iburst connection vs adsl (a picture)

[fergus]

I took a screen grab of a download I'm busy with (ubuntu breezy, 5 threads) which I think highlights quite well the difference between iBurst and ADSL. I've got 192 adsl and 1mbps iburst. See the graph here:

http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=graph3rf.gif

1. The first band on the left is when I was downloading over the adsl. I was getting a consistent 32K, the red section is pretty flat and the connection is rock solid.

2. I wanted some extra speed so I swapped over to iBurst. This is where the second red band starts. Speeds are now bouncing around generally between 70 and 105K and is quite erratic. Its heck of a windy here which is one factor, but iBurst has always been very up and down for me. You never get a flat graph like you do with adsl. Just the nature of wireless I suppose.

3. iBurst connection drops! I have to reconnect and thats where the third graph starts. Its been pretty bad for about the last week. And this is one area where adsl knocks the socks of iBurst. Stability. Of course you could also get disconnected on adsl but its much rarer.

Let me add that I have an excellent signal. You basically couldn't get better than what I have. I'm within 100 metres of the Goodwood base station. So as your distance increases from the tower the worse your connection will get. This is virtually the best case scenario. I believe others have gotten consistent 120 - 125K download speeds but the best I've got is in the 100 - 120K range.

My take on iBurst: a good service when it works but still too expensive for bandwidth and modems and wbs has a long way to go in the customer relations department. Can't comment on the poor experiences some people have had cos I've never had them myself (touch wood), besides the connection dropping. I suspect its congestion related issues.

 

[Roman4604]

My speeds are a bit lower 105-80Kbps, however my connection is rock steady ... will hold same login/IP for weeks if I let it.

 

[fergus]

Do you also get the spikiness or is yours more like an adsl line? Something I've always wondered about.

 

[seburn]

fergus what's your signal strength in db for reference sake?

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

Now if only 1mbs ADSL was cheaper than I-burst...
The thing is that Iburst is still consistently much faster than the ADSL (384kb as well) even though it does jump and what does that really matter? Youre download goes doesnt it, ok so it disconnected but mine never does than and I'm almost 7km from a base station in plumbstead! I usually get slightly more constant speeds than that aswell, maby its just a bad time. But I geuss thats youre point, too many bad spots on Iburst's connection.
And bandwidth is expensive, but it is an alternative and a worthy one when youre talking about an alternative to Telkom.

 

[fergus]

fergus what's your signal strength in db for reference sake?

Er, where do I see that again?

 

[Roman4604]

Do you also get the spikiness or is yours more like an adsl line? Something I've always wondered about.

Well that all depends on the sampling interval of your graphing. If set to 1 sec then yes its bursty (hence the name I suppose), while is you set it to something less, say 1 min, it looks a lot flatter.

 

[fergus]

The thing is that Iburst is still consistently much faster than the ADSL (384kb as well) even though it does jump and what does that really matter? Youre download goes doesnt it, ok so it disconnected but mine never does than and I'm almost 7km from a base station in plumbstead! I usually get slightly more constant speeds than that aswell, maby its just a bad time.

You're quite right. One of the things I love about iBurst is the speed. 192 adsl seems quite paltry by comparison actually. Wonder when we're going to get the first 2mbps service

 

[fergus]

Well that all depends on the sampling interval of your graphing. If set to 1 sec then yes its bursty (hence the name I suppose), while is you set it to something less, say 1 min, it looks a lot flatter.

I suppose so but adsl on the same interval looks much flatter than iBurst. I was just making the observation in relation to adsl. It doesn't have too much affect on downloading but it will be for things like gaming and voip if its too hectic.

 

[seburn]

You can use either version of iConnect both will tell you but you need to set your IP to 192.168.250.1 on the connection you use for USB its the the iburst lan connection and for usb its the local area connection you plugged the utd into.

Alternatively you could do the telnet option look at www.unchained.co.za under accessing UTD

Also for reference what are your mtu/rwin... settings?

 

[seburn]

I have never seen a relatively flat graph of iburst downloads

 

[Jongi]

my iburst hardly disconnects.

 

[seburn]

Jongi wat's your signal mtu ect ect. and ave download speed and ave ping

I am thinking of building up a reference base to give more accurate ratings, to help ppl better

 

[fergus]

You can use either version of iConnect both will tell you but you need to set your IP to 192.168.250.1 on the connection you use for USB its the the iburst lan connection and for usb its the local area connection you plugged the utd into.

Alternatively you could do the telnet option look at www.unchained.co.za under accessing UTD

Also for reference what are your mtu/rwin... settings?

Only problem is I have the UTC and I don't think iConnect supports that yet. I've never even fiddled with the MTU even. Currently its set to 1400.

 

[seburn]

Strange an unfiddled mtu at 1400 normally its 1500 and its supposed to be 1352 download drtcpip I am sure www.unchained.co.za has a link and set to my sig remember to set mtu under dialup ras settings (rather than lan). This helped reduce my disconnections.

I never tested iConnect C# on UTC but other ppl got iConenct to work on UTC and they both use the same method so it should work

 

[fergus]

Strange an unfiddled mtu at 1400 normally its 1500 and its supposed to be 1352 download drtcpip I am sure www.unchained.co.za has a link and set to my sig remember to set mtu under dialup ras settings (rather than lan). This helped reduce my disconnections.

I never tested iConnect C# on UTC but other ppl got iConenct to work on UTC and they both use the same method so it should work

Cool, thanks for the tips. I'll check it out sometime. I may be cancelling soon though. I've got adsl at home now and if I can get net access at work then the iburst will be redundant. UTC anyone?

 

[Jongi]

seburn using yours

 

[seburn]

You not using my signal NO, its mine...my precious.
Ok then rough ave download speed and signal strength?

 

[Major Boredom]

Now if only 1mbs ADSL was cheaper than I-burst...
The thing is that Iburst is still consistently much faster than the ADSL (384kb as well) even though it does jump and what does that really matter? Youre download goes doesnt it, ok so it disconnected but mine never does than and I'm almost 7km from a base station in plumbstead! I usually get slightly more constant speeds than that aswell, maby its just a bad time. But I geuss thats youre point, too many bad spots on Iburst's connection.
And bandwidth is expensive, but it is an alternative and a worthy one when youre talking about an alternative to Telkom.

The problem with the spikes is noticed while gaming. Normally the latency is not too bad , but when it starts spiking it causes all hell.

 

[Jongi]

I haven't bothered to really set it up properly. But last I looked i was in the 80s connecting through Sandton.

Of late my speeds have dropped to about 300-500kbps. But I think coz it is because my antenna was moved and i have not moved it to a sweet spot yet. Speeds of 500kbps - 800kbps were the norm for some time before.