Question Why are Speeds unstable? not allowed to go back to work :(

[darryl305]

Is it normal to have this amount of download speed drop? What can I do to fix it?

So I work from home, and my job has been having isues with their systems, hanging/dropping calls, etc. But no matter what...THEY are NEVER to blame. SO they had me do speed tests, every 8 min, and my boss saw my download speed go from like 937 Mbps, to 825 Mbps .and later to like 525 Mbps. When she saw that, she said for me to logout, and call my ISP..

I figured the speeds are insanely highre regardless, but she said that those dropping speeds are the reason I have certain issues with my calls dropping, and static, and other sound issues, etc. WE use Citrix, to connect to my jobs remorte desktop server. ANyhow, I will post a pic of speeds here, and can anyone tell ne what I can do about this? and if my boss is correct, or if its just a random drop, and it really wont affect anything, because my speed is still really fast regardless.? thanks., here is a screenshot of a few of my speeds done at random intervals.. :

 

[rgd1101]

unless you paying for dedicated line. look normal.

 

[bill001g]

So you think your boss is a idiot and came here . You are correct bandwidth is not a good measure of the quality of a network. You only really care about bandwidth if you are downloading huge amounts of files. Things like video conferencing use only a tiny fraction, I don't know the number off hand but it is likely in the 20-30mbps maximum and that would be if you were running 4k video calls. Having more than the application needs buys you nothing. If would be like if you had a car that had a maximum speed of say 80mph. Going on a road that has 100mph or 200mph speed limit it makes no difference your car still is limited by its design just like most internet applications.

Now if you get massive amounts of data loss it can affect transfer rates but that should also affect upload which does not change.

In any case you best first test is to leave a constant ping run to 8.8.8.8 and see if you get loss at the same time you get the static issue.

 

[darryl305]

So, there would be no point in me bothering to call my ISP, correct? The fact theat my DL speeds go from 900, to 800- or 500, then back, etc..should not cause any issue with my job? Answering calls and filing reports/tickets. It shouldnt be making or causing me to drop/disconnect calls, etc?

If I call my ISP and tell them I need my download speeds not to go any higher /lower than 5-10 mbps during speed tests that are done in say, 10 min intervals over an hour, they will not be able to help me with that?
Because that is what my boss wants. she wants to see me do speed tests, like every 10 min, over the period of an hour, and no download/upload speed difference of more than like 10mbps...

 

[darryl305]

So you think your boss is a idiot and came here . You are correct bandwidth is not a good measure of the quality of a network. You only really care about bandwidth if you are downloading huge amounts of files. Things like video conferencing use only a tiny fraction, I don't know the number off hand but it is likely in the 20-30mbps maximum and that would be if you were running 4k video calls. Having more than the application needs buys you nothing. If would be like if you had a car that had a maximum speed of say 80mph. Going on a road that has 100mph or 200mph speed limit it makes no difference your car still is limited by its design just like most internet applications.

Now if you get massive amounts of data loss it can affect transfer rates but that should also affect upload which does not change.

In any case you best first test is to leave a constant ping run to 8.8.8.8 and see if you get loss at the same time you get the static issue.

How can I do a constant ping test to 8.8.8.8? whats the process?

 

[bill001g]

So with the new details it is now clear your boss really is a idiot.

Now tell you boss you need them to pay your ISP for a business grade internet connection where the minimum bandwidth is actually guaranteed.......And even that only is within the ISP network.

If you call the ISP they will quickly point out the fine print that says "UP TO". There is no actual bandwidth promise.

Not sure what you are asking open a cmd window and type in ping 8.8.8.8 -t.

This is to see if you are getting packet loss to the internet.

 

[darryl305]

haha. ya. I should tell her that. But, id be fired real quick. Most likely, I am just gonna go ahead and do inspect element on my browser, and make the speeds show whatever she wants them to say. All she requires is a screenshot. I dont think she will make me screenshare a live speedtest with her, thank god. lol

 

[darryl305]

THis is literally the conversation we had after I showed a screenshot of 936mbps DL, and then a second screenshot 8 min later of 836 Mbps:

My boss: -Speeds are too unstable . You DL dropped close to 100
Sign out and call your provider please

Me: oh? I thought seem pretty normal..what should I tell ISP? I mean, whats an acceptable range?

My Boss:

Your speeds are dropping
Your speeds should stay with 5-10 mbps of each other

Me: I mean, they are really high tho.

My boss:
Doesnt matter
You will have lag and issues if your speeds go up and down like this
I shouldnt see an almost 100 MPS drop in 8 minutes

ME: OK. so tell my ISP I need my speeds to stay within 5-10 mbps when I do speed test every 5 min or so

My boss:
About that yep. Check your equipment with them, ethernet cord, and all that
But this is why you are having issues with calls/lag

Me: OK, ill call them. Maybe they can ping my modem or something. I had them do that once before.


SO, is she right? Or an idiot like I assumed? and no reason to call ISP at all?

Oh and when I ping 8.8.8.8 I get:

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=56
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=56

and so on....

 

[rgd1101]

have your boss test her connection at work?

what the pc that you are using?

 

[darryl305]

have your boss test her connection at work?

what the pc that you are using?

Its my own personal PC, its a gaming rig ,Core I5 12700k, 32 GB RAM with nvidea 3060

 

[jojesa]

I had a 25 Mbps dedicated line from work (with Sonicwall router) and there were not issues making and receiving calls even when it was measured at 17 Mbps.

I was having similar issues when using my home 1 Gbit cable internet service and it was due to the router and not the service.
After changing to a router that allowed me to set Quality of Service (QoS). I prioritized VoIP calls and they no longer get interrupted and dropped.

 

[stonecarver]

So, there would be no point in me bothering to call my ISP, correct

No not really But.................................Cover your Butt to justify your side and disarm Boss it's not your fault. You at least will have proof.

 

[jojesa]

My boss:
Doesnt matter
You will have lag and issues if your speeds go up and down like this
I shouldnt see an almost 100 MPS drop in 8 minutes

ME: OK. so tell my ISP I need my speeds to stay within 5-10 mbps when I do speed test every 5 min or so

My boss:
About that yep. Check your equipment with them, ethernet cord, and all that
But this is why you are having issues with calls/lag

I do not think you boss have read an ISP service contract nor have he tested his own speed every 5 minutes.

That is why ISPs cover their own behinds by selling service using the words "Up to 500 Megabit " "Up to 1 Gigabit".

Because there are too many variables to be able to provide a constant Internet speed.

 

[anvoice]

It seems like your boss is not the most computer-literate person. It is indeed ridiculous for speeds to stay within 5-10 Mbps of each other on different tests. Your ISP will not guarantee that. Also, calls dropping due to download speed swings is utter nonsense. Your overall bandwidth is very high, easily enough for calls.

However, as was pointed out, you absolutely need to cover your bases. I can't give advice on how to handle your boss in general, but if she has all the sway about you getting fired or not, and you can't tell her/upper brass what you think, you need to either do as she says and call/chat with the ISP and report back what they say (no way will they guarantee no swings), or fake the data. The latter carries the danger of 1) being caught right away 2) being caught later when she realizes how ridiculous her perception of how the network works is. At that time, if you actually have showed her data of, say 10 tests 5 mins apart being within 5 Mbps of each other, she'll know you faked it. I won't get into the (granted, unlikely) possibility of this being a mind game to test if you're willing to deceive her.

Also, as was suggested above, equipment could well be the issue if calls are bad/dropping. You can troubleshoot in that direction to start off with while your boss continues to believe whatever she wants.

 

[ajohnson30]

If you're using Citrix (ICA) to connect to work - those sort of connections only actually need about 50kbps to function. VoiP calls also only need about the same bandwidth (actually about 30kbps, but who's counting). We require our employees to have 100mbps connections minimum to work remote. You'd be golden to us.