speeds!

[daysleeper]

I've been seeing lots of posts saying everybody's dsl speeds are down lately!

But I have a theory! The network seems congested, and i think that the more they slow the individual speeds of the users down the worse its going to get.

Put it this way, I used to be very luck and get 33KB/s on my dsl192 now I get 20KB/s max. Previously to download a 700mb (linux iso for instance) would take 5,9 hours. Now it would take 9,72 hours. So this task now places extra load of 4 hours on the dslams and routers.

So the faster the individual connections the faster the internet is for the users!

 

[Nick333]

I've been seeing lots of posts saying everybody's dsl speeds are down lately!

But I have a theory! The network seems congested, and i think that the more they slow the individual speeds of the users down the worse its going to get.

Put it this way, I used to be very luck and get 33KB/s on my dsl192 now I get 20KB/s max. Previously to download a 700mb (linux iso for instance) would take 5,9 hours. Now it would take 9,72 hours. So this task now places extra load of 4 hours on the dslams and routers.

So the faster the individual connections the faster the internet is for the users!

I'm experience the exact same thing on my 192, 33KB/s up and till a few weeks ago then 20KB/s till now.

My theory: Telkom are planning a "free" speed upgrade to all customers in the near future. Soon us lucky dsl192 subscribers will be experiencing 256kbs courtesy of our ever generous telecoms monopoly.

Oh ja, werent we experiencing those speeds up and till now?

 

[PostmanPot]

seems to be a 192k thing, i still get 52KB/s often on my 384k.

there's not much that you can do since ~20KB/s is average 192k speed.. plus Telkom can't guarantee speed..

 

[Nick333]

seems to be a 192k thing, i still get 52KB/s often on my 384k.

there's not much that you can do since ~20KB/s is average 192k speed.. plus Telkom can't guarantee speed..

You're of right of course, which is why theres not much point complaining. I'm just saying I expect this to turn into a PR excercise by Telkom in the near future.

Edit: Can't guarentee speed or wont gaurentee speed? Seeing as my 192kb/s line ran at a consistent 250kb/s for most of the time I've had it since october 2005, why can't I expect it to run at a more or less consistent 192kb/s now, especially when it hasn't gone over about 165kb/s in almost two weeks. Surely it should hit 192kb/s at least some of the time?

 

[PostmanPot]

Can't guarentee speed or wont gaurentee speed?

can't/don't/wont

 

[Vrotappel]

My 384 got 48 to 52KBps. Since about Sunday it does not go higher than 40KBps. I am pretty sure Telkom is up to something.

 

[PostmanPot]

poll?

My 384 got 48 to 52KBps. Since about Sunday it does not go higher than 40KBps. I am pretty sure Telkom is up to something.

my 384k has always jumped between 40KB/s and 52KB/s since i got it 8 months ago in August 2005.

infact i'm getting 52KB/s as we speak.

can we get a poll going to see if this is really a Telkom "PR excercise" or if it's just us please..

 

[ziglet]

So overall the 192users seem to be having a lovely decrease of 70% download speed. It happened to me about 2 nights ago. From 34kb/s maxing out all day, now im lucky if it hit 20.5kb/s. When it first happened to me I told people that its Telkom doing a PR stunt, cause once you've have a higher speed and then they drop it, chances are you are likely just to fork out the extra R100 for 384. *sighs* But then maybe by some slight chance, Telkom has realised(ICASA are going to sh*t them out) that 192 is in fact not true broadband(thought 384 is neither) and all 192 users will be getting a free upgrade to that speed. If there was a price drop, then there would probably be a R40 difference between the 2speeds which is just stupid!

 

[daysleeper]

I really don't understand what is going on. I don't mind getting my 20KB/s, but since this "downgrade" everything is just so slow. My average speed is like 5 KB/s.

The internet is getting worse and worse, maybe it cannot handle all these new users because even at like 3am its still not fast when one would assume that most normal people are asleep and i doubt that many normal folks leave there pcs on all night.

what is wrong? its only getting worse. i'll die without dsl, but its just not worth it. Its getting very close to the point were frustration outweighs enjoyment.

This goes for many things in our beautiful country. The price of petrol to go and earn money and the price of telephone calls to service clients in comparison to the fees charges is crazy.

These prices are going to spiral out of control and the economy is going to be put under strain and more unemployment in show.

Why are the wheels of government so slow and on top of that indicisive. Are we to believe that all these ANC ministers are elected on the basis of there family or friends doing the appointments. Soon parliament and tygerberg zoo will have the same public effect, we get to see the gorillas.

The whole problem is that we are trying to make an enjoyable life for ourselves and many people I speak to just seem to surf the wave while it lasts and don't care about the future.

I think its time to stand up and fight against incompetence! The very appearance of our foreign minister is a perfect example. With that hair style she looks as though she is some super type of access point!

Everybody tells me i'm emoting!

There are things in this country that are keeping us back and stopping us reaching our full potential. That should be unconstitutional!

 

[Darth Garth]

that 192 is in fact not true broadband(thought 384 is neither) and all 192 users will be getting a free upgrade to that speed.

Says you ... what is broadband exactly ???.

Broadband is often called high-speed Internet, because it usually has a high rate of data. In general, any connection to the customer of 256 kbit/s (0.256 Mbit/s) or more is considered broadband Internet. The International Telecommunication Union Standardization Sector (ITU-T) recommendation I.113 has defined broadband as a transmission capacity that is faster than primary rate ISDN, at 1.5 to 2 Mbit/s. The FCC definition of broadband is 200 kbit/s (0.2 Mbit/s) in one direction, and advanced broadband is at least 200 kbit/s in both directions. The OECD has defined broadband as 256 kbit/s in at least one direction and this bit rate is the most common baseline that is marketed as "broadband" around the world. There is no specific bitrate defined by the industry, however, and "broadband" can mean lower-bitrate transmission methods. Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use this to advantage, in marketing lower-bitrate connections as broadband.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_Internet_access

So 192K is not broadband but 384K definitely is according to most accepted practices in the industry.

 

[ziglet]

Well if im correct in saying, i seem to remember a poll on MyADSL where the average user seemed to deem 1mbit as true broadband. Then also an article:

Dr. Angus Hay, CTO of Transtel, said that to experience true broadband one needs a speed of 1 Mbps or more. Dr. Hay was speaking at the recent Institute for International Research’s 2006 Broadband Africa Summit

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=2431

 

[.geek]

Well if im correct in saying, i seem to remember a poll on MyADSL where the average user seemed to deem 1mbit as true broadband.

That doesn't prove anything.

 

[krycor]

dunno about that, mine has remained at 34kB/s for long now tho a recent spate of disconnects(link down, silly telkom cable lying above ground and builders nxt door sumping rocks and stuff on it ) and power cut(1.5 days ago, thanks eskom) its down to 20kB/s.. not that i notice i'd notice since i am not downloading things. Anyways tonight after i get home I'll see if it is 'suck' like that, which i doubt.

 

[KillerX]

Same here. My 192 Line used to do 35k/s now its doing max 21 k/s. Telkom is Deliberately dropping our line speeds.

If the network was congested, and hence the drop to 21k/s, then obviously late at night when the network is running smoothly i should be getting my full 35k/s again?

But that is not the case. It runs at EXACTLY 21k/s the whole day. Telkom probably pushing us to upgrade.

Telkom has realised(ICASA are going to sh*t them out) that 192 is in fact not true broadband(thought 384 is neither) and all 192 users will be getting a free upgrade to that speed.stupid!

ROFL!!!!! Right.... Telkom is so scared of ICASA. Especially after all the changes ICASA has forced on Telkom.... o wait, that has never happened.

And FREE Line Upgrades From Telkom? Comon guys, wake up.

 

[hj2k_x]

my 384k has always jumped between 40KB/s and 52KB/s since i got it 8 months ago in August 2005.

infact i'm getting 52KB/s as we speak.

can we get a poll going to see if this is really a Telkom "PR excercise" or if it's just us please..

I second the call for a poll.

Mods?

 

[hj2k_x]

Says you ... what is broadband exactly ???.

Says me too!

Wake up dude, broadband in every other decent country starts at 1Mb.

They will laugh at you if you tell them you have 192k 'broadband'.

 

[Highflyer_GP]

woohoo, my 192k line is flying at a whopping......8kB/s

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

Same here. My 192 Line used to do 35k/s now its doing max 21 k/s. Telkom is Deliberately dropping our line speeds.

If the network was congested, and hence the drop to 21k/s, then obviously late at night when the network is running smoothly i should be getting my full 35k/s again?

But that is not the case. It runs at EXACTLY 21k/s the whole day.

Yes they are. That is because your line speed is over what you are paying for. And Telkom are not deliberately dropping "our" line speeds, they are dropping the 192 and 384kb (for some people 384 was also reported down to normal speeds) packages which run over their advertised speeds.

And you shouldnt be able to get your 35kb, becuase youve got a 24kb line (which can be expected to run slightly slower) and it is simply being enforced now. I can see that this is crap for you, but hardly anything to complain about.

There also seems to be a general slow down ATM... and you should at least be slightly happy about Telkom wanting to push up speeds for free, even if they are just sowing you donw then pushing you back up, becuase that measn they are going to have to either up all speeds or drop the other prices.

 

[bwana]

Says you ... what is broadband exactly ???.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_Internet_access

So 192K is not broadband but 384K definitely is according to most accepted practices in the industry.

Hmm - amazing the difference highlighting some of the other bits make

Broadband is often called high-speed Internet, because it usually has a high rate of data. In general, any connection to the customer of 256 kbit/s (0.256 Mbit/s) or more is considered broadband Internet. The International Telecommunication Union Standardization Sector (ITU-T) recommendation I.113 has defined broadband as a transmission capacity that is faster than primary rate ISDN, at 1.5 to 2 Mbit/s. The FCC definition of broadband is 200 kbit/s (0.2 Mbit/s) in one direction, and advanced broadband is at least 200 kbit/s in both directions. The OECD has defined broadband as 256 kbit/s in at least one direction and this bit rate is the most common baseline that is marketed as "broadband" around the world. There is no specific bitrate defined by the industry, however, and "broadband" can mean lower-bitrate transmission methods. Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use this to advantage, in marketing lower-bitrate connections as broadband.

Regardless broadband should be defined by the times and applications that utilize it (like video) rather than by these antiquated definitions.

 

[Coffee_Mug]

i have the exact same problem. i used to get 54kb/sec and my line peaks at 41.1kb/sec. dsl 384