Newsreader Access Blocked - Ports 119 & 563

[EdinburghKev]

Hi there

I access a couple of newsreader servers using standard and SSL connections on ports 119 & 563. I noticed this evening these connections are currently blocked. Is this due to a busy Saturday and Sky managing connections etc???

If I use the newsreader servers on port 23, 80 or 443 I can access them but traffic rate is as low as 30KB. Earlier today I was running at 350KB.

Any advice is appreciated.

Kev

[EdinburghKev]

I should add the newsreader server providers have confirmed they have no issues or planned work at present.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Are you definitely on Sky BB Max as stated in your profile?


There is no management / shaping / throttling etc. etc. on Sky's LLU BB services (Base, Mid, Max).


Which news server is it?

I use Astra, & I was max'ing out my Sky BB connection this evening, downloading rather a lot from their secure server over port 563. No problems whatsoever.

[googleme]

Originally Posted by EdinburghKev

Hi there
Is this due to a busy Saturday and Sky managing connections etc???

Nowt being manged on sky on max etc.

[EdinburghKev]

I called Sky this evening and it turns out I am on Sky Broadband Connect so ports will be blocked or heavily restricted between 5pm and 12am. Not to happy about this and now thinking of changing ISP and phone (both with Sky at present). I think I will be over my 40Gb download allowance this month, not sure what Sky will do about that as I doubt I have been over it in the past.

[PaulSky]

Sky connect costs a different ammount to Max so you should have been aware of this from the start as you should have been told. Have you checked who is in your exchange as LLU providers?

[Saturday]

Originally Posted by EdinburghKev

it turns out I am on Sky Broadband Connect so ports will be blocked or heavily restricted between 5pm and 12am. Not to happy about this and now thinking of changing ISP

Please update your Skyuser profile to Connect.

If you leave then you'll need to ensure you go LLU. A non LLU connection with another ISP will just be the same as you have with Sky i.e. it would be BT's ADSL Max product rebranded and have the same/similar restrictions.

[Isitme]

How much are you paying? If it is less than £17, then your exchange is being upgraded shortly or is already upgraded and you are waiting on a free slot. It would be better determining this before jumping ship, as Saturday says, all non-LLU suppliers will have the same or worse conditions.

[creamygoodness]

I am having a similar issue with Usenet being blocked using the same ports. I can tell you I am definitely on Max, as I have an 12 meg connection (I asked Sky to cap it to this as it made it more stable over a year ago), but tonight I am getting problems with Usenet same as Edinburgh Kev. It just tries to connect and doesnt get anywhere, I checked with my News Provider, Newsdemon and they tell me that my account is fine and they have no issues their end.

Anyone got any ideas?

[EdinburghKev]

I currently pay £5 per month, discounted from £10 per month. I live in Dunbar, East Lothian but I am unsure what the plans are for the local exchange. I wont jump ship just yet, I was just a bit let down that performace takes such a hit between 5pm and 12am, ping response times to servers I VPN on to change from 65ms to 400ms plus during peak times. Access to usenet servers all but stops between this time also. It would be GREAT news if my exchange was heading for an upgrade.