New Poster
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7 Messages
Bandwidth Using VPN
While using a VPN my Internet speed is taking a 64%+ hit.
For example - the speed test that I did today (1-28-21 at 3:30 pm Eastern) on speedtest.net shows that with my VPN off I'm getting 240 Mbps download speed. With the VPN on, it drops to 85 Mbps.
Yes, I'm aware that using a VPN (extra server, encryption) will cause a "perfomance hit". But seriously, 64%?
Also have already tried several other servers, all of the different protocols available as well as different times (morning/afternoon/evening). While different things have made the VPN connection worse, nothing has made it better.
One of my main concerns is whether Xfinity is throttling my conection when the VPN connects.
Accepted Solution
EG
Expert
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112.8K Messages
5 years ago
A question for your VPN provider ?
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Jlavaseur
Problem Solver
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948 Messages
5 years ago
I use expressvpn and it's one of the fastest out there, on my iPad that's all I get and I have the 1 gigabit from Comcast, what your seeing is normal
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Gottahavit
Contributor
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93 Messages
5 years ago
So you have to understand that the way a VPN works(if it's working right) is that every byte of your data is fed through the proxy at your VPN. You are at the mercy of the VPN bandwidth. Most of the ones I have tested top out at about 200mbps at best so in my case that would be an 80% hit but it's not xfinity, it's just VPN servers aren't going to give you gigabit connection anymore than you can download from any one site at those speeds.
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Jlavaseur
Problem Solver
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948 Messages
5 years ago
@Gottahavit
After reading your post I experimented with different vpn protocols, my download speed increased from 90 Mbps to over 250Mbps, thanks
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
Have been addressing the issue with ExpressVPN, but thanks for the suggestion.
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
Glad to hear that it helped you. 🙂👍
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
Yes, I'm fully aware how a VPN works as I stated in my original post.
My own issue is that "someone" is capping the speed.
This I know because after doing multiple speed tests at different times each day, my connection without the VPN has varied between 240 Mbps to 140 Mbps. Yet the VPN connection never varies. It is always a fairly consistent 85 Mbps.
"Someone" has to be creating this cap, otherwise the "on" speed would fluctuate with the "off" speed.
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
I am using ExpressVPN as well. However, you are on an iPad on wi-fi. I am on a desktop with a wired gigabit ethernet connection. Being on wi-fi isn't near as fast as wired. I have a hard time believing that a 64% reduction in my speed should be considered "normal".
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
As it turns out, you were right.
I was trying to get answers from ExpressVPN and thought I'd try here too.
I am no longer using ExpressVPN.
They were at fault. Odd too as most every VPN review website lists Express either first or second.
I tried using a different VPN provider and I'm up to an average of 170-180 Mbps.
A 25 - 30% drop is a lot more resonable.
Thank you for your input.
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Jlavaseur
Problem Solver
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948 Messages
5 years ago
On expressvpn in the settings menu, i changed the protocol to IKEv2, I am now getting 300Mbps
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Harvick1
New Poster
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7 Messages
5 years ago
I am glad that it worked out for you.
Unfortunately I had to switch VPN providers.
Express never could resolve my speed issue.
When I switched to a different provider, my speeds went from the 80-85 Mbps that I was getting on Express to 170-180 Mbps.
I can finally stream in 1080 without buffer issues again. 👍
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