blassster
join:2006-10-03
| Nova Scotia ISP Dilemma
My long story:
In mid 2006 I moved into my current house, with Aliant as my ISP/Phone/TV provider. I had a decent reliable experience at my old house. Ever since I've moved in here though I've had a crap Internet experience. We paid the extra $5 a month for the extra speed (5mbits instead of 1.5?) since the beginning, but still got regular 1.5mbit speeds. Called them, tech support is useless as usual and blamed it on me or my equipment.
Using the Speedstream (5200?) or whatever router/modem combo box, the Internet would randomly disconnect every few minutes. Uploading speed constantly fluctuated between 15 to 50 kilobytes/sec, even a simple game of Warcraft 3 hosted by me would cause everyone else to lag spike. That's when I'd pray that the connection wouldn't drop. They sent us a new modem, some old looking Comtrend box. Connection drops stopped 99% of the time, but speeds overall were exactly the same. I wanted to move back to my old house.
It was only two months ago that one day we randomly started to get 3mbit download speeds, but the upload was still choked. Actually, the upload speed decreased and now fluctuates between 10 and 30 kilobytes/sec. It's very hard when three computers share the connection, and one of the people NEVER listens and runs his P2P trash when I tell him that any P2P activity should go on ONE machine so it's easy to manage and throttle.
As an aside, my Mom is unhappy with Expressvu, the phone service, and the customer service. Last year we had phone problems for months (EXTREME static) that they blamed on a spiders nest in their boxes or some trash.
I have a friend that got Aliant Internet last year, the same higher speed package at 5mbits with NO problems. He hosts a ventrilo server 24/7, hosts games online with NO issue what so ever. Makes me angry.
We're thinking of SERIOUSLY changing to Eastlink, because our contract is soon finished with Aliant. My question is, how much of a cap does Eastlink have in terms of downloading? I heard 30 gigs a month, but that was 5 years ago. What's it like now? Between the three of us, there is a lot of downloading that quickly adds up. We don't have a cap problem with Aliant, our download speed usually stays at 3mbits, but the upload often chokes us and I've been wanting to host online games for the past two years. Any other options besides Eastlink for Halifax? I haven't had the time to look for it yet, but I need information that goes deeper than company websites and ads.
Thank you for reading, and your suggestions. |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
edit:
June 17th, @10:56AM
| said by blassster  : My question is, how much of a cap does Eastlink have in terms of downloading? I heard 30 gigs a month, but that was 5 years ago. What's it like now? I have never been warned of excessive downloading by Eastlink, although I heard tales similar to the ones you've heard in the past.
Some folks claim that Eastlink is throttling connections - everything but HTML, if you believe what you read. I have never encountered any sort of throttling, either, but I wouldn't put it past Eastlink - everyone else is. But, personally? I've never had anything throttled - poor modem signals rarely, but that's it.
Eastlink has been one of the better ISP's out there - I hope they stay neutral, and just provide us with a pipe to the Internet. |
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jericho
join:2001-07-20
Halifax, NS
 ·Eastlink Cable
edit:
June 24th, @02:13PM
| Davebo_, how many times you got to be told that Eastlink does throttle certain protocols my god man. They are throttling, they have admitted to this for godsakes. what's it going to take to get it into your thick skull???? Even on the phone with a tier 2 supervisor has even said they throttle p2p and other protocols so please stop telling potential customers that they are not throttling and get your facts straight. These potential customers should be told the truth before they decide to purchase services from an isp and the truth is "THEY THROTTLE".The only protocol they don't really throttle is http because that is there main priority. Eastlink is still a good isp don't get me wrong, there are no monthly bandwidth caps(yet). I say yet cause I do believe that they will impose monthly caps in the future cause it seems like most Canadian isp's are moving towards a monthly bandwidth cap so I'm sure Eastlink will implement one in the future also but until then you are free to download as much as you want. |
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elwoodblues
join:2006-08-30
Toronto, ON | reply to blassster
Robbers will probably end up buying them... then watch what you get.
They need to expand thier east coast holdings |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
edit:
June 25th, @09:00AM
| reply to jericho
Proof!
Once and for all offer proof, ffs.I am not being throttled - I offered you visual evidence of this in the past - I am still waiting for one shred of proof from you, you thin skulled #######
Hello mcfly? PROOF!
In other words - You need to show me proof that throttling is going on - either with graphs from a torrent app, or text from indicating throttling is happening. Talk is cheap, but that's all you've been - talk.
You give me proof, and I'll stop bragging up Eastlink (I'll actually call them and give them hell, for what it's worth) |
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gurn
@rogers.com
| reply to blassster
It is possible you are both correct. On the Rogers forum they talk about the throttling method, and it seems rogers moves around its throttling boxes so some areas remain unaffected and others are throttled.
So one trouble area may be throttled while another isn't. I'm not enlightened on how the tech works exactly but thought i'd put that out there so you two might stop the low balling. |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
| reply to blassster
I would just be happy to see one shred of evidence that Eastlink throttles. I posted a picture of my unthrottled connection here, and I've yet to see Eastlink pop up on any of those recent bittorent tests - for example -
»broadband.mpi-sws.mpg.de/transpa···results/
Show me some evidence, people, then, I'll shut my mouth about it. Well, actually, I'll become as vocal as buddy about it. Net neutrality all the frigging way....
My evidence - I'll post a newer screenshot on request.
»Re: Eastlink Users Read
Over to you, detractors.... |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
edit:
June 26th, @10:33AM
| reply to gurn
Here's a screenshot of utorrent grabbing some 'stuff'...
Does that look throttled to anyone? This was taken just a moment ago - you'd think if they were throttling they'd do it during the day. I am willing to perform the same test at any time. I keep my upload at 60 KB/s during the day - unlimited at night - and I almost always max out both, if the torrent will take it.
OK, jericho et al - I'm calling you out. Evidence of throttling, please. And again, I'll jump onboard with you if you provide proof. |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
| reply to gurn
It's been a couple of days - I guess Eastlink only throttles when some one posts a new comment, or an Eastlink review. 
Still waiting on evidence, folks. Come on, jericho, according to you Eastlink throttles everything but FTP. Let's see the evidence... |
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acrufox
join:2004-07-14
Canada
| Eastlink does throttle across the board to one extent or another...that being said, however, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to get around it  (encrypting, breaking up large files etc)
Awhile back I downloaded a rather large ISO from a friend over HTTP. For the first 4GB or so it topped out at 1600KB/sec, after that it dropped down to 400KB/sec and stayed there for the rest of the transfer.
Some of the time I wouldn't be surprised if some of those throttling experiences are nothing more than load balancing of some sort.
In the end though, comparing to the competition's offerings, there is no comparing, especially when you compare to what the rest of Canada is getting for internet. |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
| 400 kilobytes a second is not a value you'd associate with throttling - or if it is, then Eastlink is very generous!
I'll take that over what robbers and bell are doing - anyday. However, I'm not sure that's what our pal jericho
is talking about.
And - I'm still waiting for your proof, jericho. It's interesting how little time you actually spend here... |
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Wilcox
@aliant.net | reply to blassster
Re: Nova Scotia ISP Dilemma
Eastlink does throttle rogers throttles bell throttles THEY ALL throttle(although i think rogers is the worst and i do work for them) all i know is i would take eastlink over any alterntive hands down |
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Davebo_
join:2002-11-19
Canada
edit:
July 5th, @09:12AM
| reply to blassster
Say whatever you want - around here proof is an inconvenience, and with standards like that, feel free to claim whatever you want.
 |
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blassster
join:2006-10-03 | reply to blassster
Thanks for all the replies!
Only a week until my Aliant contract is up. |
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