Internet speeds started to be slow over VPN

[Shou Miko]

I been using a VPN for about 5 years or more but last Sunday I started to note that my internet speed went down from 500-600Mbps up/down to 250-280Mbps up/down consistent.

It's the same behaviour on all test servers on speedtest.net, fast.com and more goes up to 250-280Mbps and stays there and won't go any higher.

I am wondering what's going on because without VPN I reach up to 580Mbps up/down just fine using the same servers located in the UK servers from Structered Commications, Community Fibre Limited, Swish Fibre, FibreNest and Voip-Unlimited.

My full specs for my desktop is filled out and it's using a Intel I225-V ethernet nic and no I don't use the newest driver but that haven't been an issue for like before Windows 11 came out.

Windows driver version for I225-V is 1.0.2.8 with driver date 08/11/2020.

I decided to test with my laptop which is a Dell Latitude E7470, i5-6300U, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVME SSD and Intel I219-LM and I have the same issue no matter which type of VPN I use it stops at 250-280Mbps.

Windows driver version for I219-LM is 12.18.9.10 with driver date 25/07/2019.

I have the option for OpenConnect, OpenVPN and Wireguard.

I been using Wireguard since I got a 1Gbit connect a couple of years ago but when I moved last year I could only get one fiber ISP at my new place so I took their 500/500Mbps plan because 200/200Mbps is too low for me and their 1Gbit plan ain't worth their money.

The settings I am using for OpenVPN and Wireguard I will list.
OpenVPN: UDP/SHA1/AES-128-GCM Port 443 and MTU set to highest (Got recommened by the VPN company to test with)
Wireguard: UDP and default settings.

My network setup
TP-Link Deco M5 as router and WiFi
TP-Link TL-SG105E
A extra TP-Link Deco M5 for extra WiFi signal in my bedroom.

I use all Cat 7 cables.

In my switch I use the following ports
Port 1: Internet from Deco M5
Port 2: 10meter CAT7 to my desktop
Port 4: PS4 Pro
Port 5: LG CX OLED 48


I actually took home a TP-Link TG-3868 ethernet pci-e x1 card from home yesterday because if my laptop was seeing higher internet speeds than I wanted to try out a different ethernet card rather than reinstall my computer.

 

[Athlonite]

Probably oversubscribed and need more bandwidth to cope have you made a complaint to your VPN provider

 

[Shou Miko]

Probably oversubscribed and need more bandwidth to cope have you made a complaint to your VPN provider

I have and I do it when something is off and they tested the backend and it's 4.4Gbit down and 3.5Gbit in upload.

They are trying to figure out why my speed tests are so low.

 

[Athlonite]

that's some pretty low end backend gear they have it should be all 10 gigabit or better like I said they're probably oversubscribed or they have a bunch of torrentors using up most of the available bandwidth

this is what I get from fast.com

 

[Shou Miko]

that's some pretty low end backend gear they have it should be all 10 gigabit or better like I said they're probably oversubscribed or they have a bunch of torrentors using up most of the available bandwidth

It's 10Gbit server so there is some users using internet I believe when you say low speed.

Because I doubt they will give me a server all for myself

Yes the server does allow torrenting but my limit is all hours of the day even when their tests show higher speeds I am still only able to use 250-280Mbps which is far from ideal.

 

[Athlonite]

but my limit is all hours of the day even when their tests show higher speeds I am still only able to use 250-280Mbps which is far from ideal.

Then it's your ISP's problem then not the VPN just because you're using a VPN your data still goes through your ISP have you rung them to find out what's going on

 

[Dr. Dro]

With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the demand for VPN services due to internet censorship seem to have increased quite considerably, at least from what I have read. Both the EU and Russian governments have blocked a lot of websites due to economic sanctions and embargoes and information control policies, so the theory that your VPN provider may be oversubscribed makes the most sense to me at this moment. I mean, your setup has worked well thus far, why would that change? It's more than likely it's an external factor, IMO.

I would call both provider and ISP to inquire about and gauge the situation, but it's more than likely what has been going on. Cheers, friend

 

[1freedude]

How are you using WG? CLI or "app"? On my phone, i use pure WG with a config file (key) from my provider. On my PCs, I use the provider's app.

It almost sounds like you are double tunneling, a WG inside an OpenVPN. That's all I can suggest: make sure 2 protocols are not being used at the same time

 

[Mussels]

Yes? VPN's are relaying your internet. If they ever reach your full speeds it's a miracle.

Nothing to do you with your specs, your local speeds, any of that... it's how fast the VPN server is.

 

[Shou Miko]

How are you using WG? CLI or "app"? On my phone, i use pure WG with a config file (key) from my provider. On my PCs, I use the provider's app.

It almost sounds like you are double tunneling, a WG inside an OpenVPN. That's all I can suggest: make sure 2 protocols are not being used at the same time

I using the VPN provider's own application it also have a killswitch and more plus it comes with all 3 types of VPN included.

Yes? VPN's are relaying your internet. If they ever reach your full speeds it's a miracle.

Nothing to do you with your specs, your local speeds, any of that... it's how fast the VPN server is.

You can say that even when I had my gigabit connect I was up at about 800-1000Mbit all the time and this was with another ISP that sadly did some changes last summer so my connection only was 1000/200Mbit and they never resolved my issue because than I moved and I could only get 1 ISP here which have a better backbone system and is the original founder my the fibre service in my area so they cost a shit ton more but speeds are more consistent.

 

[Shou Miko]

I have recently added a gigabit TP-Link TL-SG105E switch but this shouldn't be the issue here right?

Link: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/easy-smart-switch/tl-sg105e/

I mean I can do 500+ without VPN.

 

[Dr. Dro]

I have recently added a gigabit TP-Link TL-SG105E switch but this shouldn't be the issue here right?

Link: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/easy-smart-switch/tl-sg105e/

I mean I can do 500+ without VPN.

I very much doubt, if it was a throughput bottleneck at the switch you would take a hit without VPN, too. I just think your provider is oversubscribed due to the ongoing events. Are you able to test using another provider in trial mode or something?

 

[1freedude]

Within the app I use, I can choose the exit country, server, and port. I can also make many hops, tunnel within tunnel, tunnel to a different tunnel, etc. Do you have the choice of exit nodes? Have you updated the app recently?

If so, try backtracking to a previous version. I have symmetrical gig connection, but my main secure device has a slow as shit wifi adapter, so I never see highest speeds available from a particular server. I understand you have a very robust wired network, so look at the network you don't have control over as the cause. I agree the service is oversubscribed, but if you can change the exit node, try it.

Another option...get/build/flash a router that has WG built in.

 

[Shou Miko]

I have gotten a couple of MTU setting I will try later today to see if they can help

 

[Athlonite]

Most all ISP's only support upto 1500 for MTU so anything between 1470 and 1500 should be fine over that you'll have problems with dropped or errored out packets