3 to 7 Mbs flips to 980k at peak hours.

[sunyate]

Hi-

So I just upgraded to the "3.1 to 7Mbs" high speed internet plan and at around 9:00PM tonight my streaming Amazon movie started to choke.. so I tested the connection to find that it had been downgraded to a steady 980k. When I started the download again, Amazon checked my speed and delivered a much lower quality movie, so I can assume the speed changed within the first 10 minutes of the movie (my first connection speed passed the HD settings).

It's still at that speed 2 hours later (around 11:00PM) and I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that it goes back up to 3 to 7 after midnight?

I was under the impression based on the marketing that the lowest you would get would be 3.1Mps... if not, then why not call the plan what it really is... i.e. 980k to 7Mps. If this is not a "technical" error and I don't see how it could be since I've already experienced 3+ speeds today, I'm going to be really turned off to Verizon.

-sunyate

[sunyate · Accepted solution]

Status update:

At 11:50PM PST my speed was a little faster .. 1,400Kbps, then when I checked at 12:30AM PST my speed is back up to 6,219Kbps or 6+ Mbps... I want to say 2 things. 1) This is not based on traffic alone because not everyone just went to bed at 12:00AM, this is automated and therefore reliable... and 2) calling this upgrade "3.1Mbps to 7Mbps" and simply stating that "performance may vary" is false advertising... and I would know, I'm in advertising.

-sunyate

[smith6612]

Sounds like a problem that others have been noticing. If it keeps up and wasn't something odd such as a temporary network problem (Which does happen for a few hours on my end at odd hours, usually maintenance), reply back to this thread.

If it does happen again, try to fire up a download just before the time the slowdown typically occurs. See if the download starts to slow down gradually or if it immediately shoots down to the sub Megabit range.

[sunyate]

Sure.. thanks for the suggestion.

I don't think it's a network glitch though... I think it started at exactly 9:00PM and ended at exactly 12:00AM;  It seems automated.

-sunyate

[sunyate]

Update:

During the work day the speed was at 3+ to 5 Mbps.. at 6:30PM it was 1.1Mbps... now at 7:45PM the speed is 787Kbps.

[sunyate]

8:30PM - speed is 704Kbps

[sunyate]

10:00PM - 760Kbps

[sunyate]

11:03PM - 919Kbps.

[sunyate]

11:30PM - 955Kbps.

[sunyate]

11:50PM - 1371Kbps.

11:59PM - 1323Kbps.

12:01AM - 1387Kbps.

12:03AM - 3115Kbps.

12:07AM - 4969Kbps.

so what we have is a very intentionally limited connection during peak hours (when i am home and awake) and a scheduled increase in speed during off peak hours (when i'm asleep and it's useless).

-sunyate