Strand Exchange - TelkomZA

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skynarc

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Hi,

This post is based on this one
This is a similar post over at SuperUser I have started but moved it here because the problem is local to SA.

I have only now found out that there is a dedicated Telkom person on these forums so I will post again here.

For months and months and months now, we've had intermittent problems with our internet connection and I would appreciate it if TelkomZA could please get this sorted out?

The problem:
Inconsistent network speeds which we cannot nail down to any hardware or software internally which leads me to believe it must be something at the exchange. I can connect but it takes an eternity to connect (see this video of a bad session compared to this video of an excellent session) to the website! Once it is connected, then it's fine (still extremely slow) but it's that initial connection that takes so long.
This is a major problem if you make make use of Google products like Docs/Drive, Analytics, Gmail etc etc.

What we have tried:

  • Switching ISP's from Afrihost to WebAfrica
  • Removing plugins from Chrome browser
  • Switching to another browser
  • Worse problems with WebAfrica, so we split the bill across these two ISP's
  • Hardware checks
  • Software checks
  • Testing at different times of the day
  • Telkom Engineers who sat at my desk and confirmed the problems on their own equipment
  • Resetting ports almost daily
  • Installing network monitoring tools
  • Read articles on MyBroadband to look for possible problems. The latest being exchange congestion
  • Created this video in April 2013 to show ISP the problem
  • Even considered installing my own fibre line

The list is too long to mention everything I have tried.
There are times that it is super fast and then it just comes down to a grinding halt.

According to Rudolph who wrote this article there will be tools coming out next week that we will be able to monitor the exchange speeds. I hope I understood that correctly.

Apparently my exchange is Strand 4 which nobody can tell me where this is.

Many thanks.
 
Last edited:
It's happening again.


Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 295 ms 422 ms 434 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 320 ms 431 ms 506 ms 41.181.221.254
4 469 ms 436 ms 327 ms 41.181.198.188
5 147 ms 154 ms 246 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 760 ms 883 ms 465 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 488 ms 410 ms 383 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 681 ms 377 ms 412 ms 196.43.25.205
9 145 ms 461 ms 427 ms 196.43.51.78
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: De
stination net unreachable.

Trace complete.
 
Last edited:
Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 9 ms 8 ms 8 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 10 ms 9 ms 10 ms 41.181.221.254
4 9 ms 10 ms 9 ms 41.181.198.188
5 10 ms 13 ms 10 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 98 ms 128 ms 210 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 40 ms 40 ms 42 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 11 ms 11 ms 10 ms 196.43.25.205
9 32 ms 31 ms 31 ms 196.43.51.78
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: Destination
net unreachable.

Trace complete.
 
Last edited:
Your speed?

I was always on the entry level package in Somerset West (main road exchange) and had shocking speeds and latency all the years. Upgraded to middle speed (now 2Mbps) and it was brilliant from the get go. Downgraded back to entry (1Mbps) last month to save cash (just bought a house) and its dddooooogggg slow and crappy as hell.

Going back to 2Mbps next month. I should anyway eat less food.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Your speed?

I was always on the entry level package in Somerset West (main road exchange) and had shocking speeds and latency all the years. Upgraded to middle speed (now 2Mbps) and it was brilliant from the get go. Downgraded back to entry (1Mbps) last month to save cash (just bought a house) and its dddooooogggg slow and crappy as hell.

Going back to 2Mbps next month. I should anyway eat less food.
Click to expand...

I'm meant to be on a 10Mbps line! When it goes, it works well but hell knows what is happening at the exchange that brings it down this slow again.
 
Hey skynarc,

I am also in Strand, not sure what exchange but close to the firestation. I am currently on 10mb and am having awesome speeds in general and my line is very stable. However last week I did a tracert and it appeared that my exchange is congested ( the 2nd hop had 200ms+ ping) I switched to my afrihost test account and all was fine again. I personally do not think we are congested as most people connected to my exchange are 1mb users ( as per telkom's technician reply).

But will keep monitoring the situation from my side
 
Hi Blaaislaai,

If the problem is at the exchange and it is congested, what is it they need to do to resolve the issue? Because this has been going on for months now.

Here is my most recent Tracert which you can see is far better than earlier today. Rules out problems with my hardware.


03:44 - 22 July 2013

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 8 ms 9 ms 8 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 10 ms 17 ms 9 ms ipc-recieve-tb-1a.mtnbusiness.net [41.181.53.150
]
4 14 ms 9 ms 9 ms 41.181.198.188
5 11 ms 10 ms 10 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 43 ms 125 ms 101 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 40 ms 38 ms 38 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 12 ms 11 ms 10 ms 196.43.25.205
9 31 ms 31 ms 32 ms nbsc-ip-er-1-pos-8-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.25.146]
10 telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: Destination
net unreachable.

Trace complete.

I've emailed three people from Telkom and one person from Mweb and pointed them to this post.
Here's to hoping something gets sorted out now.
 
Last edited:
03:47PM - 22 July 2013

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 10 ms 10 ms 10 ms ipc-recieve-tb-1a.mtnbusiness.net [41.181.53.150
]
4 9 ms 10 ms 10 ms 41.181.198.188
5 35 ms 10 ms 10 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 10 ms 10 ms 9 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 39 ms 38 ms 38 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 11 ms 10 ms 10 ms 196.43.25.205
9 32 ms 32 ms 31 ms nbsc-ip-er-1-pos-8-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.25.146]
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: De
stination net unreachable.

Trace complete.
 
Also using the strand exchange (BTW its at the post office next to Pick n Pay) and have had intermittent results. I have a 4Meg line running at 8Meg and use uncapped. I tried Afrihost uncapped and now Telkom uncapped and though Telkom uncapped is awesome when it works (I get 6Mb speed on a 4Mb uncapped account) it has its days when it just wont work (Afrihost did the same). Strange thing is when i put my capped account on it works great but uncapped (fresh) it has problems. I think this is a exchange congestion issue (as we get all our bandwidth from the somerset exchange so they get priority) though. Not much we can do unfortunately.
 
dyanamo said:
Not much we can do unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Hi Dyanamo,

Unfortunately they MUST do something. It cannot be as inconsistent as this.
I paid top dollar for an already overpriced service in comparison to other countries, so if I am going to pay these exorbitant fees when you compare it to overseas, then I expect something to be done about it.

Please insist that you get the same value for money. I will give you the details of the three Telkom people in a private message so that you too can get your money's worth.

Cheers
 
6:36pm - 22 July 2013

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 9 ms 8 ms 8 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 10 ms 9 ms 10 ms ipc-recieve-tb-1a.mtnbusiness.net [41.181.53.150
]
4 11 ms 10 ms 10 ms 41.181.198.188
5 10 ms 10 ms 45 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 68 ms 102 ms 74 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 42 ms 39 ms 39 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 11 ms 34 ms 10 ms 196.43.25.205
9 31 ms 31 ms 32 ms nbsc-ip-er-1-pos-8-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.25.146]
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: De
stination net unreachable.

Trace complete.
 
blaaislaai said:
Hey skynarc,

I am also in Strand, not sure what exchange but close to the firestation. I am currently on 10mb and am having awesome speeds in general and my line is very stable. However last week I did a tracert and it appeared that my exchange is congested ( the 2nd hop had 200ms+ ping) I switched to my afrihost test account and all was fine again. I personally do not think we are congested as most people connected to my exchange are 1mb users ( as per telkom's technician reply).

But will keep monitoring the situation from my side
Click to expand...

How is you connection now Blaaislaai
 
07:11PM 22 July 2013

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 154 ms 137 ms 144 ms 105-236-11-1-esr-lo.mtnbusiness.co.za [105.236.1
1.1]
3 117 ms 109 ms 132 ms ipc-recieve-tb-1a.mtnbusiness.net [41.181.53.150
]
4 139 ms 182 ms 133 ms 41.181.198.188
5 170 ms 205 ms 173 ms unc-cpt-1.mtnns.net [196.44.18.8]
6 111 ms 118 ms 242 ms tb-pr-1.za--tb-cr-2.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.18.14
3]
7 224 ms * 172 ms wblv-ip-se-2-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.165.1
97]
8 244 ms 145 ms 245 ms 196.43.25.205
9 115 ms 126 ms 114 ms nbsc-ip-er-1-pos-8-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.25.146]
10 telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: Destination
net unreachable.

Trace complete.
 
Last edited:
Here's mine

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Administrator>tracert www.telkom.co.za

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms 196-215-156-1.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.215.156.
1]
3 12 ms 12 ms 12 ms cdsl1-ctn-vl2376.ip.isnet.net [196.38.72.205]
4 14 ms 15 ms 14 ms 196.35.115.128
5 27 ms 12 ms 19 ms 168.209.6.12
6 11 ms 10 ms 11 ms 168.209.2.130
7 10 ms 10 ms 11 ms 196.25.247.25
8 31 ms 14 ms 11 ms 196.43.25.205
9 32 ms 37 ms 34 ms nbsc-ip-er-1-pos-8-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.25.146]
10 telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] reports: Destination
net unreachable.

Trace complete.

C:\Users\Administrator>^A
Click to expand...
 
To add 90% of the time if I switch my router on and off I have good results. Heres my current trace route. My speed is not that great currently.

Tracing route to www.telkom.co.za [165.143.158.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 2 ms <1 ms <1 ms 10.0.0.2
2 9 ms 11 ms 10 ms ti-224-180-01.telkomadsl.co.za [105.224.180.1]
3 12 ms 10 ms 10 ms ti-226-0-06.telkomadsl.co.za [105.226.0.6]
4 11 ms 10 ms 11 ms ti-226-0-13.telkomadsl.co.za [105.226.0.13]
5 11 ms 11 ms 11 ms 165.165.214.213
6 43 ms 33 ms 32 ms 196.43.51.78
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * telkom-sa-tienet-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.25.54.62] re
ports: Destination net unreachable.

Local Speed:
Download Speed: 3365 kbps (420.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 258 kbps (32.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 49 ms

Int Speed:
Download Speed: 123 kbps (15.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 257 kbps (32.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 225 ms
 
Last edited:
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