Download speed heavily reduced with AirVPN

[screedle 1]

Hi,

 

Just registered and am extremely ignorant when it comes to VPNs, not familiar with the common terms or the technical aspect, etc. I have installed the AirVPN client and just let it connect to the recommended server. I am located in western Canada and it has been connecting to servers in Toronto. My ISP is Shaw.

 

I noticed that the internet / downloads seemed sluggish when using AirVPN and just verified on Speedtest. I am currently getting approximately 70 Mbps without AirVPN, and this is reduced to around 5 Mbps after starting AirVPN. This is way too slow to be useful so am just looking for a way to get my VPN speed to reflect my actual connection speed or at least closer than it is now.

 

Thanks very much. Apologies if this does not provide the level of technical detail necessary to diagnose and offer advice. Please let me know if more information is needed and where I would get that info.

 

Update: Having read through a number of other threads with similar topics, I've tried uninstalling version 2.9 and installing the current experimental client as well as updating my uTorrent settings to identify a forwarded port that I got from the client area on this site. Neither of these made any difference to the speeds I'm getting, both with general internet usage as well as torrents (again, verified with speed test).

 

I noticed another thread regarding possible throttling in Canada from a couple of days ago with about 68 views but no replies so far. Any validity to this theory?

[rickjames 106]

Try changing the buffer sizes:

https://airvpn.org/topic/14544-pimp-my-airvpn-connection-log-file-included/?hl=sndbuf&do=findComment&comment=29015

 

You could also try using different ports, protocols or servers. Example: use UDP over port 53 or something.

 

If all else fails there's SSL and SSH connection options. However both ssl and ssh will have slightly more overhead.

 

I didn't read that thread but throttling in all of Canada is highly unlikely.

[screedle 1]

Thanks for the reply, I've tried the suggestions from that post you linked as well as various combinations of ports / protocols / servers as you mentioned but nothing seems to help with the speed issue.

 

Is there anything else that could resolve this?

 

Any help is appreciated.

[rickjames 106]

Only have a few suggestions:

-Try servers from completely different locations. - If testing on Canada servers try NL or SE.

-If possible try connecting via another machine on your network.

 

If you're getting throttled:

Throttling on the openvpn connection can usually be bypassed by using SSL/SSH. Because when using the SSL or SSH type in the client the openvpn connection is hidden inside the SSL/SSH tunnel. So if you've tried SSL/SSH already with no success its most likely a local pc setup or networking/router issue.

 

Attempting a connection via another computer would be the quickest way to troubleshoot the issue imo.

 

Feel free to post the Eddie client connection logs, your operating system and router setup. Others may be able to spot something as well.

 

 

[FromtheWalls 83]

Thanks for the reply, I've tried the suggestions from that post you linked as well as various combinations of ports / protocols / servers as you mentioned but nothing seems to help with the speed issue.

 

Is there anything else that could resolve this?

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

As a longshot you could try downgrading the client to version 2.8, which uses an older TAP driver. The new TAP driver works better than ever for me, but some users have reported horrible speeds with it and had to downgrade. It's worth a try if nothing else works

[mcurrale 8]

Unfortunately, no improvement for me either. After many days of testing, seems that it's most likely my connection. Seems to have only started for me over the past couple of weeks. No difference when using a different VPN either, so it seems not and AirVPN problem. I've tested different protocols/used two different machines?tried different ports/downgraded to 2.8, but nothing seems to fix the issue.

 

My ISP doesn't cut my speed at all, so nothing I can do there either.

 

Unsure where to go with this, but certainly becoming painful, considering I was previously able to watch UK tv with no buffering, but that's now a thing of the past.

 

Any other suggestions would be great.

[rickjames 106]

@mcurrale If you're running a router you could try bypassing it. Could also check your CAT cables and possibly replace the modem.

 

If you're on a cable connection you could check the DB/SNR at the modem and make sure any splitters between you and the pole/box aren't causing issues.

 

The routing out of Ozz can be flaky. Its possible the tubes are just overloaded...

[zhang888 1066]

To the Canadian OP:

Your ISP is known as a throttling one. There are many reports starting from 2009, like this:

http://arstechnica.com/business/2009/01/how-canadian-isps-throttle-the-internet/

And they keep doing the same, as it seems.

 

Some people I know from CA reported to have a very good expeirience with Telus and in particular with a niche P2P friendly ISP called TekSavvy.

If this is an option, try them and you can enjoy full speeds from Air's Amanah and Yesup servers in CA.

[screedle 1]

Have tried a bunch of servers and some of them give me quick speeds briefly and then drop to pretty much nothing, particularly with torrents (literally 1 kbps). Here is my log file in case there's anything that jumps out as a potential cause for the issue. The throttling issue is kind of throwing me since without AirVPN turned on my speeds are nice and quick, once I start it I get a brief (less than a minute) of relatively normal speed and then it pretty much drops to nothing.

 

Thanks

 

I 2015.07.26 21:22:19 - AirVPN client version: 2.10.1, System: Windows, Name: Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1, Architecture: x64
. 2015.07.26 21:22:19 - Reading options from C:\Users\\AppData\Local\AirVPN\AirVPN.xml
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - Data Path: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\AirVPN
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - App Path: C:\Program Files\AirVPN
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - Executable Path: C:\Program Files\AirVPN\AirVPN.exe
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - Command line arguments (1): path="home"
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - Updating systems & servers data ...
. 2015.07.26 21:22:20 - Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1
I 2015.07.26 21:22:21 - OpenVPN Driver - TAP-Windows Adapter V9, version 9.21.1
I 2015.07.26 21:22:21 - OpenVPN - Version: OpenVPN 2.3.6 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\openvpn.exe)
I 2015.07.26 21:22:21 - SSH - Version: plink 0.63 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\plink.exe)
I 2015.07.26 21:22:21 - SSL - Version: stunnel 5.17 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\stunnel.exe)
! 2015.07.26 21:22:21 - Ready
. 2015.07.26 21:22:22 - Systems & servers data update completed
I 2015.07.26 21:22:24 - Session starting.
I 2015.07.26 21:22:24 - IPv6 disabled.
I 2015.07.26 21:22:28 - Checking authorization ...
! 2015.07.26 21:22:28 - Connecting to Enif (Canada, Toronto, Ontario)
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:28 LOG5[ui]: stunnel 5.17 on x86-pc-mingw32-gnu platform
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:28 LOG5[ui]: Compiled/running with OpenSSL 1.0.2a 19 Mar 2015
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:28 LOG5[ui]: Threading:WIN32 Sockets:SELECT,IPv6 TLS:ENGINE,OCSP,PSK,SNI
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:28 LOG5[ui]: Reading configuration from file C:\Users\\AppData\Local\AirVPN

\26daeb63958f9443d865677998a613ee1e2a3452bc26099a103df7d191fecc04.tmp.ssl
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:28 LOG5[ui]: UTF-8 byte order mark not detected
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[ui]: Initializing service [openvpn]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG5[ui]: Configuration successful
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > OpenVPN 2.3.6 x86_64-w64-mingw32 [sSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [iPv6] built on Jun  5 2015
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.2a 19 Mar 2015, LZO 2.08
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: TCP Socket listening on [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > Control Channel Authentication: tls-auth using INLINE static key file
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > Outgoing Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > Incoming Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > Socket Buffers: R=[8192->262144] S=[8192->8192]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > Attempting to establish TCP connection with [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:50088 [nonblock]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > TCP connection established with [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:50088
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > TCPv4_CLIENT link local: [undef]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > TCPv4_CLIENT link remote: [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:50088
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG5[0]: Service [openvpn] accepted connection from 127.0.0.1:7895
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: Failover strategy: round-robin
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: s_connect: connecting 104.254.90.244:443
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG5[0]: s_connect: connected 104.254.90.244:443
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG5[0]: Service [openvpn] connected remote server from 192.168.0.13:7896
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: SNI: sending servername: 104.254.90.244
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: CERT: Locally installed certificate matched
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG5[0]: Certificate accepted at depth=0: C=IT, ST=Italy, L=Perugia, O=AirVPN, OU=stunnel, CN=stunnel.airvpn.org,

emailAddress=info@airvpn.org
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: SSL connected: new session negotiated
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - SSL > 2015.07.26 21:22:29 LOG6[0]: Negotiated TLSv1.2 ciphersuite ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256-bit encryption)
. 2015.07.26 21:22:29 - OpenVPN > TLS: Initial packet from [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:50088, sid=8cc1d5c1 d1d244c2
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=1, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=airvpn.org CA, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > Validating certificate key usage
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > ++ Certificate has key usage  00a0, expects 00a0
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > VERIFY KU OK
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > Validating certificate extended key usage
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > ++ Certificate has EKU (str) TLS Web Server Authentication, expects TLS Web Server Authentication
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > VERIFY EKU OK
. 2015.07.26 21:22:30 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=0, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=server, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > Data Channel Encrypt: Cipher 'AES-256-CBC' initialized with 256 bit key
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > Data Channel Encrypt: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > Data Channel Decrypt: Cipher 'AES-256-CBC' initialized with 256 bit key
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > Data Channel Decrypt: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > Control Channel: TLSv1, cipher TLSv1/SSLv3 DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA, 4096 bit RSA
. 2015.07.26 21:22:31 - OpenVPN > [server] Peer Connection Initiated with [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:50088
. 2015.07.26 21:22:33 - OpenVPN > SENT CONTROL [server]: 'PUSH_REQUEST' (status=1)
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > PUSH: Received control message: 'PUSH_REPLY,redirect-gateway def1 bypass-dhcp,dhcp-option DNS 10.50.0.1,comp-lzo no,route-gateway

10.50.0.1,topology subnet,ping 10,ping-restart 60,ifconfig 10.50.1.44 255.255.0.0'
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: timers and/or timeouts modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: LZO parms modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: --ifconfig/up options modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: route options modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: route-related options modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > OPTIONS IMPORT: --ip-win32 and/or --dhcp-option options modified
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > do_ifconfig, tt->ipv6=0, tt->did_ifconfig_ipv6_setup=0
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > open_tun, tt->ipv6=0
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > TAP-WIN32 device [Local Area Connection 6] opened: \\.\Global\{1FABA980-5A31-4F7F-9803-3A96E23F8D05}.tap
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > TAP-Windows Driver Version 9.21
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > Set TAP-Windows TUN subnet mode network/local/netmask = 10.50.0.0/10.50.1.44/255.255.0.0 [sUCCEEDED]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > Notified TAP-Windows driver to set a DHCP IP/netmask of 10.50.1.44/255.255.0.0 on interface {1FABA980-5A31-4F7F-9803-

3A96E23F8D05} [DHCP-serv: 10.50.255.254, lease-time: 31536000]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:34 - OpenVPN > Successful ARP Flush on interface [23] {1FABA980-5A31-4F7F-9803-3A96E23F8D05}
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > TEST ROUTES: 2/2 succeeded len=1 ret=1 a=0 u/d=up
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > C:\Windows\system32\route.exe ADD 127.0.0.1 MASK 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.1
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > ROUTE: CreateIpForwardEntry succeeded with dwForwardMetric1=10 and dwForwardType=4
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Route addition via IPAPI succeeded [adaptive]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > C:\Windows\system32\route.exe ADD 192.168.0.1 MASK 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.1 IF 19
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > ROUTE: CreateIpForwardEntry succeeded with dwForwardMetric1=10 and dwForwardType=4
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Route addition via IPAPI succeeded [adaptive]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > C:\Windows\system32\route.exe ADD 0.0.0.0 MASK 128.0.0.0 10.50.0.1
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > ROUTE: CreateIpForwardEntry succeeded with dwForwardMetric1=20 and dwForwardType=4
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Route addition via IPAPI succeeded [adaptive]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > C:\Windows\system32\route.exe ADD 128.0.0.0 MASK 128.0.0.0 10.50.0.1
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > ROUTE: CreateIpForwardEntry succeeded with dwForwardMetric1=20 and dwForwardType=4
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Route addition via IPAPI succeeded [adaptive]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > C:\Windows\system32\route.exe ADD 104.254.90.244 MASK 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.1
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > ROUTE: CreateIpForwardEntry succeeded with dwForwardMetric1=10 and dwForwardType=4
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Route addition via IPAPI succeeded [adaptive]
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - Starting Management Interface
. 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - OpenVPN > Initialization Sequence Completed
I 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - DNS of a network adapter forced (Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet)
I 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - DNS of a network adapter forced (TAP-Windows Adapter V9)
I 2015.07.26 21:22:39 - Flushing DNS
I 2015.07.26 21:22:40 - Checking route
I 2015.07.26 21:22:41 - Checking DNS
! 2015.07.26 21:22:41 - Connected.
. 2015.07.26 21:22:41 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: Client connected from [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100
. 2015.07.26 21:22:41 - OpenVpn Management > >INFO:OpenVPN Management Interface Version 1 -- type 'help' for more info
 

[mcurrale 8]

@mcurrale If you're running a router you could try bypassing it. Could also check your CAT cables and possibly replace the modem.

 

Modem is only six months old and I'm using an Asus DSL-AC68U and I've installed the latest firmware released last week. Tried different cables to the modem, no change. Tried both wireless and wired connection, no change.

 

If you're on a cable connection you could check the DB/SNR at the modem and make sure any splitters between you and the pole/box aren't causing issues.

 

The routing out of Ozz can be flaky. Its possible the tubes are just overloaded...

 

No doubt the routing out of Aus can be flaky, but why just the last couple of weeks and why only when I'm connected to a VPN? Seems to happen mostly when I'm trying to watch ITV too. BBC and Netflix etc. seem to be mostly uneffected. Speed is good, going at around 75 percent of my actual connection. Just seems like there's a bottleneck somewhere. I've just contacted my ISP and they're running some checks on their end and I hope to hear back from them later today.

[rickjames 106]

but why just the last couple of weeks and why only when I'm connected to a VPN? Seems to happen mostly when I'm trying to watch ITV too. BBC and Netflix etc. seem to be mostly uneffected.

 

The routing from you -> vpn or you -> ITV could be having issues. When not on a vpn a different path is taken to get from A to B. Just keep trying different servers and cross your fingers lol. Could also search the forums for other users from ozz and see what worked for them.

 

 

@screedle

If that article zhang888 found is true, ouch...

My last isp was similar. It took a lot of testing @ ports/protocols to find one that worked. But even then I ended up dumping them and going with someone else.

 

Torrents dropping to 1kbps sorta sounds like a configuration issue but tbh who knows.

 

For speed testing I would just skip torrents and find a server you can download a large file from while using something like DownThemAll for firefox. You might get lucky and find a vpn connection type that's not getting throttled. Like I said my last isp was a nightmare but after some testing I was able to find a config that worked.

 

Here's a few.

Canada:

http://debian.savoirfairelinux.net/pub/mirrors/debian-cd/8.1.0-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/debian-live-8.1.0-amd64-standard.iso

Canada:

http://debian.yorku.ca/ubuntu-releases/15.04/ubuntu-15.04-desktop-amd64.iso

US:

http://lug.mtu.edu/debian-cd/8.1.0-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/debian-live-8.1.0-amd64-standard.iso

US:

http://mirrors.gigenet.com/debian-cd/8.1.0-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/debian-live-8.1.0-amd64-standard.iso

 

A few more here: https://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/#mirrors

 

-good luck and may the ports be with you.

[screedle 1]

Not sure if this makes a difference but my speed is great when I'm not running AirVPN so maybe that rules out throttling as a potential cause? It would be slow with or without AirVPN turned on if it was a throttling, right? Or no? Right now I'm just going through a bunch of servers to see if any of them offer better speed on http://www.speedtest.net. Without Air in use, getting around 70 Mbps download speed. Once Air is used, any server I choose puts it down to 3 to 5 Mbps.

[mcurrale 8]

Hi,

 

I've finally, after much mucking about, managed to sort out my speed issues and am now running at around 75 percent of my actual speed when connected to a U.S. west coast server from Australia with a ping of around 165.

 

What I did was download the experimental client from AirVPN, then once installed, I uninstalled the windows driver and installed the latest one by downloading the latest OpenVPN client, which is 2.3.7 from their website.

 

Then install OpenVPN, but make sure you only check the tap driver, unless you're happy to have the full client installed.

 

Once this is done, go back to AirVPN and try connecting to a server near you and see if your speed has increased.

 

Also, as a point of reference, for me, I find that the best protocol for me in terms of speed are UDP port 2018, so maybe try that one as well prior to connecting up.

 

Hope this helps.

[screedle 1]

Thanks mccurale for the info but how do I uninstall the windows drivers after installing AirVPN?

[screedle 1]

Might also be worth mentioning that I can't get port forwarding to work. I've gone through the newbie setup thread a number of times and tested several different forwarded ports setup through the AirVPN client area and every time I get a "timed out" error on Canyouseeme. Testing through utorrent is also unsuccessful. I have entered the forwarded port number in the connection settings for utorrent and ensured that UPnP port mapping and NAT-PnP port mapping are disabled.

[mcurrale 8]

Hi.

 

Go to add/remove programs and find the program headed tap and right click on uninstall. You might also want to uninstall openvpn by using the same method. If you have CCleander on your machine, run a registery cleanup as well.