Download speeds more than plan paid

Lpnsd on 10/08/2021 - 10:02
Last edited 10/08/2021 - 11:51

Hi all,
Since FTTC NBN was available to me I’ve been with ABB, Superloop, Tangerine, Kogan, Spintel and the max download speed for my line has been around 81Mbps with all of them. However, I’ve recently started using NordVPN and have noticed that my download speed can get over 120Mbps (currently with Spintel 100/20 NBN plan). How is this even possible?

Speedtest today 10/08:
- without VPN usually around 70ish
- with NordVPN US server, above 90 and can get over 120
- with Cyverghost Melb server, 30-60

Internet Broadband nbn

Comments

  • Thinkscape on 10/08/2021 - 10:06

    Which NBN plan are you on?

    • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 10:10

      I’m on 100/20 plan.

      • Trance N Dance on 10/08/2021 - 10:30
        +1

        When was the 81mbps speed tests done?

        • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 11:47

          Have just done more tests today, and download speeds are consistently higher on NordVPN using USA server

  • 87percent on 10/08/2021 - 10:41
    +1

    wtf.. you connect to the VPN and your speeds INCREASE?

    • Trance N Dance on 10/08/2021 - 11:07

      Possible explanation is when the 81mbps speed test was done was before when the NBN started over provisioning back in June-August last year in response to increase demand due to WFH and compared to a new test done recently. The over-provision is meant to be 10-15% (I've had over 20% increase though; saw 60-63mbps on a 50/20 plan).

      • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 11:45

        I’m consistently getting higher speeds on VPN via an overseas server like USA though.

      • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 12:27
        +2

        For what it's worth overprovisioning wasn't done in response to working from home. Overprovisioning was done to match your speedtest to your plan and to stop complaints eg. Why am I getting 94Mbps when I pay for 100Mbps? The answer being due to overheads but not everyone understands that. Now with overprovisioning it's not a problem assuming your nbn is capable.

        • Trance N Dance on 10/08/2021 - 15:00

          Ah ok, I could've sworn I read it was in response to higher demand so the over provisioning was to maintain speeds. Must've remembered incorrectly or misread a release.

          • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 15:14
            +2

            @Trance N Dance: Overprovisioning was done around the same time and some put the two together for whatever reason. I found an article.

            Over-provisioning was pushed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as a way to compensate for the amount of bandwidth used to carry data packets and ensure they reach their intended destination, which is known as protocol overhead.

            The ACCC contended protocol overhead was the reason why NBN users never hit the theoretical - marketed - speeds of their plans.

            “NBN Co’s overprovisioning of the downlink component of wholesale fixed line speed tiers by around 10-15 percent, where possible (with the exception of the new Home Ultrafast [gigabit] speed tiers) will be completed at all 121 points of interconnect (POIs) to the NBN by 30 July 2020,” an NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews.

            NBN Co’s spokesperson noted the intent of the over-provisioning was to allow “more customers [to] experience download speeds that are closer to the maximum theoretical download speed of their chosen retail speed tier, subject to factors such as the capacity of the internet retailer’s network and the efficiency and throughput of their in-home wiring, router and wi-fi equipment.”

            • Trance N Dance on 10/08/2021 - 15:19
              +1

              @Twix: Ah that might be why I remember it to be as a response to higher demand.
              Thanks for the clarification

  • Switchblade88 on 10/08/2021 - 10:58
    +3

    Anyone might think the VPN provider is fudging their speed test results in their favour.

    Can you see line/sync speed from the FTTC modem at all?

    • Trance N Dance on 10/08/2021 - 11:11

      I don't think NordVPN provides a way to do a speedtest themselves. If it's done via a third party like speedtest.net NordVPN won't have a way to fudge the numbers.

      Just did a speed test via speedtest.net through an Australian NordVPN server and got 101/36 on a HFC 100/40 plan with ABB and 102/39 without the VPN on.

    • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 11:53

      120Mbps isn't accurate. FTTC tops out around 105Mbps. You can't login to the nbn NCD and as far as I know Aussie BB is the only ISP that will show you the NCD sync speed.

      • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 12:05

        Yes when I was with ABB they checked my sync speed and told me the max I could get is around 81.

        • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 12:36
          +1

          120Mbps speedtest could be fudged or a glitch. The only way for you to get anything faster is to upgrade to FTTP.

          • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 13:21
            +1

            @Twix: In my case, I think a glitch is a more plausible explanation relative to a fudge or over-provisioning given that my max sync speed is only around 80Mbps :)

            • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 13:25
              +1

              @pnsd: Most likely a glitch. Fudging speedtests is possible.

        • smashman42 on 10/08/2021 - 14:27

          Bit confused how a FTTC connection with the better VDSL profile and shorter run is only getting a line sync of 80 - what's the go there? Absurdly long or terrible lead in?

          I get a line sync of 120/50 with FTTN with the node two houses away, but the pillar across the road another two houses further away with it doing some zigzag shenanigans under the road making line length over double what it looks like - so with me on profile 17a and you should be on profile 30a with a max theoretical line sync more in the 250mbps+ area rather than 140mpbs area - why are you stuck on only 80mpbs? Something must be broken but not broken enough for them to fix it cause anything better than 25/5 is "in spec".

          Edit: but yeah, the speedtest result is totally a glitch

          • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 15:51

            @smashman42: It can be a combination of a long lead-in and poor wiring inside the premises. A FTTC premises can be up to 150m from the DPU + up to 50m of lead-in. nbn are not allowing 250Mbps and above on FTTC and will be offering FTTP as the upgrade path.

  • randomusername2017 on 10/08/2021 - 11:14

    Speedtest result to the same server without connecting via vpn ?

    • pnsd on 10/08/2021 - 11:48

      Always below 81, usually around 70ish without VPN

  • netjock on 10/08/2021 - 11:47
    +1

    It is almost like when they used to have "softram" software where your 4MB RAM shows 8MB RAM due to some miracle. I am sure there is a rational explanation.

  • this is us on 10/08/2021 - 16:08

    I have Superloop 1000/40 and my international speeds are always better through NordVPN:

    NordVPN (AU) to AU:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856735388

    NordVPN (US) to AU:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856731393

    NordVPN (US) to US:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856634935

    No VPN (Superloop) to AU:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856723724

    No VPN (Superloop) to US:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856627210

    PureVPN (US) to US:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856710165

    PureVPN (dedicated US) to US:
    https://www.speedtest.net/result/11856704288

    I discussed that with Superloop months ago and they said it was an external generalised problem in LA, not within the Superloop network. The "solution" is using NordVPN.

    • Twix on 10/08/2021 - 16:26
      +1

      nbn Ultrafast upload is 50Mbps. Set the max egress outbound traffic on your router or switch to ~48Mbps to increase the upload speed results.

  • ZachBlasphemy on 18/08/2021 - 16:38

    I'm a week late here but if you are connecting to a speedtest server and getting result A then via a VPN you are getting result B.

    The B result is what the VPN is getting to that server, not you.

    So you shouldn't be able to transfer data to your computer/device any faster than before.

    To me this makes sense but fair enough if I've missed something.

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