New ADSL bandwidth trials?

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Paul_S

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I've noticed something funny has happened on my ADSL connection since last week.
I have a 384kbps connection but my line syncs at it's max speed which is between 3 and 4 mbps.
However the max speed I can download at is still capped to about 40KB/sec.
This is on both IS and SAIX based accounts.

I have a suspicion that Telkom are testing out a new way of limiting the bandwidth for a reason.
Follow my logical footsteps with this one.
They want to supply their triple play services but the majority are on slow connections so what are they to do?
I think they're going to sync everyone's lines at max speed and throttle your connection to the speed you bought.
Then as soon as you try to access streaming video they can lift the cap for that type of traffic thus allowing 384 and 512 kbps users to watch video while still being on "slower" connections.

Anybody else noticing this strange syncing and limiting thing?
 
Nothing here either. But then again I am too far from the exchanged to get anything close to 4mbit ;)
 
Right ... I'm going to phone Telkom and ask them what the hang is going on.
I'll probably only get a twit who can't answer my question though. :rolleyes:
 
Just what I thought - Telkom support have no idea why it happens.

So now I have a 3232/640 kbps connection but pay for a 384 kbps connection.
However I only really get 384 kbps speeds (local speed tests).
Maybe my router's firmware is messed up and reporting the wrong speeds?
Or does the sync speed get sent from the Telkom equipment?

How can I check my sync speed online (not the one the modem reports)?
 
Paul_S said:
Just what I thought - Telkom support have no idea why it happens.

So now I have a 3232/640 kbps connection but pay for a 384 kbps connection.
However I only really get 384 kbps speeds (local speed tests).
Maybe my router's firmware is messed up and reporting the wrong speeds?
Or does the sync speed get sent from the Telkom equipment?

How can I check my sync speed online (not the one the modem reports)?
Click to expand...

And how far do you think you are from the Telkom Exchange?
 
correct me if i am wrong but

you line speed + isp package == throughput.
 
Paul_S said:
About 2 to 3 km
Click to expand...

I checked my modem's speed and it still shows 384/128. I'm about 1 k from exchange in Durbs. But the modem I'm using is not ADSL2 it still a older model. If they are doing something like you're suggesting it could be that it's been tested in your area only.
 
While odd its nothing new. Sync rate is only the theoretical maximum speed between yourself and the dslam and nothing more. Your line speed is, and has always been, throttled from there.

They're probably just testing your line to see what it is capable of sustaining.
 
Luke7777 said:
line speed = how fast can you reach your cap
isp package = your cap, nothing to do with speed
Click to expand...
Unless you have the misfortune of being with one of those ISPs that does actually limit your connection to a set speed for a set amount of data. Its an abomination for sure but they are out there.
 
You should try and see if you are able to get full speed with multiple pppoe sessions. If you are able to do that you can do some routing magic and then "increase" your line speed. :D
 
bwana v.21 said:
While odd its nothing new. Sync rate is only the theoretical maximum speed between yourself and the dslam and nothing more. Your line speed is, and has always been, throttled from there.

They're probably just testing your line to see what it is capable of sustaining.
Click to expand...

Ah ... so the throttling is done by a separate "process" on the DSLAM equipment?
I thought they used the sync speed as the method to control the throughput.

Now the only problem is I have a Cybersmart account and they bill one according to sync speeds so instead of getting a R125 bill they'll probably send me a R225 bill even though I'm still on a 384 kbps connection.
I smell trouble coming. :(
 
Paul_S said:
Ah ... so the throttling is done by a separate "process" on the DSLAM equipment?
I thought they used the sync speed as the method to control the throughput.

Now the only problem is I have a Cybersmart account and they bill one according to sync speeds so instead of getting a R125 bill they'll probably send me a R225 bill even though I'm still on a 384 kbps connection.
I smell trouble coming. :(
Click to expand...
Are you sure cybersmart throttles via sync speed and not post dslam like telkom does?

The sync speed is used to control speed though only as a maximum - ie you have the knowledge now that if they unthrottled you from the dslam onwards that sync speed would be the max you'd be able to get.

Still - that 3232/640 is such an odd number to be getting.
Luke7777 said:
True, but surely nobody on these forums are tied in to one of those ? :D
Click to expand...
Regretfully some are. (See above)
 
Daniedj said:
I think MWeb is selling their 4Mb account for more than a 512k. I might be wrong about that.
Click to expand...

Why though? They get charged per gig by SAIX, how does it make any difference how quickly you use it up? Just a way to generate extra profit I suppose.
 
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