nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC
| Shaw extreme (15Mbps) much slower than Telus (6Mbps)
I have a bit of a perplexing issue. I recently switched from Telus internet to shaw extreme. My telus connection maxed out at 6Mbps due to very high attenuation (CO distance was the reason). So I switched to shaw extreme to supposedly double my attainable speed (15Mbps). Only problem is, the shaw connection is MUCH slower, i'd say almost twice the loading time for all applications, regardless of time of day. The Telus internet hasn't been shut down yet so I can still compare them. Here's where it gets frustrating, seeing how bloody slow it is, I run a speedtest from the shaw site and various 3rd party speedtests. According to them, I am running at a consistent 12-14Mbps. But for actual usage, it's brutally slow. My old 3Mbps connection would still beat this out. I've tried to rule out hardware and software issues. I have run tests on 2 computers, a laptop running vista, and a desktop running xp. I am currently using a linksys wrt54g router (which shaw support tries to blame), except that for testing purposes, i've tried tons of configurations with pretty much identical results (acceptable speed test, brutal actual speed). For both computers i've tried wireless, wired to the router, and wired directly to the modem. The signal strength is full on my wireless adapters, and switching to the telus internet results in browsing and d/l speeds almost double. I've also tried the usual tech troubleshooting routines (fresh boot on modem/computers, virus/spyware scan, check settings etc...) My settings are apparently optimal. I know that cable internet is subject to network saturation, but time of day doesn't seem to be a huge factor. Sorry for the novel, but I remain confused as to how different speedtests tell me i'm in range, but normal usage is horrible. In every category, the shaw connection is inferior (browsing, streaming vid, download legit or torrent) Anybody have input? |
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nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC | PS: Ping times are good, packet loss not an issue |
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Anonimuz
join:2008-12-08
canada
| What specifically are you noticing d/l slower? Web pages? Torrents? Post some ping times and speed test results using speedtest.net from Seattle and speakeasy.net from Seattle as well. Also, how long is brutally slow for loading a web page? 5 seconds, 20 seconds? |
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nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC
| Well... basically everything. Every single category. Web pages (with and without media), streaming, torrents, browser based download etc.... And doing the speedtests just re-affirms my problem. Speedtest.net reports my connection as a 50ms ping with a d/l rate of 16.28Mbps. That should be pretty quick, but right after that test I start to try and load pages, d/l to test it, and it's still slow as molasses. Switch to my Telus connection at 6Mbps, and it loads stuff at twice the speed. Not that torrents should be a speed benchmark, but using the same torrent, Shaw maxed out at 90KBps, Telus maxes out at 270KBps. So almost 3 times the speed from a 6Mbps connection than the 15Mbps shaw connection.
»www.speedtest.net/result/612906448.png |
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nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC | Oh and web pages... something like cnn.com which is usually really quick. Telus connection 2-3 seconds, shaw connection 8-10 seconds. |
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Anonimuz
join:2008-12-08
canada
| I'm out of ideas, that's the same speed test results I get but my pages load snappy. Only thing I can think of is that there are packet errors that are being corrected and not dropped, causing a delay in page loading. Perhaps phone in and ask to speak to a tier 2 rep and ask about noise and corrected errors on your modem. |
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SparkyBc
join:2009-11-02 | Read this....
»Ping spikes and packet loss compounded by Shaw's customer se |
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nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC
| The thing about that post is that the person is supposed to be getting 15Mbps, but the speedtests are showing that he's lower, like 9Mbps. Mine is showing during speedtests that I am getting what I should be, with good ping times, but for when actually used is slow as hell. My issue is that I am supposedly getting all the speed I should be, but i'm not even coming close when I use it for everyday tasks. For example, even just to click on the reply button to write this post, it took 7-8 seconds just to switch screens. The Telus 6Mbps connection takes 3 seconds. |
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rivalman
Rival
join:2004-01-18
Calgary, AB
| reply to nickberg
This might sound really dumb, but make sure that you do not have a checkmark next to "Automatically detect settings" under your Lan settings on your connections page. For some reason this can really mess things up on some connections. Just leave all the check boxes in that field empty.
I know I know, this will sound stupid, but when I have that first one checked off, it can really slow things down. |
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nickberg
join:2009-05-09
North Vancouver, BC
| I'll try it. Interesting to note. For the past 4 days I have had the problem as described above. I know that cable is prone to network saturation etc... Today, trying my tests again, I am getting really decent speeds on downloads, but web browsing is still brutal. I tried testing the browsing with downloads running and without and the browsing speed is the same. I also tried different browsers, resetting the internet settings and cleaning all old files (through browser and also ccleaner) Ran a few different virus scans and spyware/adware scans and coming up clean. Anybody have any ideas? |
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KnowUBetter
join:2009-07-28 | reply to nickberg
Sounds like it could be noise; however, at the same time that doesn't seem to be the case. It's odd that the speedtest shows good speeds...Shaw is definitely providing you with the promised speed but something isn't talkin' right. |
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anon
@shawcable.net | reply to nickberg
Disable Proxy settings and see if that fixes. |
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Ikyuao
Pro. debian Linux
join:2007-02-26
Wichita, KS
 ·Cox HSI
| reply to nickberg
Looks like you have a TCP window buffer problem! However small window buffer is not enough to handle high delay of time trip of latency, Large window buffer can do good to you that will handles high delay of latency times.
On other hand side of UDP that is not issue about latency delay because UDP doesn't have congestion control ability or flow control ability techniques, UDP just sends out or receives in so speed faster with no guaranteed.
--
Professional Linux environmental blows microsoft windows out of the water. |
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rivalman
Rival
join:2004-01-18
Calgary, AB
| reply to nickberg
Yep, that's what I was saying too, turn off "Autodetect settings" and make sure there are no checkmarks next to any of those boxes. Proxy server settings as well, turn them all off.
If you're using a router, make sure to unplug it too when you switch from Telus to Shaw or vice versa. Sometimes your router will store the old DNS or gateway or server info from one to the other, not usually but sometimes. Power down your router too when switching modem. |
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AJ102
join:2005-03-22
Vancouver, BC | reply to nickberg
DNS problem maybe? Are you still using the Telus DNS when you are connected to Shaw? It may be slow responding due to poor links between the services. |
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GhostDivison
@shawcable.net
| "This might sound really dumb, but make sure that you do not have a checkmark next to "Automatically detect settings" under your Lan settings on your connections page. For some reason this can really mess things up on some connections. Just leave all the check boxes in that field empty."
Can someone tell me where exactly to locate this page? Is he refering to settings in your router. Currently my router is set to Automatic DHCP.
I dont know where this lan setting connection page is located? |
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Anonimuz
join:2008-12-08
canada | It's under Control Panel -> Internet options -> Connections Tab ->
LAN settings. |
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