Kitz Forum
Broadband Related => ISPs => Topic started by: Alex Atkin UK on March 24, 2020, 09:11:28 PM
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To help all of our customers stay connected at this difficult time, we’re removing usage caps from all our broadband products until the end of June. Many of you are already on unlimited packages, but for those customers who are on older broadband products with a usage limit, this means you’ll be able to use your Zen broadband as much as you like without having to worry about additional charges.
Unsurprisingly, over the last few days we have experienced an 18% increase in traffic on our network, but this remains well within the additional capacity we have in place to deal with extraordinary situations such as this.
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Good on ‘em. :)
I hope they told that Brussels Commissioner, the one that thought Netflix should stop streaming HD? ::)
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If Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video hadn't already decreased the bit rates the increase would have been much more than 18% - no telling if Zen's network would still have been OK.
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If Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video hadn't already decreased the bit rates the increase would have been much more than 18% - no telling if Zen's network would still have been OK.
Source?
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Source?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/youtube-to-limit-video-quality-around-the-world-for-a-month
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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/youtube-to-limit-video-quality-around-the-world-for-a-month
I’m aware that it has been widely reported. That does not prove that it was based on factual evidence or need.
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I’m aware that it has been widely reported. That does not prove that it was based on factual evidence or need.
The EU apparently asked as some networks in the EU were struggling or expected to struggle.
Seems Amazon, Netflix, YouTube all lowered their quality EU wide despite numerous UK ISP's stating they have coped fine.
I can confirm YouTube defaults to 480p but I can change that at any point.
Netflix and Amazon I haven't checked but they both released statements to that effect.
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And as if on cue, BBC have chipped in. Not that they are a source of facts either, but interesting...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52027348
Ignoring all the daft advice from Ofcom, at the end of that article...
But the internet companies say they can handle the pressure.
Openreach, which maintains the telephone cables and cabinets across the country used by most broadband providers, said that - despite the jump - usage is still lower than the usual peaks it experiences in the evening.
"We're not seeing any significant issues across our broadband or phone network," an Openreach spokesman said.
"We've seen a circa 20% increase in daytime usage over our fibre network, but that's in line with what we expected and not as high as the usage levels we see during evening peak times."
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I've been watching Disney+, Netflix and YouTube - I haven't noticed any difference at all.
I do have UltraHD on Netflix and checking just now its working fine. Just saw it pulling 40Mbit from ipv4_1.cc0.c125.lhr004.ix.nflxvideo.net as it seems to prefer using the Plusnet line for some reason, Zen usually pulls from their Netflix cache.
Can confirm that Youtube is definitely not defaulting to SD for me either though, went straight to 4K as normal when I tried to watch a LinusTechTips video.
I did notice: https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/03/netflix-lowers-video-quality-to-aid-broadband-isp-congestion.html
Netflix have also yet to confirm if this will apply to the United Kingdom, where the majority of fixed line providers have yet to really struggle with managing increased demand (we’ve covered this here).
Indeed all of the biggest UK providers will already be using specialised Content Delivery Networks (CDN) to effectively cache online videos closer to their end-users, which helps to ease the burden of video streaming services on their networks and wider capacity (not only Netflix but many others too, such as YouTube, Amazon Prime, NOW TV etc.).
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I have been having enormous problems with slowness and software bugs in the Netflix iOS app. I found the cause the other day. The quality setting was set to "high" as opposed to "standard". That seems to make it 4-6 times slower to download a programme, but those figures are very very approximate. The programme image quality is poor when there is a lot of fast moving random detail if set to "standard" that must be why I changed it some while ago and then forgot all about having made the change.
Sometimes an episode gets to 99.9% or 100% downloaded and then just sits there at that level forever, never changing to a box with a tick in it. That’s the iOS app bug.
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That really sucks. I mean half the point of having a download option is so you can pick a quality setting higher than you can stream.
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I don’t see why there should be more load on the content providers, if anything it might be less peaky, with less of an evening peak because people may have more times at which they can watch content. Or am I wrong?
What about increased load on ISPs though, due to home working?
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I've been watching Disney+, Netflix and YouTube - I haven't noticed any difference at all.
Not likely to notice a difference on Disney+ as it launched at a reduced rate.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/22/21189920/disney-plus-delayed-france-uk-streaming-reduce-quality-coronavirus
You must surely notice a difference on YouTube unless perhaps watching on a mobile phone.
Even I notice it on my phone though as I usually watch in 1440p where available.
Every single method of watching YouTube now defaults to 480p for me (TV, Android phone, Shield TV).
Netflix 4k may be unaffected. I only read reports of them reducing the HD streams.
Facebook and Prime video have also reduced stream quality across the EU, some not limited to the EU.
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Worth pointing out that Netflix streams always appear to start at a very low bitrate and resolution, then ramping up quality after monitoring the connection quality for few minutes. All streamers do similar, I think. My Panasonic TV actually shows the Netflix bitrate on request so I’ve just put this to the test....
I just started a random chosen stream... 1.4Mbs/480
After about 70 secs, it switched briefly to something/720, then quickly to 4.42Mbps/1080.
In the past, I have noted Netflix bitrates of 4.6Mbps or more so it may be slightly reduced. Or maybe it is a reflection of the fact I have limited bandwidth and other half is working from home in the other room, in a video conference right now.
But certainly, no evidence to suggest they have bowed to the well publicised EU request, to reduce HD to SD. Then again, maybe they have, for those in the European Union.
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I wonder if it makes a difference if you are getting it direct from the source or via a CDN?
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I wonder if it makes a difference if you are getting it direct from the source or via a CDN?
Not a topic (CDNs) that I know anything about. But I am with Zen and do seem to recall somebody (Alex?) recently mentioned CDN in relation to Zen...
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Not likely to notice a difference on Disney+ as it launched at a reduced rate.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/22/21189920/disney-plus-delayed-france-uk-streaming-reduce-quality-coronavirus
You must surely notice a difference on YouTube unless perhaps watching on a mobile phone.
Even I notice it on my phone though as I usually watch in 1440p where available.
Every single method of watching YouTube now defaults to 480p for me (TV, Android phone, Shield TV).
Netflix 4k may be unaffected. I only read reports of them reducing the HD streams.
Facebook and Prime video have also reduced stream quality across the EU, some not limited to the EU.
Glad to hear Disney+ is not normal quality as I thought its "4K" quality was pretty garbage. I mean it doesn't look bad from a normal viewing distance, but definitely doesn't look 4K, up close its just postertised/compressed to hell.
YouTube on desktop seems unaffected, on my phone I noticed the 4K video on Auto went to 720p.
Only been watching Netflix on ShieldTV and 4K seemed normal, Titans which is HD seemed a little rough in places but that could be normal as some Netflix content just seems to get more aggressively compressed than others. Although I did have a nagging feeling that when I started watching a couple of days ago it looked better.
I've forced ShieldTV to use Zen now, so lets see if that's any different.
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Plusnet also sent out something similar last week
Our network
Our network is key to keeping you connected and is built to support the ‘evening peak’, when most of you are watching Netflix whilst doing the online shop, and the kids are on TikTok.
This roughly amounts to at least ten times the typical daytime demand, so we’re confident that we can keep you doing things you need to, when you want to do them.
What we can do to help you
We only sell unlimited broadband plans, so being online more is not a problem. You might have one of our older broadband plans with capped usage, but don’t worry you won’t get any additional data charges during this time. And we’ll let you know if this changes.
We know that the need to stay safe might mean some customers will face difficulties paying bills at the moment, especially those who run small businesses. If you get in touch we will try and help to make things a little easier to manage, and don’t worry if it takes a little longer to get through to us – calls to our customer service teams are free.
... and Vodafone have added extra capacity.
We have added extra capacity to our broadband and mobile networks to make sure they are in the best possible position to cope with any extra demand as more people work from home. Our networks are strong and robust, we’ve invested billions over the last five years to ensure they are the best they can be and as reliable as possible for you.
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Not a topic (CDNs) that I know anything about. But I am with Zen and do seem to recall somebody (Alex?) recently mentioned CDN in relation to Zen...
Depends on the ISP's network and type.
CDNs bring content nearer to the customer. So instead of streaming a movie all the way from California, its streamed (delivered) from a location near to the ISP's PoP.
All CDNs have a presence in London and since most ISPs have London gateways so there are no overseas transit costs for the SP. It cuts out the routing normally done by the likes of Cogentco or Level3 etc.
However transit costs are miniscule compared to Core, which in turn is cheaper than Backhaul.
Depending on network design; LLU, WBC & Dedicated WMBC ISPs can reduce some of their Core costs and could if they wished connect their northern customers to a CDN based in Manchester.
Benefit to the end user = Faster delivery.
Benefit to the ISP = Large reduction in 3rd party Internet transit costs and possible reduction in Core costs
Benefit to the content provider = resiliency plus reduction in transit costs as the CDNs mirror the content around the globe.
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CDNs are probably why there is less interest in multicast these days as it's not just the likes of Netflix that use them. All the social media platforms, a large proportion of games and large websites do.
My brother uses AWS Cloudfront CDN for his company because its massively scaleable and cuts down on their own origin server costs. They just bump up the amount of AWS servers at certain times of the year to cope with demand... and then drop back again to their usual number during normal business weeks.
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I haven't seen it today, but I have seen in the past a netflix cache inside Zen's network when looking at the NAT states on my router while watching Netflix.
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Zen probably has a Netflix OCA (https://openconnect.netflix.com/Open-Connect-Overview.pdf).
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Thanks for the explanations.
Can’t help thinking, if the word goes around that some ISPs are able to side-step Brussels restrictions on Netflix bitrates, these ISPs might suddenly become very popular.
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If Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video hadn't already decreased the bit rates the increase would have been much more than 18% - no telling if Zen's network would still have been OK.
netflix have disabled the hidden menu now also, it allowed choosing the cdn server and bitrate
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Can’t help thinking, if the word goes around that some ISPs are able to side-step Brussels restrictions on Netflix bitrates, these ISPs might suddenly become very popular.
Come again? Just because some discussion was had with the EU before this happened does not mean they were trying to make your bananas straight. :D
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Well that was unexpected.
1 lo1.subs.bng1.wh-man.zen.net.uk (62.3.89.162) 6.179 ms 5.939 ms 5.853 ms
2 ae5-161.cr2.wh-man.zen.net.uk (62.3.86.13) 5.899 ms 6.354 ms 6.309 ms
3 vl-50.ph-0-4-3.cor1.manc1.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.58) 6.820 ms 14.548 ms 7.035 ms
4 ae-2.pe1.ixn-lon.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.34) 12.951 ms 15.520 ms 13.409 ms
5 ae-2.cor1.lond2.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.3) 12.725 ms 44.010 ms 12.692 ms
6 ae-15.agg1.lond2.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.28) 13.381 ms 15.750 ms 19.330 ms
7 ldn-b9-link.telia.net (62.115.169.134) 12.295 ms 12.347 ms 12.535 ms
8 ldn-bb3-link.telia.net (62.115.117.6) 12.458 ms 13.098 ms 13.189 ms
9 ldn-b7-link.telia.net (62.115.138.151) 12.485 ms 12.131 ms 14.323 ms
10 * * *
11 * * *
12 4.7.1.138 (4.7.1.138) 80.812 ms 80.742 ms 80.772 ms
13 po300.es02.nyc001.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.60.103) 152.637 ms 152.738 ms 152.902 ms
14 po302.es02.nyc005.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.61.45) 149.958 ms 149.516 ms 149.430 ms
15 po306.es01.lhr005.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.61.141) 152.308 ms 152.658 ms 152.215 ms
16 ipv4_1.cxl0.c022.lhr005.ix.nflxvideo.net (45.57.0.146) 152.471 ms 152.287 ms 152.455 ms
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Haha!
Why are they using Telia transit to get to Netflix? Netflix have open peering policies?
Either severe capacity issues at their peering or they've messed up somewhere.
Either way I'm not that surprised Telia aren't peering with Netflix in the UK. They probably haven't a clue why anyone would use them to connect to Netflix when anyone can just connect directly either via a peering interface or a public peering LAN.
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Where was you trying to trace?
Although Netflix may use CDN for their video content, they may not be using cloudfront and [web]site content is still hosted on their own local to them servers.
I've even seen some sites which may use CDN for gaming content, cloudfront for some files, yet they may still have other files one their own server such as databases for game stats and the domain name which points to their own servers.
CDN is excellent for storage of large files, but not much use when it comes to dynamic content and it's useless for databases.
Tracing route to netflix.co.uk [44.226.113.145]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 11 ms 10 ms 10 ms 250.core.plus.net [195.166.130.250]
3 13 ms 12 ms 11 ms 84.93.253.83
4 12 ms 12 ms 12 ms core1-be1.colindale.ukcore.bt.net [195.99.125.132]
5 12 ms 22 ms 35 ms peer7-et-4-0-1.telehouse.ukcore.bt.net [194.72.16.122]
6 13 ms 11 ms 12 ms 166-49-128-32.gia.bt.net [166.49.128.32]
7 12 ms 13 ms 13 ms hu0-6-0-4.ccr22.lon01.atlas.cogentco.com [130.117.14.65]
8 13 ms 12 ms 12 ms be2869.ccr42.lon13.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.57.161]
9 79 ms 80 ms 82 ms be2101.ccr32.bos01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.82.38]
10 79 ms 79 ms 80 ms be3600.ccr22.alb02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.0.221]
11 91 ms 90 ms 89 ms be2879.ccr22.cle04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.29.173]
12 103 ms 96 ms 96 ms be2718.ccr42.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.7.129]
13 122 ms 127 ms 127 ms be2832.ccr22.mci01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.44.169]
14 119 ms 120 ms 121 ms be3036.ccr22.den01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.31.89]
15 135 ms 135 ms 134 ms be3038.ccr32.slc01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.42.97]
16 146 ms 149 ms 148 ms be3110.ccr22.sfo01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.44.141]
17 167 ms 164 ms 162 ms be3670.ccr41.sjc03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.43.14]
18 147 ms 146 ms 146 ms 38.88.224.218
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * ^C
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I tried a traceroute to the last domain name I could see in the Alex’s list and I went to the USA! Don’t know what on earth is going on there.
traceroute to ipv4_1.cxl0.c022.lhr005.ix.nflxvideo.net (45.57.0.146), 30 hops max, 56 byte packets
1 sent:22 loss:0% last:2.707 ms avg:2.632 ms
firebrick (81.187.147.254)
2 sent:22 loss:0% last:42.082 ms avg:44.733 ms
221.53.155.90.in-addr.arpa (90.155.53.221)
3 sent:22 loss:0% last:41.697 ms avg:49.856 ms
g.aimless.thn.aa.net.uk (90.155.53.47)
4 sent:21 loss:0% last:47.395 ms avg:54.155 ms
ge-4-3-6.edge5.London1.Level3.net (195.50.116.49)
5 sent:21 loss:95.2% last:186.478 ms avg:186.478 ms
ae-1-3502.ear2.NewYork1.Level3.net (4.69.148.33)
6 sent:21 loss:0% last:166.446 ms avg:112.971 ms
4.7.1.138
7 sent:21 loss:0% last:172.795 ms avg:180.518 ms
po300.es02.nyc001.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.60.103)
8 sent:21 loss:0% last:197.145 ms avg:178.304 ms
po302.es02.nyc005.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.61.45)
9 sent:21 loss:0% last:177.37 ms avg:184.413 ms
po306.es01.lhr005.ix.nflxvideo.net (23.246.61.141)
10 sent:21 loss:0% last:242.003 ms avg:181.522 ms
ipv4_1.cxl0.c022.lhr005.ix.nflxvideo.net (45.57.0.146)
And something that is probably a waste of time completely:
traceroute to netflix.co.uk (46.137.171.215), 30 hops max, 56 byte packets
1 sent:4 loss:0% last:2.343 ms avg:2.299 ms
firebrick (81.187.147.254)
2 sent:4 loss:0% last:35.935 ms avg:67.962 ms
221.53.155.90.in-addr.arpa (90.155.53.221)
3 sent:4 loss:0% last:38.798 ms avg:89.563 ms
p-aimless.thn.aa.net.uk (90.155.53.108)
4 sent:4 loss:0% last:89.215 ms avg:61.135 ms
99.82.180.58
5 sent:4 loss:0% last:40.27 ms avg:45.005 ms
54.239.101.50
6 sent:4 loss:0% last:40.418 ms avg:75.085 ms
54.239.101.65
7 sent:4 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
8 sent:4 loss:0% last:65.172 ms avg:105.336 ms
52.93.128.246
9 sent:4 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
10 sent:4 loss:0% last:52.608 ms avg:99.725 ms
52.93.6.230
11 sent:4 loss:0% last:47.379 ms avg:77.759 ms
52.93.101.29
12 sent:4 loss:0% last:53.316 ms avg:52.031 ms
52.93.101.52
13 sent:4 loss:0% last:61.404 ms avg:65.921 ms
52.93.7.109
14 sent:4 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
15 sent:4 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
16 sent:3 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
17 sent:3 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
18 sent:3 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
and
traceroute to netflix.com (34.250.41.147), 30 hops max, 56 byte packets
1 sent:22 loss:0% last:3.024 ms avg:2.225 ms
firebrick (81.187.147.254)
2 sent:22 loss:0% last:37.618 ms avg:45.219 ms
221.53.155.90.in-addr.arpa (90.155.53.221)
3 sent:22 loss:0% last:44.834 ms avg:56.946 ms
p-aimless.thn.aa.net.uk (90.155.53.108)
4 sent:22 loss:0% last:39.827 ms avg:54.419 ms
99.82.180.58
5 sent:22 loss:0% last:37.533 ms avg:44.072 ms
54.239.101.30
6 sent:22 loss:0% last:38.952 ms avg:45.468 ms
150.222.65.3
7 sent:22 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
8 sent:22 loss:0% last:53.818 ms avg:62.101 ms
52.93.128.216
9 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
10 sent:21 loss:0% last:54.952 ms avg:60.839 ms
52.93.6.214
11 sent:21 loss:0% last:54.099 ms avg:58.132 ms
52.93.101.31
12 sent:21 loss:0% last:56.136 ms avg:52.995 ms
52.93.101.62
13 sent:21 loss:0% last:48.275 ms avg:51.663 ms
52.93.7.127
14 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
15 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
16 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
17 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
18 sent:21 loss:100% last:0 ms avg:0 ms
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Haha!
Why are they using Telia transit to get to Netflix? Netflix have open peering policies?
Either severe capacity issues at their peering or they've messed up somewhere.
Either way I'm not that surprised Telia aren't peering with Netflix in the UK. They probably haven't a clue why anyone would use them to connect to Netflix when anyone can just connect directly either via a peering interface or a public peering LAN.
Yeah I don't understand what is going on there. Some glitch with me using Unbound for full name resolution maybe?
I might have to switch back to Cloudflare DNSoTLS as that seemed to (somehow) work fine seeing Zens cache.
Ah, there we go:
1 losubs.subs.bng1.th-lon.zen.net.uk (62.3.80.17) 13.051 ms 20.377 ms 14.863 ms
2 ae1-177.cr2.th-lon.zen.net.uk (62.3.80.38) 22.324 ms 13.685 ms 13.568 ms
3 vl-50.ae-5.pe2.thn-lon.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.54) 13.698 ms 34.108 ms 35.241 ms
4 ae-1.pe2.ixn-lon.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.97) 13.954 ms 14.288 ms 13.760 ms
5 ae-14.cor1.lond2.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.27) 14.325 ms 14.676 ms 13.755 ms
6 ae-15.agg1.lond2.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.73.28) 14.336 ms 14.328 ms 14.367 ms
7 netflix-cache1.lond2.ptn.zen.net.uk (51.148.80.10) 13.849 ms 13.407 ms 13.862 ms
Its HD but the bitrate seems to be a bit p00.
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@Alex how did you discover the correct destination address to traceroute to?
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@Alex how did you discover the correct destination address to traceroute to?
NAT state table, or specifically on pfSense I just viewed the traffic graph page which lets you display all remote IPs currently being accessed.
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I could look at the sessions/flows table in my router, but it’s very noisy and you don’t get domain names; I’d have to reverse-lookup them. There’s typically an awful lot of random ipv6 crud to look through, much of it not relevant.
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https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/8701-netflix-streaming-quality-seems-to-have-halved-or-more
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A mischief deep within makes me want to contact Brussels with a concern that there is increased terrestrial TV news coverage of Coronavirus. I’d mention that these broadcasts are all in High Definition, whereas emergency services also have to compete for radio spectrum.
What’s the betting they’d ask the BBC to switch Freeview back to SD? :D
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The image quality was awful at times well before this on standard rate when there was a lot of incompressible content. At least it’s good news for me in that I can download programmes faster on my slow 10Mbps d/s link.
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I've just picked-up on this thread and I'm afraid this is something I'd very much label as 'first world problem'. The world in is crisis and we are worrying that our streaming services don't look quite as nice as usual! With the number of people having to work at home now I think it's absolutely right that bandwidth is being diverted to more important things.
If they were threatening to turn them off that might (only might) be a different matter, but for now what has been done seems a very proportionate response to me.
:)
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we never had bandwidth issues to being with.
BT showed that they were never reaching anywhere near their highest peak.
lets watch all these streaming services "forget" to increase it again once everything is back to normal.
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I've just picked-up on this thread and I'm afraid this is something I'd very much label as 'first world problem'. The world in is crisis and we are worrying that our streaming services don't look quite as nice as usual! With the number of people having to work at home now I think it's absolutely right that bandwidth is being diverted to more important things.
If they were threatening to turn them off that might (only might) be a different matter, but for now what has been done seems a very proportionate response to me.
:)
You seem to be forgetting that vulnerable people are relying on this to cope with the stress. Plus as already pointed out, there is no bandwidth problem that they need to mitigate here. You can't make a big push for net neutrality and then simply backtrack on it, even during an emergency, without causing a fuss. What's to say those home workers aren't also watching Netflix to relax in their free time? Who are they to say my mental health is less important?
We need to make a big deal out of this so people finally realise THIS is the future they are asking for by ditching physical media.
The services also need to realise how insane this is when I could go and Torrent the same content at better quality than they are now streaming, and that doesn't seem to be throttled either.
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I absolutely understand that people use streaming services to help relax and that it's good for their mental health. All of the services are still available at present, just not at the quality level they have been. The workers at home can still watch Netflix if they choose. I just think that at this time of international crisis there are much higher priorities than the resolution of online steaming services.
:)
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Maybe just me but I stop enjoying things once the macro-blocking reaches a certain point.
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Maybe just me but I stop enjoying things once the macro-blocking reaches a certain point.
There is a point where it gets annoying yes, but that depends on what you are watching on I suppose. Its less obvious on smaller screens.
:)
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youtube, for example, have just changed their "auto" setting to default to 720p, but you can still manually put it back up to 4k (where applicable).
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I don’t believe there was a problem that needed fixing; the important thing for ISPs is peak demand surely ? and I don’t see that being any worse - homeworkers now working through the day will have a spread-out load, and the evening peak will be unchanged.
On the other hand, if the ISPs are concerned about total traffic quantity then that will have been moved from offices to homes but in the case of calling in to the office with a corporate VPN then you still have the into-office traffic too so all in all a 2x (or 3x) increase in total : home-Internet + internet-office + office-internet possibly.
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I don’t believe there was a problem that needed fixing; the important thing for ISPs is peak demand surely ? and I don’t see that being any worse - homeworkers now working through the day will have a spread-out load, and the evening peak will be unchanged.
Exactly! I've not seen a single report from an ISP saying they were struggling under the load, all the major UK ISPs said they were well within their peak capacity.