Very low download speeds & frequent "Package Failed" messages

Bug Reporting Hub Install, Performance & Graphics
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28

Okay, I set it to Belgium (no Amsterdam on Bitdefender VPN) and I can confirm that my download is seemingly unrestricted. It starts slow, but rapidly increases and with files large enough I have seen it climb to 50+Mbps (just peaked at 82Mbps).

It seems a little more rapid when I just let it sit on Automatic for the VPN selection.

Looks like you are onto an ISP conspiracy, Hester. I hope you (and Microsoft) can put some weight behind preventing this type of behaviour by ISP’s, because I know they won’t listen to their customers.

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30

Indeed. Sweden, Telia and pretty much max speed (80+Mbps as I write this) with the VPN set to automatic.

I owe you a heartfelt thanks for getting us to this stage and finding a potential solution to the problem, as my initial post ranted. This is exactly the kind of help I was hoping for. You’ve done us proud! I hope it helps others as it has helped me.

If you need further help with this, PM me and I’ll do what I can to provide you with information at this end. Time permitting…

Cheers again! :wink:

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31

100 mbit internut. no vpn no nothing special. lots of mods in com..folder. Always get about 60-79 mbit download speed

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I tried the VPN program, but not much difference. Basically the same download times, which is about 18mbps, which is my ISP Download speed.

34

No, please only cap the frames when installing/downloading. When playing you can remove the cap again :slight_smile:

35

Ok thanks Hester..:frowning:

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36

Okay, thanks :slight_smile:

37

I’m surprised that I can still fly MSFS 2020 with my speed.

38

Flying does not involve a lot of bandwidth, usually get just a few Mbits/s constant stream

Although I can download the updates at 100 to 200 Mbits/s

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39

Just to add another variable to this discussion about ISP throttling.

I’m in the UK using Virgin media cable at 300MBps down / 30MBps up.
Have been on that service for the last 3 years, and was on their 200/20 service for many years before that.
These are advertised as unlimited services with no traffic management unless there is a problem collecting your payments. I pay by direct debit and have never missed a payment.

I have often tested my speed at various times (usually at least twice a week, using the google & ookla speedtest sites) and I have always had around 310 Down and 30 up. Has been very reliable up until about November 2020.

Since then I have had very variable speeds at set levels from 0.2 MBps, 20, 40 80 & 120MBps and eventually back up to the full 300MBps.
I know when it goes down to 0.2 if i’m flying, as I get warnings about insufficient bandwidth for photogrammetry

I have tried all the usual troubleshooting suggestions from the ISP support website e.g resetting router to factory defaults, changing the Cat 6 connection cable, checking the coax cable is secure etc… but nothing has stopped my connection from becoming extremely slow on occasions.

All my recent MSFS updates have so far been downloaded at between 200-300 MBps so I have no problems with that.

But I’ve now noticed a pattern, if I test my speed and it’s at the full 300 when I start flying, after about 2 hours it drops to about 120, another hour it drops to 80 and then each hour after it drops until it gets to 0.2 MBps.
It then remains at that low level for a few hours before creeping back up again. Leave it for 24 Hours and I’m back at the full 300MBps.

If I don’t use flight sim at all it stays at 300 (tested it 3 times now with periods of up to 5 days with no sim usage). I occasionally play another online game called Planetside 2 and I can stay connected to that all day and remain at full 300 speed.

Connect to MSFS and after a number of hours my speed drops as I described above. The only way to get my speed back up is to not play MSFS for 24 hours.

Seems very much like ISP traffic management to me but their support people are denying all knowledge of any.

I am currently awaiting a new router from them to see if that cures it, but I doubt it very much.

40

It really sounds like Virgin are monitoring your usage over time and throttling you once you pass a certain level. Perhaps you should try the VPN with MSFS and see if it does the same. I’m sure that the encrypted stream will be more difficult for them to monitor as a specific data address, such as we’ve noticed here in Sweden with Telia, who I am now convinced are throttling Microsoft servers. I just disconnected my VPN to install some marketplace dlc in MSFS and went down to 13-20Mbps. I cancelled the download, switched back to the VPN and instantly jumped to 75Mbps.

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I did have NordVPN up until August 2020 but found I wasn’t using it enough to warrant the monthly cost. So I currently have no VPN software to test out your suggestion.
I’ll see what they say after my problem persists when I get the new router (I’m sure that’s not the problem) and then might invest in a 1 month VPN subscription to see what happens.

42

Hester mentioned this free 1 week trial. Might be enough to at least test the theory. If you see a pattern and need a VPN, I’d recommend Bitdefender VPN over Nord VPN. Nord VPN had a big security drama not so long ago and never really admitted fault. Not a good sign from a security vendor. I’ve had no issues with Bitdefender, except the Total Security, which is a load of bloat. The VPN is very small and a simple click to enable. Just over €30 for a year.

Anyway, good luck! Hope you find a solution.

43

I am also having this issue.
I have a 1Gbps connection and test at about 800Mbps⇓/980Mbps⇑ this morning.
Tried using a VPN but no luck…I tried the servers closest to me (Tokyo), Hong Kong, Singapore but Tokyo provides me the best speed with 12Mbps in game (But still tests at about 800Mbps).

Disabling IPv4 and all the other stuff recommended in the MSFS FAQ haven’t helped at all.
This is maddening!

44

Frame rate indication in MSFS (and indeed the entire MS sim line to an extent) never followed normal standards in this regards.
MSFS appears to run quite smoothly on a lot of smaller setups.
Several users have posted in here that with frame rates as low as mid teens, the sim is still running nicely.

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45

The only thing that bothers me is downloading the updates at my download speed ,which is about 18mbps.

46

That is indeed a bit on the slower side of things.
Did you read that Nvidia cap post?
Would it help in your case?

47

No, where would I find that?

48

Here is the link.

If you do have an Nvidia card, this could help.
After, turn your setting back before starting the sim.

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49

Yes, I have a Nvidia card ..It’s a rtx 2060

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