Sky Unlimited Broadband shaping traffic? Ports 119 and 563 suddenly extremely slow

[Scubbie]

Nothing is showing there.

You may find that others are showing similar results.

Is there any notices on the servers that you are having issues with or anything in their forums?

[VirtualJr]

No, their forums are clean of complaints regarding this, and like I said on a different location the same details and server are performing great right now, while other types of downloads on these ports are also slowed. It's not the newsreader provider, it's something with my connection.

[Isitme]

Try loading Hotspot shield. That should show whether it is a Sky problem.
Hotspot Shield - Download.com

[VirtualJr]

Well that is very interesting, thanks Isitme! After installing the Hotspot Shield programme, the Usenet downloads are suddenly going full speed again! Interestingly enough, the test downloads through the specific ports are still extremely slow. So if I understand this correctly, the ports are certainly being shaped by Sky despite being on their Unlimited plan, and for now I can circumvent their restrictions by downloading through HS which sends the data to me through other ports.

Unless anyone has another explanation, Sky is going to get an angry call on Monday.

[BritBrat]

I have just done a test download from usenet using port 563 and SSL encription and it does not seem traffic shaped to me.

Normally when it is being shaped you start off fast but it quickly slows to the same value every time.

What speed is it caped to?

[146Kg]

Despite claiming not to, Sky absolutely do traffic shape "unlimited".

[timc]

Where's the evidence to support that statement?

[Scubbie]

It is more likely to be a link down, an issue with a server or a link that was over busy.

Perhaps a friendly phone call to Sky could help to identify the cause, provided that you can get past the first level of support.

By using Hotspot Shield, the OP is not now using Sky's servers.

[alfmech]

i too am using sky unlimited broadband and noticed yesterday news downloads using port 443 were seemingly capped, having installed hotspot shield i am now back to full speed so much for "unlimited" lol

is it worth arguing with sky to try and rectify this or am i now stuck with it?

[Scubbie]

A friendly conversation or email should help.

If you specify what you normally do and what you have done in order to get around the issue, they should be able to see that it is a Sky issue, or at least on that they can look in to.

I would guess that it would need to go above level one support though.