Is it just me? Certain webpage slowness?

[JB]

Since the outage on Sunday night I am noticing a slowness for some web pages to load or load completely. I haven't changed anything here and I am synced at 8128 kbps with a 9db noise margin, which is normal. Interleaving is off and my DSL connection to the exchange seems as usual. Prior to the outage I hadn't noticed any slowing which I could attribute to exchange congestion, for example.

Last night amazon.co.uk timed out on me whilst trying to check an order and certain pages on ebay.co.uk, notably the ones hosted in the Netherlands either would not load or were very slow.

Before I start tearing things appart, has anyone else experienced anything similar in the last day or so.

Many thanks,

JB.

[Glenn]

I'm having the same issue since Sunday, it feels like slow throughput, but I can download files at 280kbs with a 2.5mb profile.

[JB]

Thanks for the info Glenn.

Yes, I can download quickly as well. The problem just seems to show on some web pages. It's almost like packet loss but I haven't investigated further yet. I thought I would see if anyone else is experiencing similar symptoms.

[tobykim]

Same here I'm going to flush dns see if that helps, some pages load straight away others slow or not at all

[Simon]

Yes, I've noticed some general sluggishness too, particularly on the Halifax site last night.

[Bill]

Last night amazon.co.uk timed out on me

It wouldn't load for me either in Opera, but loaded immediately in Safari... still wouldn't load in Opera, but if I went to another site and tried again it then loaded immediately

[Rik]

Amazon seems mildly slow, a couple of seconds, the BBC was instantaneous.

[JB]

At least it's not just me.

Rik, yes the BBC pages are pretty much instant. Let's hope things settle down in time. Simon, I have found different browsers seem to produce different results. It might be to do with what's in the cache?

[Bill]

Amazon seems mildly slow, a couple of seconds, the BBC was instantaneous.

Both immediate here

[Simon]

Mine is cleared at the end of each session, JB. 

[Rik]

Both immediate here

We can't discount remote server load, of course. The web has too many variables.

[pctech]

Beeb and Amazon ok here.

[JB]

Yes, both are fine here now. Will see what happens later.

[Technical Ben]

Similar here. But mainly on forums. So I would normally guess they have excess load/downgraded service on the site. On Open DNS, and have full download speeds. Will see if it's any better today.

[Lona]

Yes, I've noticed some general sluggishness too, particularly on the Halifax site last night.

I had to give up last night, Simon, as the page wouldn't load and I got fedup waiting.  I've always found Halifax website poor at loading though.

[Simon]

I find it stalls a lot, and I have to log out and log back in again.  Very frustrating when you're trying to make transactions. 

[Lona]

I find it stalls a lot, and I have to log out and log back in again.  Very frustrating when you're trying to make transactions. 

I agree, Simon, my son changed his bank because of the rubbish website.

[Rik]

I feel a bit that way about Nationwide at times.

[Glenn]

Pages seem to be loading faster now.

[Rik]

Simon's at a meeting with BT. We've just heard back that BT ran some planned engineering work at Faraday last night. Unfortunately, they neglected to tell anyone it was planned. Connections were affected for up to six hours. No-one would believe this incompetence if you wrote a book about it. 

[zappaDPJ]

Simon's at a meeting with BT. We've just heard back that BT ran some planned engineering work at Faraday last night. Unfortunately, they neglected to tell anyone it was planned. Connections were affected for up to six hours. No-one would believe this incompetence if you wrote a book about it. 

Thanks for the info Rik, it appears that's what took me out last night which has been somewhat substantiated by support.

I'm sure there's no need for me to tell anyone (other than BT) how their incompetence reflects on an ISP. This morning I phoned IDNet to request a MAC for both my lines but there was a lengthy queue and I didn't have time to hold on. Taking that course of action would cost me the remainder of my 12 month FTTC contract but in all honesty, it's a small amount compared to the what I've lost because of these continual outages.

One thing I would suggest is that IDNet make better use of their infrastructure even if it's after the event. Had I known this morning that it was planned BT works which took me out last night my frustration would have been pointed in a different direction.

[Rik]

They only found out about it in the meeting in London, Zap, and Simon had only just passed the word while I was talking to support. My post was, therefore, about 10 minutes after Simon knew.

[zappaDPJ]

So if there was no meeting no one would have been any the wiser? It just gets worse. Thanks again for the update Rik.

[Rik]

That's it, Zap. I've asked IDNet if they can let people know what happened but it does appear that BT are getting worse - which is hard to believe!

[sof2er]

http://status.zensupport.co.uk/outages/

Shows planned/cleared outages and such! (all you do is enter your telephone number)

[Rik]

AAISP confirm what we've been told, nothing I could see on Zen though.

http://status.aaisp.net.uk/

[zappaDPJ]

http://status.zensupport.co.uk/outages/

Shows planned/cleared outages and such! (all you do is enter your telephone number)

Now that looks really useful if it's accurate. It also looks quite worrying as there's a huge amount of downtime coming my way.

Bookmarked and thanks sof2er

[Rik]

I noticed it's showing my upcoming 21CN downtime.

[pctech]

Me too, Noooooooooo

[Rik]

I don't mind it when I benefit, Mitch, but this is all for BT's benefit - and they'll probably break something in the process.

[Simon]

Why do we have to go elsewhere to get that information, though?  AAISP and Zen aren't that much bigger than IDNet, so how do they keep informed,where IDNet don't?

[Rik]

Zen don't appear to have last night's outage either, Simon. AAISP have 24-hour tech activity, monitoring lines.

[pctech]

From what I've rwad AAISP have automated checks, I think the Zen page is updated manually but they are there 24/7

[Rik]

I wonder how busy their phones were last night?

[pctech]

Who Zen?

[Rik]

Yes.

[zappaDPJ]

The information contain on Xen Internet's site looks particularly useful because it appears to be pulled from a BT db as far as planned works are concerned.

[Rik]

Which would explain why it didn't have yesterday's in it. 

[zappaDPJ]

 

Indeed 

[pctech]

Zen tech support are always busy, we've started a thread about it on their own forums and they say they are trying to recruit extra staff as swiftly as possible.

Though no doubt like IDNet, when you do get through they are really really on the ball and very helpful.

[Rik]

They are not alone in the recruitment issue.

[pctech]

I'd thought about applying but Rochdale would be one hell of a commute.

[Rik]

Could you not work remotely?

[Glenn]

Hitchin is far closer

[Rik]

 

[pctech]

I may apply next year when I get on the road if IDNet are looking for tech support staff.

[Rik]

Any idea when that would be, Mitch?

[pctech]

I'm hoping middle to end of next year.

[Rik]

Thanks.

[pctech]

I'll PM you my reg so you can get out of the way 

[Rik]

Thanks. I'm rarely at risk, so I'll warn Sue.

[pctech]

 

[pctech]

By the way, if an opportunity comes up when another mod is required, I'm more than happy to lend a hand.

[Rik]

Thanks, Mitch.

[pctech]

No probs and would be glad to as I think I qualify as an IDNet customer now.

[Rik]

Well, half of you does.

[Simon_idnet]

BT are upgrading some of the Metro Nodes again. Our main links into them will be affected when they upgrade the Stepney Green node. We have impressed on them the importance of giving us adequate forewarning.

[Rik]

Hopefully with a baseball bat, Simon. Thanks for the update.

[Glenn]

For info on the nodes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT_21CN I didn't know what they were.

[pctech]

Here's hoping it doesn't result in a late night again for him.

[Rik]

For info on the nodes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT_21CN I didn't know what they were.

I wonder if BT have read that, Glenn?

[pctech]

There was some informative videos on the BTWholesale site a while ago, will try and find them later.

[Rik]

Informative and BT in one sentence, Mitch. Surely that's an oxymoron?

[pctech]

  Well the video made it look like they knew what they were doing anyway.

[Rik]

 

[Steve]

BT are upgrading some of the Metro Nodes again. Our main links into them will be affected when they upgrade the Stepney Green node. We have impressed on them the importance of giving us adequate forewarning.

5- 4- 3-2-1 Now!

[Rik]

[pctech]

I bet my own connection will go too.

[Rik]

Guaranteed, Mitch. Gird your dongle!

[Glenn]

Browsing is slowing down again for me, including the forum.

[pctech]

My ADSL is currently my only connection but might be worth a trip to the O2 shop for a PAYG one in case.

[Technical Ben]

I agree, Simon, my son changed his bank because of the rubbish website.

I currently use Barclays (which is ok). But I really cannot fault Natwest on their system. They don't use a pinpad to login yet, but they do use one for all transactions. So it's secure. It's also super fast and works really well (On Firefox/IE at least).

[Rik]

My ADSL is currently my only connection but might be worth a trip to the O2 shop for a PAYG one in case.

I've got a 3 one, Mitch, as they were giving them away free - it's handy when travelling, or in an emergency. They both seem to be the same device, made by Huawei.

[pctech]

There's those Chinese again.

[Rik]

Indeed. It worries me how much we depend on them, Mitch, across almost all manufacturing fields. One day, they will make us pay dearly for the cheap goods we've got used to.

[pctech]

Yes, it's a shame we don't have a large electronics industry ourselves.

[Technical Ben]

Oh. Any my condolences to the hard working staff of IDNet. As said before. It's like if Eddie Stobart had to cope with the roads closing down all the time. Nothing they can do about it, but it reflects badly on them.
I hope most of IDNets customers realise this. Else we would only have BT, and no IDNet.  

[edit]

Yes, it's a shame we don't have a large electronics industry ourselves.

Hey! Is that sarcasm? My Dad use to be part of a large electronics industry in this country. It's long gone now though. :/
I suppose it's just part of life. Roll on star trek "replicators" I say.

[Rik]

 

If only, Ben.