ISP Bandwidth Throttling

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 06:08 AM

Greetings...

Over the last few months, my ISP has engaged in the practice of Bandwidth Throttling or traffic shaping.

The idea is to slow down people using P2P software file sharing. But this isn't the only people this affects.

Before bandwidth throttling I could upload all the software for a website in about 20 minutes. The last 3 sites I've developed has taken me almost 3 hours each to upload. Quite the noticeable difference.

So much for my "1 hour to upload and configure" quotes! Even the smallest files were taking 5-10 seconds to upload. (44 bytes!)

I understand the need for ISP's to do this, but man! It's painful to sit here for 3 hours watching progress bars creeping along at the speed of a slug[1]!

Anyone else experiencing this?

[1] Not really fair to slugs but it gets the point across...

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-15-2008, 08:04 AM

I have Verizon FiOS and the 20/5mbs service here so no I dont experience it.

But wow... 5-10seconds for 44b? *shivers*

Who's your ISP and what kind of package do you have?

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

I have Verizon FiOS and the 20/5mbs service here so no I dont experience it.

But wow... 5-10seconds for 44b? *shivers*

Who's your ISP and what kind of package do you have?

Bell Canada (Bellnet). It's a business package and is supposed to be 7/1mbs. Not so in peak hours anymore...

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-15-2008, 08:17 AM

Do you ever get that though?

I use speedtest.net to guage what my service is at during certain ahours. Sometimes its up, sometimes it's down.. But if it's always down, complain. You're 14% of the market and if your service is *not* meeting the contract expectation then make a stink about it. Throttling or not, they are bound by the same contract.

I had an issue with Cox a few years ago becuase my service was garbage. I mean I got passed from tier to tier becuase I just wouldn't give up and I needed a stable service. They finally sent a truck out and realised their node was at fault. I realise your talking about throttling, but the service is the service. And besides, they should be able to tell the types of packets that are being sent and received. If you're using bittorent to update a clients site then that might be a problem... lol.

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

Do you ever get that though?

I use speedtest.net to guage what my service is at during certain ahours. Sometimes its up, sometimes it's down.. But if it's always down, complain. You're 14% of the market and if your service is *not* meeting the contract expectation then make a stink about it. Throttling or not, they are bound by the same contract.

No, the best DL speed I've seen is 3mps.

I'd complain big time, but it's not my account. I get free access from my boss in exchange for computer "favours"... (I live in an apartment above the store I work at.) I'd be even more ticked off if I was actually paying for it! lol

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-15-2008, 09:16 AM

You can still complain but you might not have a leg to stand on if you're splitting the line as this might be a line noise problem or just old cabling.

If you can test the speed directly, that is to say, connect as close to the source as possible then at least you can rule out signal degradation. If the speed is still crap talk to your boss about it and just have him standing there to give Bell the security info over the phone then complain on his behalf.

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

You can still complain but you might not have a leg to stand on if you're splitting the line as this might be a line noise problem or just old cabling.

If you can test the speed directly, that is to say, connect as close to the source as possible then at least you can rule out signal degradation. If the speed is still crap talk to your boss about it and just have him standing there to give Bell the security info over the phone then complain on his behalf.

It's not just us. I have a buddy across town who is also on BellNet and he experiences the same slow down while uploading.

I believe Bell is throttling the upload band to slow down handshaking with P2P programs. I'm sure anyone trying to upload in peak hours is going to get the same results I am.

Downloading and general surfing seems to be quick enough, however.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-15-2008, 09:36 AM

Do you have any proof at all that your line is being throttled? From what I've been reading, they don't taget wholesale lines, but rather users and not so much on a business line but those who connect through personal accounts.

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

Do you have any proff at all that your line is being throttled? From what I've been reading, they don't taget wholesale lines, but rather users and not so much on a business line but those who connect through personal accounts.

None, actually. Other than some articles and friends noticing the same problems since Bell first announce doing this.

I'm thinking the next site I upload, I'll just throw it on autopilot before I turn in for the night. (Get paid while sleeping!

)

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-15-2008, 09:46 AM

Also keep in mind, throttling is done on the download, not the upload. Any slow downs you might be expereincing on uploading files, wont be the result of line throttling. At least as far as I understand it.

chicgeek · 05-15-2008, 10:04 AM

Switch off of Bell. I've had luck with Rogers, maybe time to change?

Also check in with Zap in Mississauga, see what he uses and if he's had any trouble with it.

**StarLab** · 05-15-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

Also keep in mind, throttling is done on the download, not the upload. Any slow downs you might be expereincing on uploading files, wont be the result of line throttling. At least as far as I understand it.

An article I read a while ago (just can't put my finger on it ATM) mentioned how throttling upload packets resulted in decreasing download speeds. By doing this, the P2P programs have to wait to get a full handshake to indicate the user is ready to receive another packet, therefore slowing the transfer considerably.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicgeek

Switch off of Bell. I've had luck with Rogers, maybe time to change?

Also check in with Zap in Mississauga, see what he uses and if he's had any trouble with it.

Some day soon I will be getting my Cable Internet back. I hate Bell.

I'm just curious if this is becoming more of a problem for people these days.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 05-17-2008, 01:45 AM

*cough*

(:

**StarLab** · 05-18-2008, 06:02 PM

I just came across this article. Seems the CRTC wants Bell to prove that they actually NEED to engage in Traffic Shaping Policies.

Quote:

The CRTC has asked Bell to clarify how it avoids shaping VoIP and online streaming traffic while CAIP has been tasked with providing information to support its claim that "all forms of file-sharing service and audio or video streaming services, such as Internet radio and YouTube" are affected by Bell's practices.

It's useless streaming or even trying to accomplish anything file related in the evenings these days.

Full Article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...6.wrthrottle16

Go CRTC!!