I've been having some Shaw issues over the past week or two, and I'm actually a bit stumped. Perhaps the CP brain trust can tell me if I'm missing anything. A short novel is to follow.
I use my internet connection for a lot of uploading - I often VPN in to my home network to access files, and I use a Slingbox fairly often. That's why the 150/15 plan was so appealing. When I first got it, speedtests for uploads were 15-16 Mbps, which is fantastic. In recent weeks, speedtests are now averaging about 12 for upload. Not terrible, but not what they used to be. I could probably live with 12 though.
Despite the decent speedtest, my performance over VPN is abysmal. I would expect that my download/transfer speed over the VPN would be close to that of my upload speed at home. I am averaging about 2 Mbps. My slingbox, although not an HD version, could theoretically be getting a rate of 3 or 4 Mbps, but again it is maxing out at below 2.
So I'm thinking it is my router, obviously. So I soft reset my router. No change. Then I factory reset my router. No change. I also soft and hard reset the modem, again with no change.
The Shaw tech suggested that I use my second IP (didn't even know I had one included) and a different router. So I did that and I hooked up my old router, set it up as a VPN server, and tested it out. Exact same performance - decent speedtests under normal circumstances, but as soon as I VPN or slingbox, it maxes out around 2. Both my current router, and this second router, worked fine with VPN traffic previously. In fact, I was getting similar or better VPN performance on my old 25/2.5 plan.
For the sake of being thorough:
- Any type of QoS is confirmed disabled on both routers.
- I have tried to VPN from various wired and wireless networks, LTE, etc. with no change.
- I have used two different VPN protocols (OpenVPN and the outdated PPTP) with no change.
- I used Pingtest.net and there didn't seem to be anything like lost packets plaguing the connection.
- I have tried putting the Slingbox in a DMZ to rule our a port issue, but no change.
And the real head scratcher is that I have an identical setup at my office. The exact same ASUS router, the exact same Hitron modem, and the exact same internet plan of 150/15. When I VPN into my office and run a speedtest, I am getting download speeds of 14 or 15, which is exactly what you'd expect with my office upload speed of 15.
Shaw says that their levels, modem, and network in the area are just fine. But the problems persist with two different routers and VPN protocols, when both worked fine previously. Shaw had an outage in my area (Tuscany) last Wednesday, and although I can't say for sure, these problems appeared around then. Possible coincidence, I suppose. Shaw also claims not to throttle VPN connections, which I do actually believe. My outbound VPN connection to my office works fine, for example.
So what am I missing here? This is clearly a Shaw problem, isn't it? Either their modem or network? Is it possible for a modem and/or network to perform decently with a "normal" speedtest, and crap the bed on a VPN and Slingbox connection?
Sorry for the rambles, but this one has me stumped. Shaw is sending out a tech on Monday, but I have a feeling he'll do what they've already over live chat: confirm that the levels are OK, run a speedtest, and then dust their hands of it.
