AOL / Carphone Warehouse / Talk Talk Broadband Going Slow

NiVZ

Hello,

We've been with AOL (who are now owned by Caprhone Warehouse/Talk Talk) for years (yes I know they have a bad reputation) but we've never had any problems and it's always been fast enough for us and reliable. We pay for AOL silver (up to 2Mb) but usually get around 3.5Mb.

This week however, the speed is going extremely slow. Sometimes it's down to 0.09M (yes zero point zero nine - I'd be better hooking back up the old 56k Modem)

I work in IT and know what I'm doing, and have done all the usual checks.

Router is a Netgear DG834G and the downstream is showing around 4000kbps (although sometimes this does drop down to around 200kbps)

But no matter what the downstream is, speedtest.net is showing we are only getting between 0.09 and 0.23 Mb.

Called up AOL, and was told to change the MTU from 1492 to 1400 and was given a new password using telephone no @dialbb.com which is supposed to be on their new network. This increased speeds back up to 3.5Mb for one night, but now we're back down to 0.20Mb.

Ping has also slowed down from a consistent 57ms to around 70-80ms (pinging server 50miles away)

Anyone else having these problems?

It's getting frustrating as I also pay for Xbox Live which I'm unable to use when it's this slow

Thanks,

NiVZ

jon2432

Same for me here, I usualy get around 5-6 MB. Currently running at just above 1MB. Pointless trying to run BBC Iplayer etc as well.

My ping has never been good currently at 160ms

millwalll

I have been having the same problems have been with then for many years with no problems but recently finding it inpossible to use as it so slow and becasue of these problem. I have decided to move to another provider.

NiVZ

Hello,

Ran tests this morning and it's working ok again. Ping is 60ms and Speedtest.net is reporting 3.5Mb. Going to continue to monitor and run tests.

One thing I'm not so sure on though is the Router Statistics for Noise Margin and Line Attenuation.

At the moment they are:

Line Attenuation - Down: 42db Up: 11db
Noise Margin - Down: 15db Up: 24db

Are these normal or are any of these high?

Thanks,

NiVZ

balloo_2

Does anyone think Talk Talk purposely slows speeds down to make people upgrade? Is this possible. I have now got Talk Talk after they bought out my ISP and it seems slower too

pulliptears

I moved to O2 from AOHell 2 months ago. The difference in speeds and stableness of the connection is astonishing. Best thing I ever did, and it came with Quidco cashback and a reduction because I have an O2 mobile contract.

the182guy

There is no technial problem. AOL and TalkTalk/Tiscali are among the worst ISP's. They will throttle your speed, traffic shape, and also cram as many people as possible onto the same hardware at the exchange, which causes all those users speed to fall to accomodate a new customer.

The best providers are Be* and O2.

joe134

balloo wrote: »

Does anyone think Talk Talk purposely slows speeds down to make people upgrade? Is this possible. I have now got Talk Talk after they bought out my ISP and it seems slower too

Hi, I was phoned last week to offer free upgrade to platinum, I have same problem, depending on time of day. They have been upgrading their system. They wanted the line, from BT. I said no.I go down to 0.9 sometimes, then 3.5 others. I think they are ,playing silly beggars. Been with them 5 years, don,t know how much longer, just renewed 18 month contract.

colin13

I too are with AOL ,,just did 3 diffrent speed tests from 3 iffrent sites and got 3 diffrent answers,,ranging from very good to wot the f**K,,ill just accept that during busy times it is slow,,during quiet times it is ok

Aiadi

They are probably busy opening their bl**dy new 'Best Buy (NOT)' store.:mad:

Ddraig

Mine is rediculous.I dread changing page or website ,as it goes on strike for a few minutes and says not responding.Unfortunately Ive just renewed about 2 months ago.