Network Throttling?

[Mr_P]

Smarty's Policy on Network Policy states they don't do Network Throttling or Data Shaping.

However, I've been having an issue very similar to what this user described last year.

Between 1am-8am approximately, the connection is fine.
By 8am, the Download speed has suddenly dropped to ~4mbps, and by 5pm it's down to 1-2mbps.
Upload is unaffected.

I've been a Smarty User for over 5 years, and I've never had any contact or warnings about Network Usage.
My Dashboard info shows a fairly consistent monthly useage of (+/-) ~500Gbs for the last year. (I'm on Unlimited).

The device is in the same position at the various hours I'm attempting this - with a consistent signal strength, and no variation in the hardware/software that's in use.

The timing of the 'throttling' is very consistent.

Can anyone offer any information / ideas on what the cause is, and how I can fix this?

[Unitysounduk]

Hi unlimited is truly unlimited but you have to have a good connection to get good speeds you can check with on smartys data checker 

I find that you will get better speeds at certain times of the day mine is in the mornings I get over 300mbps in the afternoon I only get 65mbps this is due to how many people are using the network 

Hope this helps 

[Mr_P]

Thanks for the response - is that the same as the Coverage Checker?
https://smarty.co.uk/coverage-checker

It shows that I'm 4G Indoor & Outdoor (my device is 4G).  It also shows 5G would be available Indoor & Outdoor - so I'm in a relatively strong data area?

I've been utilising my data in this same area for ~5 years without this issue - so if it is network usage that's the issue, it's a relatively recent problem.

The problem makes any kind of video calls / streaming a no-go for the majority of the day now.
Even loading web pages can be a Dial-Up like experience.

Can you suggest any way I can verify the problem, or resolve it?

[MSF]

@Mr_P  The only problem with the Coverage Checker is that it is only a general guide to the area and may not give an accurate analysis of signal to your property. Also, it takes no account of congestion potential e.g. if you are surrounded by a lot of youngsters who come home after school and start using mobile data.

My only suggestion for a more consistent download speed is to go to a broadband connection - indeed that is effectively what smarty suggest when they say that mobile data should not be relied upon as a substitute. I get around 74Mbps and that is fairly consistent. It also depends what you need the speed for - this connection will support more than one Zoom meeting with no problem.

[Mr_P]

I'm not sure, but I don't think I even get close to 74Mbps when everything is working fine - I've unfortunately only checked when it's gotten really bad!

As I mentioned, it's come to the point where I'm only on 4Mbps in the mornings, and as low as 1-2Mbps in the evenings.

I get what you mean about usage of others in the area, but this seems to be for 16-17hrs of the day, and it's only started in the last month. 
It's been a pretty dramatic drop in service.