I'm having problems with my current ISP - pipex.
Have recently been moved to pipex following the take-over of my original one, and since then I have had problems accessing the BBC iPlayer and any othher video related web sites - YouTube, movie trailers, BBC news and any live streaming like radio or the like.
Now, the problem is not all the time. It seems to be only affected from about 4:30 in the evening up to about midnight and then everything suddenly springs into life. I think that pipex is throttling my connection (and I reckon I'm not the only one). I spent far too long on the phone to tech support where one operator swore blind that pipex don't do throttling and that it must be my computer, whilst another confirmed that they do and there is nothing I could do about it.
So, I have taken the decision to leave asap - I need an ISP that'll allow BBC iPlayer in the evenings as well as having enough of a download allowance for PS3 updates and demo downloads.
Any suggestions?
(UK ones please)
Originally posted by Hindsteinwell.. can only mention that BT broadband (in London) is no better, especially during the hours you have mentioned, not sure though if they, indeed, are throttling it on purpose. it could as well be down to general surge in traffic. Indeed, from midnight onwards it's flying. but iPlayer streaming is generally ok (since it's a UK site), but YouTube can be really slow or even freeze now and then (in the evenings, that is)
I'm having problems with my current ISP - pipex... Now, the problem is not all the time. It seems to be only affected from about 4:30 in the evening up to about midnight and then everything suddenly springs into life. I think that pipex is throttling my connection (and I reckon I'm not the only one)
I've heard/read that some ISPs allegedly throttle your BitTorrent traffic in particular, but having tested it (google for free sites offering this service) it didn't seem to be the case.
would suggest checking out broadband comparison sites..
Originally posted by HindsteinAll ISP's throttle connections, you won't be able to avoid it. Most of them refer to it as a 'fair usage policy'. The lack of speed is more likely to be due to your contention ratio. The more people in your area that are on the same ISP, the more traffic there is on the exchange servers so the slower your connection will be.
I'm having problems with my current ISP - pipex.
Have recently been moved to pipex following the take-over of my original one, and since then I have had problems accessing the BBC iPlayer and any othher video related web sites - YouTube, movie trailers, BBC news and any live streaming like radio or the like.
Now, the problem is not all the time. It ...[text shortened]... download allowance for PS3 updates and demo downloads.
Any suggestions?
(UK ones please)
Personally, I'd recommend O2 (especially if you've got an O2 mobile, you get a discount) or Sky if you have TV with them.
Originally posted by Daemon SinI don't think that it is contention ratio for 2 reasons - firstly, I can download files like anti-virus updates and all things like that and it works lightning fast. 2-3 Mbps.
All ISP's throttle connections, you won't be able to avoid it. Most of them refer to it as a 'fair usage policy'. The lack of speed is more likely to be due to your contention ratio. The more people in your area that are on the same ISP, the more traffic there is on the exchange servers so the slower your connection will be.
Personally, I'd recommend O ...[text shortened]... specially if you've got an O2 mobile, you get a discount) or Sky if you have TV with them.
The other reason is perhaps more telling - the Wii has just got the iPlayer and it works with no problems - as a test, I started watching a 30 min episode of somdthing at 6pm on the Wii - worked fine. Stopped it after a few mins and went straight on to the laptop and started the same progamme - stop start stop start every 2 seconds. I even tried to download the programme as many can be from the BBC - I got a download rate of 700 bps. BPS???
In their fair usage policy document, Pipex claim to restrict heavy users to 1 Mbps in evenings and weekends but this is far more extreme that this. it seems clear to me that they knowingly restrict traffic from the iPlayer and have overlooked the Wii one as it is new. Surely it won't last for long before that goes too....