Packet Drop by Gateway

This page provides more detail for the 'Broadband Traffic packets dropped' graphs on the Broadband Usage Graphs page. The relative performance of each of the Broadband Access gateway servers is shown here in terms of percentage of packets dropped. If, for example, you can see that a particular gateway is performing less well than the others (dropping more packets) you might want to find out whether this is affecting you.

The percentage of packets dropped from each of six distinct traffic types is shown for each individual gateway. For example, if PTN-AG1 is showing a peak value of 10% for 'Plus Non-Interactive' at 5pm, it would mean that 10% of total packets on this traffic queue, on this gateway, was dropped at this time.

For the purposes of comparison, 'Interactive' traffic translates as high priority (for example web browsing and other 'real-time' applications like streaming media), whereas 'Non-Interactive' traffic (e.g. peer-to-peer and binary Usenet) would be that given a lower priority at peak times. Gaming and VoIP, although not exclusively, are given the highest priority on the network.

Please note: These graphs show how traffic management works to maintain quality of service by prioritising network traffic, by type, at peak times. It is important to note that these graphs show the traffic after it has passed through our Ellacoya platform. This explains why 'Plus' appears to be dropping a lesser percentage of its queued traffic compared to 'Premier'. In fact, Broadband Plus Non-Interactive traffic is restricted before it reaches the gateways.

How do I find out which Gateway I am on?

If you run a TRACEROUTE to a remote address you will see your access gateway listed:

Open command line from Windows:

1. Click Start.
2. Click Run (or press the r key).
3. Type "cmd" into the 'Run' window.

1. In the command line window, type
   "tracert www.plus.net".
2. Click Enter and watch for the results

The first server address you see returned will be your Gateway.

Apple Mac users would use traceroute available from the Terminal (type traceroute into a Terminal window)
Go > Utilities > Terminal > traceroute

The Usertools website also has a handy Gateway Checker you can try.

How would I change Gateway?

If your gateway corresponds with one that appears to be dropping a higher proportion of packets then you can disconnect/power-off your router and reconnect until you are provided with a different gateway. Please note that gateways are assigned randomly and you may have to try this a few times until you get a different access gateway.

PTN-AG1

PTN-AG2

PTE-AG1

PTE-AG2

THN-AG1

THN-AG2 (LLU)

THN-AG3

PCL-AG01

PCL-AG02

These graphs are updated automatically every 30 minutes.

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