Eircom are better than the rest!

[oneill.dav]

No, I'm being serious. I'm not a fan of the company, but simply put, they have most likely engineered it so that their connection is a step above the ones offered by their Re-Seller Wholesale customers like Imagine, BT, UTV, etc.

I have access to an Eircom connection remotely on some of the PC's at Shannon Community Radio, in Shannon, Co. Clare, at which their connection has been upgraded from 2Mb to 3Mb. Before the upgrade and post-upgrade ping times are the same, as it's only on 3Mb, and there's no need for excessive Interleaving. For the purpose of this thread, I opted to connect one of the worst spec'ed PC there, a PIII. This will ensure that nothing is exaggerated. Read on for details.

So, what am I yapping on about? This is high treason, you might be thinking. Am I singing Eircom's praises? Not exactly.

What I have done is I have a screen capture of myself using Radmin to connect to the PC in Shannon using 3Mb Eircom broadband. In the capture, you can see that I have pinged a server located in Sweden. I've tried this a few times over the last few months, and even did it on another Eircom connection at a friend's house. The results are fantastic. Never have I ever got that low latency before, and it remains consistent with all the attempts I have made in the past from the Eircom connection.



I've had broadband since June 2004, starting firstly off with UTV 512k, upgraded to 1Mb in 2005, and then in early 2006, I opted to switch over to BT 3Mb. I took on UTV 3Mb back in June of this year since moving house, and before the upgrades, the ping was not that low, nor has it ever been.

Since I'm on the 7.6Mb package and have high amounts of Interleaving that is interfering with my ping times, I challenge anyone who is on an Eircom Re-Seller connection to do an ordinary DOS ping to that server (mta.abgames.net). Let's see if you can get anything close to 51ms-52ms. Over the past 3 years, I have always been receiving pings from 70-80ms to that specific server. Less often or not, pings in the late 60's may appear, but no lower.

Please don't bother trying unless you use the residential 3Mb or 1Mb packages, as the 7.6Mb package will have elevated ping times and will ruin this challenge if ping times from that are posted.

Also, please post what ISP and Package that you use so we can compare results from various ISP's. There's no point in posting your pings unless we know.


So, help me out, and tell me if what I'm trying to prove is worthwhile or have I just been unlucky over the last 3-4 years to have gotten latencies of 70ms+?


Thanks.


P.S. Here's a longer dragged out ping of the same server, to prove that the results are consistent.

[Sean]

The ping times to that server are certainly higher on my home Digitweb connection. The package I'm using is 3Mbps (original, yet to be upgraded):

Digiweb 3Mb DSL connection:

U:\Sean>ping -n 10 mta.abgames.net

Pinging mta.abgames.net [217.211.168.4] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=78ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=85ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=43
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=43

Ping statistics for 217.211.168.4:
Packets: Sent = 10, Received = 10, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 77ms, Maximum = 85ms, Average = 79ms

Our Eircom's 4Mbps Business Plus DSL connection at work has always had quite poor ping times over the past few years, so it seems like Eircom puts higher intereleving on their business DSL products, at least this one anyway. It'll be interesting to see what happens once it finally gets upgraded to ADSL2+.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ping -n 10 mta.abgames.net

Pinging mta.abgames.net [217.211.168.4] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=93ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=91ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=93ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=95ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=85ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=98ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=86ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 217.211.168.4:
Packets: Sent = 10, Received = 10, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 81ms, Maximum = 98ms, Average = 88ms

On the other hand, I'm sure most games are unlikely to fork out on Eircom's upper business products unless they really have deep pockets.

Here is something I've seen Eircom do recently: Up until recently, a neighbour was using Perlico (for Rental & call package) and each time she tried ordering broadband, she was told that her line was found to be of poor quality and deemed unsuitable for broadband. After about a year of periodic checking using Eircom's website based telephone line tester, her line showed up as "Unsuitable", even though the exchange she was connected to was definitely DSL enabled.

Recently, she was invited back to Eircom (telling her all about their "great" talk packages) and she agreed. Then out of the blue, her Line showed up as suitable for broadband! She ordered it and a few days later, Eircom called her saying that they need to send out a technician to upgrade her line to make it compatible with their broadband service. Coincidence?

However, all it took was for her to receive her next bill and the price was enough to make her change back to Perlico, this time with their broadband package.

[oneill.dav]

Originally Posted by Sean

The ping times to that server are certainly higher on my home Digitweb connection. The package I'm using is 3Mbps (original, yet to be upgraded):

Digiweb 3Mb DSL connection:


Our Eircom's 4Mbps Business Plus DSL connection at work has always had quite poor ping times over the past few years, so it seems like Eircom puts higher intereleving on their business DSL products, at least this one anyway. It'll be interesting to see what happens once it finally gets upgraded to ADSL2+.



On the other hand, I'm sure most games are unlikely to fork out on Eircom's upper business products unless they really have deep pockets.

Here is something I've seen Eircom do recently: Up until recently, a neighbour was using Perlico (for Rental & call package) and each time she tried ordering broadband, she was told that her line was found to be of poor quality and deemed unsuitable for broadband. After about a year of periodic checking using Eircom's website based telephone line tester, her line showed up as "Unsuitable", even though the exchange she was connected to was definitely DSL enabled.

Recently, she was invited back to Eircom (telling her all about their "great" talk packages) and she agreed. Then out of the blue, her Line showed up as suitable for broadband! She ordered it and a few days later, Eircom called her saying that they need to send out a technician to upgrade her line to make it compatible with their broadband service. Coincidence?

However, all it took was for her to receive her next bill and the price was enough to make her change back to Perlico, this time with their broadband package.

What about contracts? That's just... I'm speechless.

Regarding your ping times from Digiweb, those are just as I have been getting for years prior to the upgrade. It's more now, since I got moved up to 7.6Mb, but hopefully that will die down when they lower the Interleaving. If you had Eircom 3Mb Home Pro (the old pre-upgrade package), then you'd no doubt get ping times of 50ms-55ms on average, like I had demonstrated in my first post.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by DECEiFER

What about contracts? That's just... I'm speechless.

I'm not sure how she managed to switch back so quickly, but I do remember her saying she did put up a big fuss about her phone bill as she was really unhappy with the price of the talk package they put her on.

Here's another ping test to add to your list. I've VPN access to a network that connects with Eircom's Business Enhanced 6Mbps (also yet to be upgraded). I can only do this test using the ping feature from their Eircom router at the moment:

Pinging mta.abgames.net
Received reply
Received reply
Received reply
Received reply
Success rate is 100 percent (4/4)
round-trip min/avg/max = 90/90/90 msec

For reference, a ping time to this forum server is as follows:

Pinging www.irishisptest.com
Received reply
Received reply
Received reply
Received reply
Success rate is 100 percent (4/4)
round-trip min/avg/max = 50/52/60 msec

So it looks like Eircom has high interleaving on their expensive Business Enhanced package also.

[oneill.dav]

Originally Posted by Sean

I'm not sure how she managed to switch back so quickly, but I do remember her saying she did put up a big fuss about her phone bill as she was really unhappy with the price of the talk package they put her on.

Here's another ping test to add to your list. I've VPN access to a network that connects with Eircom's Business Enhanced 6Mbps (also yet to be upgraded). I can only do this test using the ping feature from their Eircom router at the moment:



For reference, a ping time to this forum server is as follows:



So it looks like Eircom has high interleaving on their expensive Business Enhanced package also.

Those speeds were higher than the norm for them, just as 7.6Mb is now. I'd imagine they would have slapped them with a high dose of Interleaving. If you ever get access to a residential Eircom package that has normal Interleaving (maybe a pre-upgraded line, or a 1Mb connection), you should do the pings again to mta.abgames.net. You'll see what I mean then, first hand.

Thanks for going to the effort.

[notech]

..and it remains consistent with all the attempts I have made in the past from the Eircom connection.

Same here,, it has been fairly solid over the last while for me..
Running from Dublin with eircom's old 2Meg now 3Meg,, i've been content
enough to not move provider after some deliberation..





I've had eircom broadband for about four years,, and am happy enough for now anyway..

tec..

[oneill.dav]

So far the conclusion is that Eircom bitsteam ADSL is better than its re-seller's re-branded products, at least for latency. So if Eircom and a re-seller is a gamer's only option, the obvious choice would be to pay extra for Eircom's product, if it can be afforded.

Then again, the thread is still open and this can still be proved otherwise.

[oneill.dav]

Originally Posted by abcd879

runescapemaple storymaple story mesosrunescape goldrunescape moneywelcome to Runescape, Runescape Gold, Runescape Money, Runescape items on Runescape2gold.net to buy runescape money.

Oh you did not just spam in my thread!

[Sean]

Could you do another ping test to see if there has been any change lately?

My exchange has yet to be upgraded (also not in the phase 3 list) and as of last week, my ping times have increased by around 50ms to any domain. My sync speed is still 3072/384, so am rather surprised to see this happen, unless Eircom (or Digiweb) have done something on their network or if Eircom has recently increased the interleaving for those on 3Mb connections.

The following are my ping stats to mta.abgames.net at this time of writing:



For a local site, e.g. this forum:



It'll be interesting to see what happens when my line finally does get upgraded...

[notech]

Originally Posted by Sean

Could you do another ping test to see if there has been any change lately?

All is still well on this end.. No dramatic changes to my times..

abgames..



And local..



Strange that your times to ab have gone crazy,, it should indeed be interesting to see
your times after the upgrade..


tec..

[robj]

BT connection on Newlands Cross Exchange.

[mickomania]

This is Eircom 3Mb in Kildare.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ping -t mta.abgames.net

Pinging mta.abgames.net [217.211.168.4] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=51
Reply from 217.211.168.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 217.211.168.4:
Packets: Sent = 17, Received = 17, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 48ms, Maximum = 51ms, Average = 49ms
Control-C
^C