ISP DSL woes.

Alright, here's my situation. I've been meaning to cancel Sympatico for the past year, but I was at my dorm then(and with Rogers, 90kb/sec max for torrents but a 400kb/sec+ for http) and since came back. Sympatico 'High Speed' has been giving me 40-60kb/sec max for http downloads, 20kb/sec max for IRC xdcc bots and 65kb/sec max for torrents. Upload hits a nice 35kb/sec. It's been this way for about a years now it seems, and after lots of BS'ing from the reps about how its not their fault, and how thats normal, I finally canceled it after coming home.

Now, Sympatico will be canceled on July 11th, and I had did my research before on who to switch to. TekSavvy sounds awesome, but not available in my area(Markham, Steeles/Warden). Neither is Velcom(They said it was, then they called me earlier and apologized, which I was disappointed, but glad they called me and didn't BS around).

I currently own a modem(The 2wire one from CC, it's been working great for the past few months after the 5200 broke, but same speeds) so I prefer to stick with DSL.

Is there really no other DSL company to choose from? Theres....3Web, Acanac, etc. but I've followed the comments here and, well, I don't think so.

Any suggestions on what I can do?

Thanks.

edit: As for price, I'd prefer under $35/month but anything is better then the $54 Sympatico was charging...

If you can get Bell, you can get Teksavvy, Velcom, other DSL providers

Post your line stats to see how good your line is.

I did the online test and called both TekSavvy and Velcom, they both said it wasn't available right now, it might be in a few months and to call them back then.

I'm not sure how to do a Line stats, I googled it up, but I'm still lost.

If your Bell speeds are bad, then DSL is pretty much not an option for you.

Ah, that'd make sense. Since DSL companies use Bell's lines anyways, don't they? I guess Cable would work as well...

Thanks for the reply.

If your line isn't acceptable while using Bell, it'll be the same way with other DSL ISPs.

Try using the following software to retrieve stats from your line and we'll see what the deal is.

You'll need to connect the modem directly to your computer

http://dmt.mhilfe.de/

Thanks, I tried that, but the language barrier is obviously hurting :p

I got the IP addy, but whats the port #?

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6622

Thanks alot!

Details
DSL Connection Details
DSL Line (Wire Pair): Line 1 (inner pair)
Protocol: G.DMT Annex A
Downstream Rate: 1376 kbps
Upstream Rate: 640 kbps
Channel: Fast
Current Noise Margin: 7.0 dB (Downstream), 8.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 63.0 dB (Downstream), 31.5 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 16.0 dBm (Downstream), 11.9 dBm (Upstream)
DSLAM Vendor Information: Country: {0x0F} Vendor: {ALCB} Specific: {0x00}
PVC Info: 0/35
Internet Connection Details
Connection Type: PPPoE
Username: b1uxei59
Internet Address: 74.13.113.182
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway: 64.230.197.158
Primary Domain Name Server: 206.47.244.107
Secondary Domain Name Server: 67.69.184.144
Domain:
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU): 1492
Gateway Ping: Successful
DNS Communication: Successful
Configuration Server Post: Successful

I did another speedtest, the speed actually multiplied, though nowhere close to what it was advertised to be, though I have a feeling this is only temporary :p

I'm not sure what the line stats mean though, however, I'm googling it !

Originally Posted by coriolis

Thanks alot!

Details
DSL Connection Details
DSL Line (Wire Pair): Line 1 (inner pair)
Protocol: G.DMT Annex A
Downstream Rate: 1376 kbps
Upstream Rate: 640 kbps
Channel: Fast
Current Noise Margin: 7.0 dB (Downstream), 8.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 63.0 dB (Downstream), 31.5 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 16.0 dBm (Downstream), 11.9 dBm (Upstream)
DSLAM Vendor Information: Country: {0x0F} Vendor: {ALCB} Specific: {0x00}
PVC Info: 0/35
Internet Connection Details
Connection Type: PPPoE
Username: b1uxei59
Internet Address: 74.13.113.182
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway: 64.230.197.158
Primary Domain Name Server: 206.47.244.107
Secondary Domain Name Server: 67.69.184.144
Domain:
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU): 1492
Gateway Ping: Successful
DNS Communication: Successful
Configuration Server Post: Successful

I did another speedtest, the speed actually multiplied, though nowhere close to what it was advertised to be, though I have a feeling this is only temporary :p

I'm not sure what the line stats mean though, however, I'm googling it !

By the looks of those, it's no surprise you're speeds are the way they are. You're just too far from the CO

What connection rate do you pay for ? it does look like you are pretty far but you should still manage an attainable above 2meg at that attenuation.

It's high speed with Sympatico, so its about $54 after taxes and everything at the end of the month. I'm trying to find another DSL company, I don't really mind the speeds, but I just can't justify the current pricetag.

What does MTU stand for? And what does it do?

Apparently, I changed it from default 14xx to 1500 and only 4-5 websites worked, I changed it to 1400 and now its working better.

Originally Posted by coriolis

What does MTU stand for? And what does it do?

Apparently, I changed it from default 14xx to 1500 and only 4-5 websites worked, I changed it to 1400 and now its working better.

In computer networking, the term Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) refers to the size (in bytes) of the largest packet that a given layer of a communications protocol can pass onwards. MTU parameters usually appear in association with a communications interface (NIC, serial port, etc.). The MTU may be fixed by standards (as is the case with Ethernet) or decided at connect time (as is usually the case with point-to-point serial links). A higher MTU brings higher bandwidth efficiency. However large packets can block up a slow interface for some time, increasing the lag on other packets. For example a 1500 byte packet, the largest allowed by Ethernet at the network layer (and hence most of the Internet), would block up a 14.4k modem for about one second.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_transmission_unit

Originally Posted by coriolis

It's high speed with Sympatico, so its about $54 after taxes and everything at the end of the month. I'm trying to find another DSL company, I don't really mind the speeds, but I just can't justify the current pricetag.

What does MTU stand for? And what does it do?

Apparently, I changed it from default 14xx to 1500 and only 4-5 websites worked, I changed it to 1400 and now its working better.

Speeds should essentially be the same but there's always a chance that the tech's over at Teksavvy, for example, may be able to help you with improving the line conditions if possible.

the MTU value for DSL for Sympatico is usually 1492

Thanks, I read that and I'll set the MTU back to 1492.

I really want to go to TekSavvy but they won't be available here for a few months at least.

Edit: Well, this sucks, it seems no other DSL service is avaliable in my area besides Bell

Cable it is...what to do with this ADSL modem...

edit2:

It's somewhat faster, but what now. I already canceled with Bell, or should I call them up and say, 'Oops', my "annoyed" brother did it, and hope I don't get hit by a re-activation fee or sign a contract...? Looking at my stats for the modem, Jeez I live far away from the CO.

edit3: Ok, after consulting with friends and family, it looks like I have a few choices.

A. Switch to Cable temporaririly(4-5 months) until TekSavvy offers DSL in my area, and hopefully Bell places a remote nearby so I can get a better connnection in that time period.
B. 'Un-cancel' Bell and stay with them(is that even possible? Will I need to sign a new contract?) and bug them to put a remote nearby, then switch to TekSavvy at the end of the year.
C. Screw it all, borrow the neighbours wireless(I told them, they don't care), it's all good until end of year?
D. Put on a hat and dance.