topic Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users in Archived Posts

EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

myeeid — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 10:45:44 GMT

Let's talk Bufferbloat.

Bufferbloat is basically an industry wide issue that generates massive latency (network lag) under specific usage conditions that are very casual to most home users, such as uploading medium and large size files. Yes, bufferbloat is the reason why internet breaks when you start uploading pictures of your holidays and transfer large files, making your connection unusable for the time of the upload. If EE tells you it's because of your network setup or how the broadband reaches your area, they are either unforgivably ignorant or lying to you.

Fixing bufferbloat is as easy as including SQM or AQM (Smart/Active Queuing Management) in a router's firmware update, which only the ISP can do. Unfortunately, EE has been ignoring this ever since the Brightbox was released. It is now 2020 so I think EE definitely owes its customers a week worth of effort to include a SQM/AQM function in their routers.

If you are a DSL customer, go to www.dslreports.com/speedtest, run the test and see how you score F for bufferbloat. This is why when you upload stuff on Google Drive, WeTransfer, Instagram, Youtube, FTP, etc., your connection speed will drop so low that you cannot even load a page in your internet browser.

A complete article on bufferbloat, and how it's being ignored by many ISPs, is here : https://www.computerworld.com/article/3111075/the-hidden-cause-of-slow-internet-and-how-to-fix-it.html

There's even a whole website dedicated to bufferbloat. Here is an article explaining what can be done (ISP side) to fix it : https://www.bufferbloat.net/projects/bloat/wiki/What_can_I_do_about_Bufferbloat/

Like most ISPs, EE locks their router to be used only on their own broadband service, and uses routers that aren't compatible with third-party fIrmwares. EE is therefore fully responsible for keeping the Brightbox's performance up to date, as opposed to keeping its customers permanently locked out of a normal quality service.

I am writing this post so EE spends one week including AQM/SQM in the next Brightbox firmware update, and solve this massively frustrating bufferbloat issue once and for all.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 12:56:14 GMT

EE won't see this post as this is a community forum made up of EE customers and others who wish to help.

There is nothing stopping you from using your own 3rd party router on an EE connection, one that works for you and meets the requirements you need for your useage.

The majority of ISP's supply a "One size fits all" router for a basic connection.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

myeeid — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:33:04 GMT

Thanks for letting me know there's no EE support on this forum.

'One size fits all' doesn't work when none of the Brightbox users can upload files without breaking their connection.

Yes we can buy our own router but no because an ISP cannot pretend it's delivering the service being paid for if it leaves massive, documented caveats like bufferbloat in their routers without bothering to update them.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

XRaySpeX — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:58:06 GMT

I have no issues uploading photos thro' a BrighBox 2.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:58:13 GMT

Support on this forum is from a community not EE. If you wish support from EE then ring CS.

I am neither an EE emloyee nor customer, I just know how to advise on most connection problems.

At one time all an ISP supplied was a modem and IMHO that's all they should do now but you get one ISP who thinks it's a good marketing trick to supply an all in one router and all the others have to follow suit.

The only thing an ISP is contractually obligated to do is provide a connection at the speed advertised as standard, in the main they do that other networking requirements is in the customers hands.

You even post a link to a site dedicated to the problem so it is not just EE but practically every ISP and their customised routers which provide a basic connection.

What would you prefer EE to do? Implement what you suggest and raise prices just for that alone or allow you to get your own router which will be better suited to your needs?

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

myeeid — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:19:20 GMT

Can you run a test on http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest and post the link to the results?

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

XRaySpeX — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:38:55 GMT

Overall

BufferBloat

Quality

Speed

but as I say it has no effect upon me. I believe is is a "Much ado about nothing"!

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

myeeid — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:29:50 GMT

@Pippincp are you saying it's too much to ask from EE to implement one small simple documented function in the Brightbox firmware.

I did say that the problem is industry wide. Mostly it's staying so because ISPs don't keep up to date with modern issues. I'd like EE to solve it because some others they're competing with have done so.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:44:47 GMT

It is not just a simple firmware addition though. The router has to support it which takes us to the router manufacturers not the ISP who is responsible. Even one of the links you posted said get your own kit. It is not an ISP problem.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Mustrum — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:50:50 GMT

As an aside, why would anyone trust the results of a test website so full of ads and crap, and one based on the other side of the Atlantic?

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 21:46:46 GMT

Actually the speed test from there will test from the nearest servers and actually gives reasonable results.

As an aside why don't you have an adblocker?

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

XRaySpeX — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 21:57:01 GMT

@Pippincp : How near are Newcastle, Delaware, USA & Los Angeles 2, CA, USA to me? Don't answer that!

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Mustrum — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 22:00:15 GMT

Equally don't bother about Nashville, Springfiled or Amsterdam - never mind me choosing not to run an adblocker.

The site is so full of links to crap!

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 11:21:15 GMT

You do know you can select the servers it uses once you've run the first test?

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

XRaySpeX — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 11:51:50 GMT

@Pippincp : I didn't but I do now. However all of EU servers incl. London bar 1 are off-line 😞 . Hence the insistence of US servers. Not a speedtest as we know it!

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

Pippincp — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:00:15 GMT

The EU and London servers are online for me.

Re: EE must fix BUFFERBLOAT issue now for all Brightbox users

XRaySpeX — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 22:02:43 GMT

Things seem to have improved with the BB2 since this thread:

Overall

B

BufferBloat

C

Quality

A

Speed

-

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