topic Re: Ridiculous download speeds in Plusnet Feedback

Ridiculous download speeds

rigbypa — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:32:00 GMT

My broadband connection gives me about 6 Mbps. So why oh why is it taking over 2 hours to download Photoshop Elements - file size of just over 1 Gig?
I think I know the technical answer to that - Plusnet is limiting my download speed because Adobe distributes it via Akamai.
What I don't understand is why Plusnet thinks it's a good idea to limit my speed for this type of traffic all the time - even if the network isn't busy.
I've read the traffic prioritisation page, and the one on expected download speeds. I knew about the first when I signed up, but not about the second, which may have been added at a later date - certainly the page is dated from after I signed up.
Allowing my connection to use all the speed available to it will just make me a happier customer. It won't mean I download more in total - or at least if I do, then Plusnet can charge me more, as I'll have to upgrade my package. As things stand, I'll probably make an effort to download less stuff, because it takes so ridiculously long. How does that benefit either of us?
Plusnet, does your traffic management policy need a rethink?

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

Steve — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:53:55 GMT

i sympathise with you,but what package are you on?why dont you do your downloads through the night after midnight?im on the premium package and thats what i do as after midnight till 8am its full line speed and free downloading?

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

rigbypa — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:13:54 GMT

Nice suggestion, but I try to stay in bed between midnight and 8 am if at all possible...

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

pierre_pierre — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:24:41 GMT

well what package are you on? and welcome to the forums
you might also get a better speed between 8:00 and 12:00 or 16:00

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

dvorak — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:23:55 GMT

Quote from: rigbypa
Nice suggestion, but I try to stay in bed between midnight and 8 am if at all possible...

You could use a scheduler do kick them off for you?

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

Pugs — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:10:43 GMT

I have tried to change my habits so that I download in the nights. I installed Windows 7 on my 2 machines and believe me it was so frustrating with Windows updates, downloading Windows Live mail and other programs taking for ever to download. Wish Plusnet would come up with a product that excluded games and streaming and upped the download speeds. It is also a handicap to me, working from home and wating for over an hour for a file download that should take no more than 10 minutes.

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

jelv — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:24:49 GMT

There is a Plusnet product with line speed downloads at all times: link

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

shutter — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:41:54 GMT

with a 20Gb download limit..........

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

Chris — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:42:57 GMT

... at peak times and free overnight usage.

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

jelv — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:45:06 GMT

It would be better described as an allowance rather than a limit. There's no reason why you can't download far more than that at peak times if you pay the extra.

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

Steve — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:16:51 GMT

An update on this issue from the original poster would be nice??

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

rigbypa — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:03:27 GMT

No change here. Next time I want to get something from a download server or do a spot of FTP I shall face the same issues
Still don't understand why downgrading the experience of the user to this extent is a good idea. I'm not a bandwidth hog, my bandwidth consumption is well under the 8 MB (or is it 10 MB) that I'm allowed on the value package. I can't see how a traffic management policy that caps download speeds helps with network congestion.
A proper response from Plusnet would be nice...

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

rigbypa — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:52:47 GMT

I also wonder how many problems being posted on the forums about slow download speeds are due to these imposed "expected speeds".
Surely that's a waste of your time and efforts Plusnet? It ain't free to run customer support.

Re: Ridiculous download speeds

bobpullen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:40:29 GMT

Hi there,

Quote from: rigbypa
My broadband connection gives me about 6 Mbps. So why oh why is it taking over 2 hours to download Photoshop Elements - file size of just over 1 Gig?
I think I know the technical answer to that - Plusnet is limiting my download speed because Adobe distributes it via Akamai.

That seems like the most likely cause. You could find out for sure by running a Wireshark capture.

Quote
What I don't understand is why Plusnet thinks it's a good idea to limit my speed for this type of traffic all the time - even if the network isn't busy.

The network *would* be busy if we didn't
The rate limits ensure that everybody gets their share. When they're not implemented you find that a small proportion of customers saturate all of the bandwidth which causes problems for others. The blunt answer as to why we limit the speed is because that's how the product has been designed at the price point we're providing it at. As others have mentioned, there are packages available that don't have these restrictions.
Also, download sites/servers aren't rate limited on Value between Midnight and Noon.

Quote
I've read the traffic prioritisation page, and the one on expected download speeds. I knew about the first when I signed up, but not about the second, which may have been added at a later date - certainly the page is dated from after I signed up.

Both pages were present from the day we started selling our Value product.

Quote
Allowing my connection to use all the speed available to it will just make me a happier customer. It won't mean I download more in total - or at least if I do, then Plusnet can charge me more, as I'll have to upgrade my package. As things stand, I'll probably make an effort to download less stuff, because it takes so ridiculously long. How does that benefit either of us?

It does benefit us from a network management perspective else we wouldn't do it. We can provide everything at line speed but to take advantage of that you have to pay for it I'm afraid.

Quote
Plusnet, does your traffic management policy need a rethink?

It's sounds to me like you might not be on the best package to suit your particular requirements?