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esdwa
join:2009-06-24
Delray Beach, FL
1 edit | SLOW Video Streaming & FAST data download w/DSL Ext.6.0 ???
My story is an example of the loyal AT&T (previously Bellsouth) that experience and bizarre limitations with my DSL Extreeeeeme service.
I have been using my AT&T DSL Extreme 6.0 service in my current location for last 6 months without a problem. As in past years with AT&T (previously Bellsouth) I use it mostly to watch Netflix (couple of movies a week) and some news streamed at 250kB/s (per news provider info) regularly around 30 minutes a day. I use these services for last couple of years along with DSL Ultra I used to have in my previous home. There was never any problem with it.
Suddenly 3 weeks ago something happened and although my download speeds are still great (500~700kB/s) for large files, photos that I store on the web, anytime I try to stream video, it is slow as hell. The Netflix through my Roku shows 1 or 2 dots (which is really bad) and tries to buffer the movie but the progress bar runs so slow, it takes 15~20 minutes to start the movie. When finally it starts, it is interrupted again after approx. 5 minutes and it buffers again. The same thing occurs when watching it on any of my 2 PC. So I lose my patience and quit.
The everyday news I watch with Youtube quality by default so not very demanding - from different provider - these also buffer and it takes a minutes, where in the past it used to be instant. Always.
Finally I go Youtube and anything watched in HD is buffered as well so there is no way to watch without interruption every minute.
Important to note: these video "slowdowns" occurs ONLY at late afternoon and evening or during the weekend.
Again, it has been like this in last 3 weeks, NEVER before.
First thing I did of course I made some DSL tests available on the web including AT&T fast access DSL test. Everything looked beautiful. Even 3rd party tests showed my 4~6Mb download speed. But I never trust them. Still data download and upload rate is great like never before.
Then I contacted Netflix asking what is going on, if there is anything on their side that could cause the problem. They said no and advised me to restart my Roku player. It did not matter. Streaming also on any of my 2 PC was slow as well.
I have also contacted my news service provider, they asked me to run "tracert" from Windows command prompt test and send them back the results. The results were great, no problem whatsoever.
So for the moment I thought they are playing with me. So one evening I staid at my friends house who has Comcast while my wife was at or home and I tried to stream Netflix and my news service at my friend home and everything was beautiful. Right after my test I called my wife to do the same thing at our home and it sucked as usual. There was no way to use any video streaming service without hassle. At the same time she checked downloading or uploading large data files from/to web was fast with 500~600kB/s speed.
Currently I am trying to resolve the issue by wasting another warm afternoon talking to DLS hotline which is totally irresponsible, ignorant and unhelpful. They keep running the tests on their side saying everything is OK. They keep saying the same crap every time I call that everything is all right. They send me a technician which is capable only to replace the gateway (AT&T 2701HG-B Wireless Gateway DSL Router Modem) that I got from AT&T and it does not help either. Recently they said that they are suspecting my neighbor to use alarm system that interferes with my DSL line because they could be routed in the same conduit (?). So they are sending another experienced technician to check what is going on. Are they going to sniff my neighbor too, I do not what to know. Enough complaining. I need a solution. I was almost going to switch to Comcast but after what I read on this forum it seems like Comcast customers have even more issues to complain.
As I said, the fact is that my DSL service was excellent and it's not anymore. Something happened down the road and I have no idea what. I have bee using the same equipment, the same computers (1 desktop w/Win XP SP3 & 1 laptop w/Win XP SP3, both w/ BitDefender Internel Security plus my Roku Netflix player that I used for over a year). And it's really bizarre for me that while I can really enjoy DSL when downloading the data, I am not able to use any of most popular video streaming services. I was speculating whether AT&T put some king of cap or bottleneck on video streaming or what? Is it possible? But what would be the benefit except of the frustrated customer who is about to cancel the service? Is there any alternative for the guy like me?
I appreciate your comments on this. | |
sashwa
Pixie Cat Crunchin' n Foldin'
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| Good morning, esdwa, and welcome to the site.
You've posted in the wrong forum so I'm going to move this over to our AT&T Southeast forum as this is our DSLX Forum, another ISP.
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TH ~ NE ~ EPN ~ NC ~ TD | |
impala
join:2008-03-08
Clemson, SC | reply to esdwa
I noticed this, too. but videos are not a large part of my internet use, so I don't know when it started or stopped. It seems to be OK tonight. When I noticed the problem I monitored the download speed and it was very uneven. | |
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