Recent online gaming ping spikes when streaming Netflix

[dubstepzombie]

Quick test in the evening, 3 PCs active, 1 doing Amazon prime video, 2nd on youtube, me spamming Tidal tracks and with 1 twitch stream open  - pinging the Overwatch server, looks ok to me. I think if you can't play 1 netflix video or twitch tv without pings hitting 100+ms then there is definitely a  problem i.e. clearly BT can provide a reasonable internet connection and the test I'm doing is not asking too much from a high bandwidth fibre connection. 

[nemodog69]

received a letter from BT yesterday regarding my complaint. It said that they were trying to resolve the problem and if I would give them a little more time for them to fix it. but if I cant wait I could contact the ombudsman and they left me the number and told me it was free to claim. does this mean there admitting they cant fix it and I could leave without paying any fees ??

[Jakeyb21]

I don't know about anyone else, but I have noticed a change, certainly since Tuesday pm. It's definitely better than it was, still lag when people stream on Netflix, but a change so hopefully maybe they are doing something. I hope anyway! Either that or it's just been a good couple of days, it's half term next week I will have 3 kids at home, so next week will definitely be a test.

[dubstepzombie]

@nemodog69  I'd be careful about interrupting your letter as meaning you can leave without fees, when I phoned BT about leaving they'll just accept the transfer of broadband and seeing as I pay direct debit they'll eventually hit my account with the termination fees probably with little warning - so I'd definitely phone BT and ask.

From what you describe it sounds like they're confirming there's a fault, if it was me I'd want to know where they think the fault is and how long is 'a little more time'.

I'm still of the belief they're adding capacity to their network infrastructure and this will take time. What does concern me with BT is they own EE so I wonder if any of their mobile data traffic hits the BT network, certainly it makes sense to not double up hardware and networking, with 5G around the corner I'm hoping that won't mean we're back to having performance like a dial up modem.

[dubstepzombie]

If anyone is interested you should check out the Plusnet forums, I saw 1 post where a trace route showed the BT core network was being used, there's plenty of posts on their forums with ping problems. If you're thinking of switching to Plusnet to solve ping problems then it may not be the best move.

I find it annoying that ISPs are not open about how their network works, I mean if I subscribed to Plusnet to get away from BT under the hood they end up using the BT core IP level infrastructure.

[george1976]

I may very well be wrong but methinks that probably BT core network is used by all of them?

I really do not see tens of different router cramed away somewhere, it's just the home routers are different?

[dubstepzombie]

Not sure about Zen, I would think Sky won't be using the BT core network but I've got no evidence to be sure. Virgin doesn't use the BT core network, I've done a tracert on a Virgin connection.

Plusnet is owned by BT although they operate as a separate company but I wonder if that's part of the deal as in they use the BT core network to help their performance - or hinder perhaps in some cases.

[Mighten82]

My switch to sky happened a couple of hours ago and no sign of any ping spikes!!!! Multiple device streaming netflix prime youtube and my son on his pc gaming with no ping issues......So glad i switched. Sky is an llu in my exchange and i would have to say yes they use their own core network as traceroutes have far fewer hopps than bt. If anyone plans on switching from bt make sure its to one of the llu providers at your exchange. It worked for me!!!!

[george1976]

Congrats to you mate, I will probably make the change also.

[dubstepzombie]

@Mighten82  nice one !! I'm not surprised you've got better results, to my mind it proves the BT network is just overloaded / can't cope, out of interest would you mind pinging my Overwatch server, I'm interested in what base ping you've got.

so a DOS prompt and 'ping 185.60.112.157 -t'