Strange DSL issues

Kwerty

Kwerty

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Firstly, I'm not sure if this is an ISP or Telkom related issue so I'll just post it here.

I've been having a pretty sh***y internet experience as of late. Browsing / pings / streaming has been pretty terrible. Pages take long to load, YouTube buffers a whole lot and my speedtests results just plain bad. The thing is, that my actual downloading is been alright. If I download a video from YouTube using Free Download Manager I'll get ~350KBps. If I don't use FDM it'll be okay - a bit slower but still acceptable. Torrents haven't been too bad either (not getting great speeds now but I guess that's IS' daytime shaping). It seems that anything using multi-threaded downloading (hope I'm using those words right) is fine. Anything browser based sucks. I've included some info below

Line stats:

Line: 4096 / 512
SNR: 10 down / 12 up
Attentuation: 46 down / 27 up
Modulation: G.dmt
ISP: Afrihost 4096 uncapped
Location: Cape Town

Speed tests:

IS ADSL Local Speed Test to Internet Solutions Rosebank Data Centre

Please wait testing speed now...

Start Time: 11:55:56
End time: 11:56:07
IP Address: 196.215.129.231
Download Size: 409600 bytes
Time Delta: 11.517652988434 seconds
Download Speed: 35 KBytes/s
Line Speed: 280 kbits/s

------------------------------------

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2111793158.png

------------------------------------

Test conducted on Fri Aug 10 2012 11:58:06 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)

Download Speed: 793 kbps (99.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 309 kbps (38.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 572 ms

------------------------------------


Some tracerts:

Code: 
Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [212.58.241.131]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     2 ms     3 ms     2 ms  192.168.1.1
  2    10 ms    15 ms    18 ms  196-210-170-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.17
0.129]
  3    14 ms    14 ms    13 ms  cdsl1-ctn-vl2173.ip.isnet.net [196.38.72.113]
  4    16 ms    18 ms    12 ms  196.35.115.128
  5    12 ms    12 ms    15 ms  core1b-ctn-gi0-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.6.4]
  6   199 ms   174 ms   166 ms  168.209.246.3
  7   175 ms   175 ms   164 ms  bbc-linx.pr01.rbsov.bbc.co.uk [195.66.236.103]
  8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  9   164 ms   166 ms   164 ms  ae1.er01.rbsov.bbc.co.uk [132.185.254.46]
 10   167 ms   171 ms   172 ms  132.185.255.60
 11   174 ms   165 ms   165 ms  212.58.241.131

Trace complete.



Code: 
Tracing route to google-public-dns-a.google.com [8.8.8.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    11 ms     3 ms     2 ms  192.168.1.1
  2    16 ms    13 ms    10 ms  196-210-170-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.17
0.129]
  3    17 ms    54 ms    18 ms  196.38.72.125
  4    26 ms    19 ms    22 ms  196.35.115.136
  5    27 ms    16 ms    20 ms  core1b-ctn-gi0-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.6.4]
  6    24 ms    18 ms    14 ms  168.209.6.131
  7   170 ms   176 ms   164 ms  168.209.100.222
  8   174 ms   199 ms   164 ms  209.85.248.226
  9   189 ms   210 ms   162 ms  209.85.252.44
 10   215 ms   241 ms   188 ms  209.85.253.196
 11   188 ms   200 ms   180 ms  209.85.243.33
 12   177 ms   226 ms   173 ms  216.239.49.28
 13   226 ms     *      176 ms  209.85.255.126
 14   195 ms   222 ms   179 ms  google-public-dns-a.google.com [8.8.8.8]

Trace complete.


Code: 
Tracing route to [url]www.afrihost.co.za[/url] [196.38.88.139]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     4 ms     1 ms     2 ms  192.168.1.1
  2    12 ms    10 ms    10 ms  196-210-170-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.17
0.129]
  3    17 ms    17 ms    34 ms  196.38.72.125
  4    14 ms    14 ms    12 ms  196.35.115.136
  5    15 ms    15 ms    18 ms  core2a-ctn-gi0-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.6.6]
  6    16 ms    15 ms    18 ms  core1a-ctn-gi0-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.6.5]
  7    53 ms    45 ms    49 ms  168.209.100.13
  8    43 ms    43 ms    43 ms  core1a-bry-te0-0-0-1.ip.isnet.net [168.209.100.7
8]
  9    41 ms    39 ms    42 ms  csw1-b-jup-bry-gi3-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.218.2
1]
 10    58 ms    45 ms    40 ms  196.34.134.105
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12    42 ms    44 ms    49 ms  [url]www.afrihost.com[/url] [196.38.88.139]

Trace complete.

------------------------------------

TL;DR
Browsing sucks but downloads are fine. What to do?

If anyone has a clue / any advice to give I'll appreciate it

Thanks :)
 
It can also be your PC. Spyware? Download and run Spybot and let it do its thing. There is always some spyware, sometimes an amazing amount. Neighbour's PC was doing the same as mine, and since she shares my 3G connection, knew it could not be the ISP, but found over 400 instances of spyware lurking there.

Costs nothing to try
 
Check whether QoS (Quality of Service) was not switched on in your modem. I had a similar problem and found that QoS was actually the culprit.
 
From the trace routes I can't see anything wrong, except that it looks like you're using a wireless connection.

I'd also recommend that you use a wired connection when performing tests.

So have you tried a non-IS ISP account yet?
 
chrisc4290 said:
It can also be your PC. Spyware? Download and run Spybot and let it do its thing. There is always some spyware, sometimes an amazing amount. Neighbour's PC was doing the same as mine, and since she shares my 3G connection, knew it could not be the ISP, but found over 400 instances of spyware lurking there.

Costs nothing to try
Click to expand...
The whole house is running NOD32 antivirus but I'll give Spybot a try too.

fanusj said:
Check whether QoS (Quality of Service) was not switched on in your modem. I had a similar problem and found that QoS was actually the culprit.
Click to expand...
I just checked and it's not enabled.

Qwikslver said:
What dns are you using?
Click to expand...
I haven't changed anything so I'm assuming its Afrihost's. Should I give OpenDNS / google a try?

Pada said:
From the trace routes I can't see anything wrong, except that it looks like you're using a wireless connection.

I'd also recommend that you use a wired connection when performing tests.

So have you tried a non-IS ISP account yet?
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm running off wireless at the moment. Unfortunately I've left my LAN cable in Stellenbosch so I won't be able to test via LAN this weekend. I understand that testing from wireless would increase latencies but I don't think it'll be that drastic would it?

Yea I was on Web Africa last month, same deal.

Thanks for the relies thus far.
/goes off to go search for some malware
 
Hi there
Did you manage to get the SpyBot software installed and run?
Would be interesting to see the results of that.

Regards Tim
@TechXperTim
 
PM me if you want to test with Openweb silver uncapped. I had the same issue with Afrihost and cancelled. Then tested with Openweb and had the same issue yesterday all day. I suspect there is just congestion on the IS network during the day, so I'm not convinced it was Afrihost's fault.

I would contact Afrihost and try to sort it with them. I doubt it's your wifi, though it could be. You might want to phone Telkom on 10210 and ask for a port reset. PM me if you want to test with Openweb - I'll lend you my account for a few minutes.
 
Last edited:
Tim the Techxpert said:
Hi there
Did you manage to get the SpyBot software installed and run?
Would be interesting to see the results of that.

Regards Tim
@TechXperTim
Click to expand...
Didn't find any malware. Only deleted ALL my cookies.

@MyDogHasNoNose: You have a PM :)
 
Im getting the same thing (on telkom ISP).

Browsing experience is very bad, many pages do not load and facebook is almost as bad as dial up.

Ping is slow and can download at full speed though?
 
Brawler said:
Im getting the same thing (on telkom ISP).

Browsing experience is very bad, many pages do not load and facebook is almost as bad as dial up.

Ping is slow and can download at full speed though?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback, Brawler - so it's similar on SAIX then. Perhaps the fact that you're both in Cape Town has something to do with it.
 
Because of the huge disparity between data rate and speedtest results, it usually means the problem is either congestion at the local RIM/exchange or something on your internal network.

Try switching the wireless off on your modem, connecting one PC via Ethernet cable and testing the downloads. Repeat this process with a second PC/laptop if possible.

It may be worth lowering the MTU in your modem to 1400 (lowest) - 1454 (highest) as well. This is usually done in the modem's settings, often to do with the internet connection or ADSL settings.

Lastly, if the speeds are still slow. I'd recommend testing a second modem on the connection or putting your modem into bridge mode, forcing a PPP connection on a computer (make sure it has a good firewall) and see if the speed results are any better.
 
The_17th said:
Because of the huge disparity between data rate and speedtest results, it usually means the problem is either congestion at the local RIM/exchange or something on your internal network.

Try switching the wireless off on your modem, connecting one PC via Ethernet cable and testing the downloads. Repeat this process with a second PC/laptop if possible.
Click to expand...
As mentioned above I don't have a LAN cable here (this is my parent's house, i live in Stellenbosch) but I'll bring one along next time I'm here

It may be worth lowering the MTU in your modem to 1400 (lowest) - 1454 (highest) as well. This is usually done in the modem's settings, often to do with the internet connection or ADSL settings.
Click to expand...
It's already set at it's "optimum" setting according to this page - http://www.tp-link.com/gr/article/?id=190

Lastly, if the speeds are still slow. I'd recommend testing a second modem on the connection or putting your modem into bridge mode, forcing a PPP connection on a computer (make sure it has a good firewall) and see if the speed results are any better.
Click to expand...
I dialed up to an Afrihost prepaid account (same ISP -- i know!) and the speeds are still the same. I don't really mind about the speeds though. It's the latency that's the problem. I tried to observe a DOTA2 game and I was spiking to 3000 ping :(

I'll buy some prepaid gigs from ISPs that don't use IS and I'll compare. And also get that damned ethernet cable :-P I'll bump this thread when I get those things done

Thanks for the advice!
 
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