Whenever I run a speedtest.net test I get the full 20Mbit and 512kbit upload, just as the service is supposed to function.
However what happens is any download from Steam or any download from major fast servers like Google or Microsoft never ever go full speed. They burst up to 1.4 Megabytes/sec and then get throttled down to no more than 900 Kilobytes/sec.
I've tried using an addon for FireFox called DownThemAll!. What this addon does is make multiple connections to the same server to download pieces of the same file in order to maximize your full bandwidth. What happens is, no matter which server I hit up for the file I can never go past 900 Kilobytes/sec.
Is Shaw throttling? What's going on here? Doesn't matter if I use that FireFox addon or download games from Steam, I never get the full advertised speed.
I'm running a PC with a Gigabit Router and Gigabit Ethernet card. It is a 4 core 3.6Ghz system with 8GB of ram running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate.
I used to live in the states and had Time Warner cable. Over there I paid for 30/5Mbit and got exactly what I paid for. What gives with Shaw? I've heard they throttle not only regular downloads but torrents as well. Torrents can be used to download Linux distros and other fully legal tools and software, before anyone jumps on the piracy bandwagon. Torrents also can't go past 900 Kilobytes/Sec. There are also video games I play that use torrent technology to download new updates, these can never go past 900 Kilobytes/Sec either.
I know how to port forward. I know how to check for working ports and I know how to properly wire and configure my setup. I even setup my own local DNS server using Unbound DNS server. I work for a Webhost service as a Linux sys admin. I know everything there is to know about networking and system configuration.
All my downloads should hit 2.5 Megabytes/sec that's what 20Mbit equals to. So why am I not getting the full speed? Throttling or signal quality issues with the SB5101 Cable Modem, which is it?
Are news stories like these spot on then? If so, isn't it false advertising to not fully provide the speed a customer is paying for?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2009/07/13/tech-internet-traffic-management-rogers-bell-shaw-videotron.html
http://arstechnica.com/business/2009/01/how-canadian-isps-throttle-the-internet/
P.S I ran these tests on my Linux setup as well, same results. Just to rule out any issues.
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