topic Re: Internet quality issues in Archive

Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 11:07:29 GMT

Having some issues with my FTTP connection, generally get good speeds when doing a speed test but the stability is horrible. Really noticable when using google meets as it contsantly locks up and freezes but generally pretty rubish the rest of the time too.

Re: Internet quality issues

GD1 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 11:08:47 GMT

@Scott123456789 Are you connecting over wifi? Have you tried using ethernet (if possible).

Re: Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 11:11:14 GMT

Hey,

Thanks for the speedy reply. Unfortunately the line come in in a really awkward place to run an ethernet cable so haven't been able to test this plus I don't have one long enough!

Re: Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:17:02 GMT

I set up a think broadband monitor earlier. Obviously there's not much data yet but you can see high latency and packetloss on the connection.

Re: Internet quality issues

jamesn123 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 13:38:37 GMT

@Scott123456789

Using a BQM is pointless if your using WiFi. We would need to see speed results and packet loss evidence over ethernet to even entertain an issue with an FTTP which is literally light through a glass cable so often cant be 'faulty'

Re: Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:47:44 GMT

Hi @jamesn123 ,

Thanks for your reply.

The test is set up to ping the router from an external source so I’m not sure what WIFI has to do with anything? What should I be testing to identify the fault?

Many Thanks

Scott

Re: Internet quality issues

jamesn123 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:23:07 GMT

@Scott123456789

Because the BQM measures WAN ping responses to your Sky hub but the Sky hub has WAN ping responses set to lowest priority so if anything on your network is using bandwidth even remotely slightly the BQM will register high pings

Re: Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:40:19 GMT

Ok that makes sense but how does using WIFI make a difference?

What should I be testing to identify the fault?

Re: Internet quality issues

jamesn123 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:19:58 GMT

@Scott123456789

Because WiFi is massively unstable most of the time. Its a really convinient technology to use on your phone for basic web browsing social media etc as well as streaming where it can pre buffer content. However for realtime applications like gaming, voice/video calls, VPN etc its horrible because of jitter, interference, ping spikes etc. This is likely what your issue is rather than the FTTP line itself.

You should be testing everything with an ethernet cable to be able to determine if the fault is with the line or your local WiFi conditions

Re: Internet quality issues

Scott123456789 — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:30:59 GMT

@jamesn123 ,

So if I plug in via ethernet, what tests should I be running?

Just to be clear, do you mean WIFI in general, or the Sky provided router? I'm connected via 5GHz, close to the router, and there's nothing else near by using the same channels. I don't think its helpful to say "WiFi is massively unstable " because thats just not true.

Re: Internet quality issues

TimmyBGood — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:37:18 GMT

@Scott123456789 wrote:

So if I plug in via ethernet, what tests should I be running?

Ideally, do the same thing that you've seen failing before. If it still fails, you've gone a long way to ruling out WiFi as an issue.

Re: Internet quality issues

jamesn123 — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:03:19 GMT

@Scott123456789

I mean WiFi in general. Thats the drawback of the technology. However the Sky router is also particularly bad for dealing with interference so you could also see an improvement if you invested in a more expensive 3rd party router.