I have a Telstra ADSL 2+ connection that connects to the local exchange at 18mbps, by the time it...

[G+_Nik Kearney]

I have a Telstra ADSL 2+ connection that connects to the local exchange at 18mbps, by the time it travels past the exchange and out onto the internet it's down to 13mbps according to various speedtest.net servers.

 

Sometimes I will get a super fast download but most of the time I'm left wondering why my downloads are so slow, especially from Microsoft's Xbox Live with a 56mb GTA V patch taking almost an hour to download. Apple's iTunes is almost as bad, right now I'm downloading a HD episode of Top Gear which has taken about 3 hours and is still not done.

 

So using Terminal or other super nerdy programs how do I go about figuring out why these services are so slow?

[G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ]

Your first step is to run a trace route to a few of these servers that you're having trouble with. Run it a few times to get your typical route and ping times. That should also tell you where your packets are being held up. 

[G+_Nik Kearney]

Thanks Fr. Robort. So for I've tracked down the problem with iTunes. It looks like Apple is using an Akamai server in Japan to serve up it's content. As soon as my trace route left Australia it got slowed down by almost 150ms, by the time it hit the Akamai server it was over 300ms.

 

I know that Asia has the fastest and cheapest internet in the world so such poor speeds through Asia is disappointing.

 

Fr. Robert, would the wire tapping techniques you have been showing off be able to help me determine where my Xbox's downloads are coming from? I'm guessing it's a similar situation to iTunes that making it so slow but I'd like to make certain.

 

Thanks.

[G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ]

Nik Kearney you're looking for knowledge. I applaud that. Keep on plugging!

 

Check your agreement to see if there is any SLA language included in the contract. It's unlikely, but sometimes there is a clause about how they measure usable bandwidth. If it's in there, you absolutely can ask that they live up to their end of the contract.

[G+_Nik Kearney]

Thanks Fr Robert. I'm due to go onto a new contract with Telstra so I'll look at the fine print, and I'll ask some other ISP's if they can do any better.

[G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ]

Good. Users like you are the only thing that will change the Telcos. Once enough of their customers get wise to how the game works they won't be able to get away with overselling bad service. :)