Virgin Media limits download on Steam *tested proof*

[DaddyBoard]

Hello Everyone,

*I HAVE 1GB CONNECTION*

Over the past few months, I have been meticulously tracking download patterns on Steam. I've noticed an interesting and consistent anomaly that I wanted to share with you all.

When I perform a Speedtest directly on my ASUS router, I regularly observe results around 950mbps, indicating no apparent issues with my internet speed. This high-speed connection is further validated when I execute a speed test on my PC, which typically produces results within the 800-900 Mbps range.

Yet, the puzzle begins when I download content on Steam. Here, I've found that I'm unable to exceed a download speed of 580mbps organically. However, I've noticed a temporary surge in download speed if I initiate a speed test while downloading from Steam and immediately cancel it. The speed leaps up to around 700mbps momentarily, before settling back down to the previously established 580mbps.

This pattern isn't just a one-off occurrence. It's a repeatable phenomenon. Every time I simulate a speed test during a Steam download, I witness a brief yet significant increase in download speed.

This raises the suspicion that my ISP might be employing some form of throttling, purposefully restricting speeds on certain IP addresses or protocols until a speed test server is detected. At this point, it seems to allow the speeds to reach their maximum capacity.

I am wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar situation or has any insights on the matter.

[Cardiffman282]

In a very ancient document that still mentions "Fibre 20" as a service VM state that they don't slow anything down. 

[jb66]

Sounds like it's steam that's limiting the speed and by doing a speedtest you've dropped lower than the 580mbps (average) steam is giving you momentarily then as you stop the speedtest steam is allowing you to catch up to the (average) 580mbps it allows by letting you go to 700mbps

[DaddyBoard]

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@jb66 wrote:

Sounds like it's steam that's limiting the speed and by doing a speedtest you've dropped lower than the 580mbps (average) steam is giving you momentarily then as you stop the speedtest steam is allowing you to catch up to the (average) 580mbps it allows by letting you go to 700mbps

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Hello again! I remember you from my very long thread about trying to get connected after 7 years of trying!

So when I say "immediately cancel", i mean immediately, as soon as the ping has gone through, I cancel it. I never drop below 580mbps, i never even initiate any download via the speedtest, just the ping test.

I then get the massive spike etc, its definitely very suspicious. 

[newapollo]

Looking at the following Steam page, and clicking on UK, VM don't appear to be throttling the download rate.  (picture at the bottom of this message)

https://store.steampowered.com/stats/content/ 

The following two links may help to fine tune your settings for Steam.

https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-steam-slow-download-fix 

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/steam-download-speeds/ 

Steam

[DaddyBoard]

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@newapollo wrote:

Looking at the following Steam page, and clicking on UK, VM don't appear to be throttling the download rate.  (picture at the bottom of this message)

https://store.steampowered.com/stats/content/ 

The following two links may help to fine tune your settings for Steam.

https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-steam-slow-download-fix 

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/steam-download-speeds/ 

Steam

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That doesn't really prove anything (the images), that just shows an average download of 78mbps which is under 1/10th of my potential download speed.

As I said above: "So when I say "immediately cancel", i mean immediately, as soon as the ping has gone through, I cancel it. I never drop below 580mbps, i never even initiate any download via the speedtest, just the ping test." - is just very odd behaviour. I cannot work out why just initiating a ping connection to Speedtest makes Steam ramp up etc, it can only seem like fishy behaviour atm as I haven't seen any other credible reason.

[Axeman]

Sounds like its just the speed test thats measuring from the cache. Nothing to do with throttling.