[elky] Re: update

  • From: STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx
  • To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 14:19:18 -0500 (EST)

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















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