Internet is SLOW
Marcin
Enthusiast - Level 2

I have the 20MB/5MB plan.  I've ran several speed tests, and the average is 14.3MB/1.3MB.  I have 2 PCs, a laptop, and VOIP service.  I disconnected every device except for my main, gaming PC, and closed every application that would use the Internet.  It's still slow.

I started noticing the problem when I would go to gametrailers.com, try to stream more than 2 videos at the same time, and the browser would lose the connection, but I was still connected to xfire and teamspeak.  I reinstalled Firefox, but that didn't solve the problem.  I also ran virus/spyware scan, and just as I expected, my PC is clean.

So, I lose the connection, and when I dont, it's SLOW!  Any "Conact Us" form doesnt' work, and I dont wanna talk to customer service from india who have no idea what' i'm talking about.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

First off, all the tech support people you will talk to are living in the United States.

You didn't mention whether what OS you are using... if running XP, you may need to run the speed optimizer, found here: http://verizon.net/optimizesettings/ 

If you are using Windows Vista, you can find some good information here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939006

Naturally, it is expected to keep your computer as clean as possible, and to try other speed test websites at different times of the day...speedtest websites can fluctuate depending on how many users are hitting the website.

Sometimes you can powercycle the router and see an improvement, along with reseting to factory settings (warning: this will clear all port forwarding and etc changes you have made in the router).

Re: Internet is SLOW
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

List of speed test sites:

http://speedtest.net/

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

http://myspeed.visualware.com/

It anyone has any other dependable speedtest sites let me know!

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Re: Internet is SLOW
Brennoko
Contributor - Level 1
http://miranda.ctd.anl.gov:7123/ is a good site, give more information about where the problem actually is.
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Re: Internet is SLOW
G-Pon
Contributor - Level 1

Can ‘ya tell by all these employee posts we’re excited about the internet speed and are responsive to its issues more than any other? We are! This is the premier internet service product on the planet! Remember too the video streaming speed is not only governed by the throughput available to you through Verizon, but also the server you are attached too. Video streaming has its own bandwidth limitations at the other end. Providers would rather service 2 customers at a slower rate than one at a higher one. Just because you can download it at 20 does not mean they are going to let you.

You may see closer to the 20 down if connected only to the test site, download speed is a metric measuring a potential result, not an absolute, there are many variables. Also there is some video data (guide, digital VOD content, etc.) that also consumes a small part of your ONT’s  bandwidth. You should be within 10% to 20% above or below of your 20 at any given time.

We have test potential into the situation we can use to aid you too, we can test the ONT and the ONT-to-Router connection for you. Another test tech support could run is to check to be sure your speed was not accidently set to 15. There is potential for a provisioning issue in your case as you consistently get speeds near that. Occasionally the OLT (the next Vz device after the ONT) gets a different speed setting than you are supposed to have. Let one of the kind employees posting here know via a private message and they can do some testing for you.

Your PC may have been clear of malicious programs, but not clear of ones you agreed to. If you have clicked “yes” or OK’d some video or music streaming activities then behavior similar to that of a virus may be present and a small price to pay for the convenience.

Connecting to two separate streaming sites while attached to port-specific game sites also might be enough to cause this behavior, more than one of the sources may be fighting over the same port/thread, the lost packets resulting could account for the speed loss & the browser disconnect the result of one or another of the streams loosing that battle.

While unpleasant, returning to the default settings and re-testing a basic simple connection is good advice, then re-test between each change to isolate which setting or activity is triggering the behavior. Let us know what you find.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
Snapper3
Enthusiast - Level 2

I live in Washington DC suburbs and also have the same 20/5 plan.  Just as is reported by Marcin, my actual speed is well short (25% below) of the advertised numbers. 

My download is usually around 14.8k and my upload around 4.7k.  The upload does not bother me, but the download speed is so far from what the advertisements say that they should change the advertisements.  Truth is a slippery commodity in American advertising but if real speeds are 25% under advertised numbers, as is the case for Marcin and me, then perhaps someone should notify the FTC about deceptive advertising.

To be fair, the fine print does say that not all users are gauranteed the 20/5k speed.  But, Verizon should be honest up front in the ads about what most users will experience in real life use.  Indeed, I would not have switched from Comcast to Fios if I had known what my real speeds would be.  Perhaps we can hope that Comcast reads these forums and will press Verizon for more fairness in their ads.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

Again, your download speed has several factors, odds are, you ARE getting what you pay for. The hosts or websites you download off of, most likey do not provide download speeds as fast as your FiOS internet connection.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
Snapper3
Enthusiast - Level 2

Thanks for the quick response, Charles.  Since posting my comments I've run multiple tests to various speed test sites recommended above.  The results are exactly as I reported.  

The Argonne labs site, as someone mentioned above, provides the most info.  I recommend it.  Nevertheless, my actual numbers are, as I said 25% lower than advertised.  Now I think it would be OK if people were given was only 5% or even 10% under the ad's promise.  But 25% below promise, even with carefully worded fine print that says not all users will get the promised speed, is surely not something you guys want to stand behind.  

Ads by their nature always--umm "embellish."  I'm not naive.  But, as more people begin to notice the gap between what is advertised and what is delivered it will come back and bite you on the bottom line.  So, be honest, tell people what their real speeds are likely to be.  If real world speed on a 20/5 line is usually closer to 15/4, then call it a 15/4 line in your ads. You'll feel better for it and your reputation will be enhanced.

Best regards.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

If you still are not getting the speed that you are paying for, I would recommend calling into tech support and verifying everything, making sure you are provisioned correct. There are problems that lead us to the ONT needing to be replaced that can fix the issue.

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Re: Internet is SLOW
anemone
Newbie

Sorry, but I have to laugh at this one.

My Verizon 'plan' is for 10/2. I assumed this was 10 down, 2 up. OK, so I go to Verizon's speed test. I check off the 10/2 test. guess what? It doesn't work.

SO.... I check off the 'I don't know' option. Presto! I get 10.xx down, and 1.88 up as results. GREAT. The problem with this, amigos, is that this is shoveled (sheepdip) in megaBITS per second, not megaBYTES.

The Verizon sales people swear its in megaBYTES. The Verizon tech people who installed it said so, too. But flat out? IT IS NOT. I had Cablevision (still do, it's just disconnected momentarily while I've tried FiOS) , and no, i don't work for them. I get 1.4 to 2 megaBYTES/s with Cablevision. With Verizon? 1.2-1.3 TOPS. (THAT'S megaBYTES/s as well) 

My point? Why does Verizon keep pushing their FiOS as megaBYTES/sec? Someone in the company must know the **bleep** difference. I sure as hell do. Simple excercise? divide by 8, and there goes the blazing speed claims. TEN times faster than cable???? Baloney. As CharlesH duly notes: Speakeasy.net is a good, unbiased test site. So is Adobe.

Last night, I downloaded a trial of Audition 3 (sound software) about 230MB. The speed via Firefox browser, off their site was 1.2MB/S. GET IT? MEGABYTES per SECOND.

Seems to me there's a lot of Verizon employees on this forum. Respectfully? Ask Verizon to clean up the claims. To Joe 6-pack consumer like myself (with 1/2 a brain about ftp/download/tcp-ip etc) You guys gotta stop selling {please keep your posts courteous} , the speeds are what they are.

And? As an added favor, I hope both Verizon and Cablevision stop the insipid, unrelenting ads. Enough is enough. {please keep it relevant} 

But back to business...... my FiOS service has been problematic for the 2 weeks I've had the service. (it goes out almost every day, seemingly at random) 

Shame on me. My service wasn't broke. I should not have let Verizon 'fix it', even at less $$$ per month.

THUMBS DOWN, VERIZON.

Please come get this MESS of a service out of my dwelling.

Message Edited by KaLin on 12-29-2008 07:25 PM
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