VDSL test feedback thread

Electron1

Electron1

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I started this thread for people to post their feedback on VDSL trials that are running at the moment.

I had the opportunity yesterday to test out a Telkom VDSL trial unit in Morningside Sandton.
Telkom called up the customer and convinced him to try it out (why not me!)
He had a 10MB line with Telkom Internet as his ISP.
They pitched up on Monday and installed a Pace 921VNX router
The router itself seems ok, although when configuring wireless you are forced to enter a value for DTIM every time you change settings - I chose a value of 2.

I was a bit disappointed with speedtests as the speed varied a lot (from 14.4 to about 6MBps) , considering the modem sync speed (Router reported Actual rate (up) 3072 kbps,Actual rate (down) 40956 kbps):

SA Speedtests:
Test conducted on Tue Oct 16 2012 17:29:58 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)
Download Speed: 14476 kbps (1809.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1127 kbps (140.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 42 ms

Test conducted on Tue Oct 16 2012 17:35:30 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)
Download Speed: 10709 kbps (1338.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1181 kbps (147.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 42 ms

Test conducted on Tue Oct 16 2012 17:46:55 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)
Download Speed: 10952 kbps (1369 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1053 kbps (131.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 26 ms

International
Test conducted on Tue Oct 16 2012 17:31:20 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)
Download Speed: 5474 kbps (684.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1106 kbps (138.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 213 ms

Line statistics:

xDSL line synchronised
Uptime 01Days 02hrs 32min 32sec
Time connected 01Days 00hrs 47min 42sec
Modulation type G.993.2-B
Actual rate (up) 3072 kbps
Actual rate (down) 40956 kbps
Data transfered (sent) 0 kB
Data transfered (received) 0 kB
Output power (up) 12.4 dBm
Output power (downstream) 0.9 dBm
Line attenuation (up) 0 dBm
Line attenuation (downstream) 18.2 dB
Noise margin (up) 30.1 dB
Noise margin (downstream) 7.4 dB
Manufacturer ID (local) IFTN
Manufacturer ID (remote) BDCM
Loss of frames (local) 0
Loss of frames (remote) 0
Error seconds (local) 0
Error seconds (remote) 0
FEC Errors (up) 0
FEC Errors (down) 4294639905
CRC Errors (up) 0
CRC Errors (down) 2
HEC Errors (up) 0
HEC Errors (down) 0
 
The line also seems to be producing a large number of FEC errors (down).
 
Yotch said:
The line also seems to be producing a large number of FEC errors (down).
Click to expand...
Had to look up FEC errors : Forward_error_correction
According to this
"FEC errors are those where parts of a packet were not recieved properly but the error correction built into ADSL meant the router was able to correct the error.
They usually occur more often when your line quality is poor, in wich case slowing down your synch rate can help, or if there is some kind of fault on the Internet between you and the remote server causing the data to get corrupt on its way to you.
Unless you're getting thousands of FEC errors per minute, I wouldn't think it's worth worrying about."

If I do a calculation, 1 hour 47 minutes 42 seconds uptime = 89262 seconds
4294639905 FEC errors divided by 89262 seconds = 48113 FEC errors per second - seems a lot.
Thing is there doesn't seem to be any other issues on that log from what I can see.

Is this worth logging a call with Telkom ?
Do they give a FEC?:D
 
Hey Electron1

My line has also been converted to VDSL...

Which ISP are you using? Telkom Internet? Did you get a new (seperate) username and password for your VDSL connection?

According to my VDSL router, my line is syncing at 40Mbps (40956Kbps), but I am getting 22Mbps maximum when I do a speedtest. I have a feeling it has something to do with my ISP account. I didn't receive any "other" username and password. I am using my regular @dsl512telkomsa.net account.

Can you confirm this?
 
@Electron1: The line might still work reliably but the high count might also indicate a developing line fault such as a bad joint etc. Since this is a trial you might be able to convince them to look at the line and hopefully repair the problem. Does the line still hold synchronisation in the rain? Does the error count increase during or after heavy rain or stay constant?
 
Update with my situation:

I connected to the VDSL router directly with an Ethernet cable and now I am getting speeds of 38Mbps!!!

I was losing bandwidth whilst using the wifi/wireless... I'm all good now.
 
Inflicted said:
Update with my situation:

I connected to the VDSL router directly with an Ethernet cable and now I am getting speeds of 38Mbps!!!

I was losing bandwidth whilst using the wifi/wireless... I'm all good now.
Click to expand...

I hate you.
 
Inflicted said:
Hey Electron1

My line has also been converted to VDSL...

Which ISP are you using? Telkom Internet? Did you get a new (seperate) username and password for your VDSL connection?

According to my VDSL router, my line is syncing at 40Mbps (40956Kbps), but I am getting 22Mbps maximum when I do a speedtest. I have a feeling it has something to do with my ISP account. I didn't receive any "other" username and password. I am using my regular @dsl512telkomsa.net account.

Can you confirm this?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it is not my line, it was a customer of mine.
It is using his normal telkomsa account.
Also the pc is directly connected via ethernet to the router.

Yotch said:
@Electron1: The line might still work reliably but the high count might also indicate a developing line fault such as a bad joint etc. Since this is a trial you might be able to convince them to look at the line and hopefully repair the problem. Does the line still hold synchronisation in the rain? Does the error count increase during or after heavy rain or stay constant?
Click to expand...
You are right, as it is a trial, maybe it is worth reporting to Telkom, at this point there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in speed, so for this customer there wouldn't be a benefit, unless the speeds get better.
 
just got my line upgraded from 25mbps to 40mbps. :D

router stats:
Modulation type G.993.2-B
Actual rate (up) 3072 kbps
Actual rate (down) 40956 kbps
Data transfered (sent) 0 kB
Data transfered (received) 0 kB
Output power (up) 12.2 dBm
Output power (downstream) 429496724.5 dBm
Line attenuation (up) 0 dBm
Line attenuation (downstream) 15.5 dB
Noise margin (up) 30.2 dB
Noise margin (downstream) 17.7 dB


connected to the router via wifi; I did a speed test through mybroadband and got
Download Speed: 38732 kbps (4841.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 2814 kbps (351.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 12 ms

I am connected to the benmore exchange.:D

second test using saix speed test;
speedtest.jpg
 
Last edited:
mith said:
just got my line upgraded from 25mbps to 40mbps. :D

router stats:
Modulation type G.993.2-B
Actual rate (up) 3072 kbps
Actual rate (down) 40956 kbps
Data transfered (sent) 0 kB
Data transfered (received) 0 kB
Output power (up) 12.2 dBm
Output power (downstream) 429496724.5 dBm
Line attenuation (up) 0 dBm
Line attenuation (downstream) 15.5 dB
Noise margin (up) 30.2 dB
Noise margin (downstream) 17.7 dB


connected to the router via wifi; I did a speed test through mybroadband and got
Download Speed: 38732 kbps (4841.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 2814 kbps (351.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 12 ms

I am connected to the benmore exchange.:D

second test using saix speed test;
View attachment 26990
Click to expand...

*faints*
 
How did you manage to get ugpraded from 25Mbps to 40Mbps ? :O Why not 40Mbps from the start?
 
fragtion said:
How did you manage to get ugpraded from 25Mbps to 40Mbps ? :O Why not 40Mbps from the start?
Click to expand...

Frankly I have no idea. Just got a call two times from Telkom regarding the upgrade.
First time which was more than a month ago they bumped my speed to 25Mbps.
Got a call yesterday they want to put it at 40Mbps.
Maybe they were sorting out some issues at that exchange etc.
 
mith said:
Frankly I have no idea. Just got a call two times from Telkom regarding the upgrade.
First time which was more than a month ago they bumped my speed to 25Mbps.
Got a call yesterday they want to put it at 40Mbps.
Maybe they were sorting out some issues at that exchange etc.
Click to expand...
Ah ok -- damn man , some pretty awesome speed even by my 10Mbps standards [40 looks crazy whoah:O, but yeah basically 4x10Mbps] =) In true DSL fashion though, upload remains a bit dwarfed by the download... looks like they're sticking to VDSL1 standards (3Mbps upstream). If they're going so all-out on infrastructure investment, you'd think they'd secure the possibility of upload speed exceeding 10Mbps at least... Depending on the technology, let's wait and see what transpires I guess. Either way, from my experience many DataCenters in SA dont even allow you real 40Mbps bursts of traffic, so the fact that we're finally getting those speeds to the curb is a great milestone for SA. Let's hope Pinky's resignation doesn't really play into that notion...
 
feo said:
Any way to check if my normal ADSL line has been upgraded to VDSL?

I'm sick of 4Mbps now, need a boost.
Click to expand...

normal adsl router does not do vdsl.

first check if you can get 10mps , to check if your on a adsl 2 dslam(up to 10mps dslam), make sure your router is set to use adsl 2 , see if it sync at weird speed like 4095/507, means your on adsl 2 dslam.
 
From the router stats the modulation type is:
Modulation type G.993.2-B
which according to wiki is VDSL 2 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_speed_digital_subscriber_line_2

I have noticed with the new pace vdsl modem, there is no way to check attainable line rate from the stats...or I cant find it in the stats.
Was curious to see what these lines are capable of....how does once check/calculate the line attainable rate?
 
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