I tried the centurylink, 55.02Mbps download, 4.26Mbps upload Smokey Mt Frank In a message dated 1/3/2013 11:20:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, elcam84@xxxxxxxxx writes: I just ran a couple on mine... I also ran this one from century link which is probably not the same one you run and would show different results since my ISP is charter.._http://spdtst-dlls.tx.centurylink.net/_ (http://spdtst-dlls.tx.centurylink.net/) All the ones I ran were showing with in .5mbs of each other all right around 15mbs. The only one that was different was internetfrog which read way lower than all the others. We are paying for 10mbs and we used to get 20+ but they have started to throttle downloads now. Used to be no matter what plan you got download was the same they only throttled uploads. 15mbs is fine running 3 computers using the net and playing online games and voice clients and running netflix on the tv at the same time. Used to know a guy that worked for charter ;) and some net slow downs were caused by the filters at the box used to cut out some channels and if you had a prob they would remove them fixing your net prob and giving you a few free channels. Allot is still done with filters instead of decoding cause decoding is easy to hack without them knowing but removing a filter they know.. Luckily we have had no probs with Charter customer support. They have always fixed billing errors immediately without a fight. Robert Adams On Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 9:51 AM, Ray Buck <_rbuck@xmission.com_ (mailto:rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx) > wrote: Well. "Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice." I got in touch with Patti Page in the Pilipeens who had a reasonable command of the English language. What she didn't have was the ability to listen to what was being said to her. Frikkin 3-ring circus with only 2 people involved. "Don't try this at home, kids. I'm a trained professional." When I finally told Mz Patti that I'd been working with computers since 1966, and had written data communication protocols, her attitude changed a bit. So our dear lady from Subic Bay or wherever the hell she was finally listened to my "issue." She asked me to run CenturyLink's own speed test. It said I was running at about 18mbit. Quite a difference from what DslReports tests show (consistently showing 8mbit. So does _testmyisp.com_ (http://testmyisp.com/) and a couple others.) She said that it's the only speed test they accept....all others are (to CL) invalid. I thanked Patti for nothing and told her I'd do like I'd done with virtually every other issue I'd had with 'em: Fix it my own damned self. I tried to explain to Mz Patti that I've been measuring line speed with DSLR's tests for years and years and they'd always been pretty accurate. I also told her that if I was a person who considered things like conspiracy theories, the first question I'd ask would be, "why would I not believe the results from a test that I've been using for a long time and take a big ol' slug of that grape Flavorade that Jim Jones fed to his flock by taking the word of a test supplied by an entity that provides the service that I find to be too slow?" I had to repeat that concept several times over before her little Pilipina mind could grasp the concept. Then she went on to repeat the same mantra, "the results of the CL speed test are the only results we accept. Therefore you don't have a problem. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Argggghhh. I also explained that I requested the purchase of the Fiber Optic (VDSL) modem, yet I was being billed a monthly lease fee. She told me to contact the business office. I just did that and the billing for the monthly lease has been removed...between the time I called Mz Patti and made the call to the business office. Then I began the "paper chase"...or in this case, the "Google chase." I found numerous other testing sites, all of which showed a line speed of about 8mbit. I turned off my virus protection (Avira) which made no difference at all. Then I stumbled across a little thing called DSLAM: _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line_access_multiplexer_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line_access_multiplexer) On that page is an image that shows the virtual network topology: Further investigation revealed that CL's test only shows the speed between the xDSL router (VDSL in my case) and the DSLAM. It doesn't take into account their own switching BRAS (underwire, I wondered? Padded seemed like it fit the description a bit better) or their own Internet Router. Basically it tests the speed between my house and the distribution box near the curb. That's REAL helpful, since I only interact with websites at my curb. (insert sarcasm icon here) Then I went to DSLReports Forum and searched for CenturyLink speed test. The first hit was a thread entitled, "Is CenturyLink's speed test rigged?" They validated what I'd found in my Google chase and posts to that thread said what I'd already figgered: The game's fixed and as was so elequently stated in War Games, "The only way to win is not to play the game." Yanno, I think I'm just gonna close my eyes and pretend I'm not here and maybe all the problems will magically go away...at least until I open my eyes again. But I have an appraiser coming at 10 am for the revere mortgage deal...and it's 8F outside and furthermore, if elected, I promise....whoops, wrong script. Yeah, I get goofy when I get tired. Just ask Jim. Oh. I signed up to get a "white box" from _http://www.samknows.com/broadband/_ (http://www.samknows.com/broadband/) That's another story in itself, but basically what it does is analyze my line speed, packet loss, retries and so on. That data (they swear it's anonymous) is used to keep tabs on providers to see if they're telling the truth or not. We'll just have to see how that one goes. I'm outta here. r On 1/3/2013 5:24 AM, _STILLFRANKSFAULT@aol.com_ (mailto:STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx) wrote: I've heard people talk about the bill going up, and I wonder if the company figures people will just pay it without question. Sorta playing with the law of odds and averages. Win some lose some. Well, good luck with your problem. ++++~~~~ Smokey Mt Frank In a message dated 1/3/2013 7:09:28 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, _rbuck@xmission.com_ (mailto:rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx) writes: Right on, bro! Give 'em hell! Btw, my "up to 20 mbit" fiber line runs consistently at 8mb. I'm gonna call today (after the appraiser for the reverse mortgage gets thru) and tell 'em that if that's the best they can do, then switch me to the 7mb and drop my monthly billing a ton. I'll keep ya posted. r On 1/3/2013 4:53 AM, _STILLFRANKSFAULT@aol.com_ (mailto:STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx) wrote: Hi guys, I have an update on my cable company's high speed service. Today I received the monthly bill for the new up graded service, from 15 at 40.oo to 30 at 39.oo. Sorta a no brainer. Well, the bill says 59.99 ........... why am I not surprised. So... I call them, explain, and she says that this is the way it is, and there were no specials at that time......... yata yata yata..... This is where the New Yorker in me Kicked in. I said really? Told her I want my old service back at 40.oo She said no can do because it was a deal and now was dropped. Ya see where this is going, so I start yelling and ranting, and I want to speak to someone that has the authority to fix it. I'm on hold for a long time. Probably waiting for me to hang up. She comes back, says the manager is busy, but told her to give me it at 39.oo, well look at that, yet another example of the squeakiest gear gets the most oil. I know it was only 20.oo but if ya give them an inch....... Smokey Mt Frank