App Store Downloads Very Slow

Question

App Store Downloads Very Slow

For about the last week, I've noticed that my iOS App Store downloads have become exceedingly slow when connected to my home wifi. This seems to occur only in the evenings during heavy usage periods, but not at all early in the morning or during the day. And they work just fine - very fast - when connected to my carriers cellular network. So, despite 9.3 having just been released, i don't think it's an Apple issue since it works fine via other methods.

Normally, I think this would point so an issue with either my wifi router or my cable modem. However, I don't think that's the case here because if I connect to my home WiFi, then connect to a VPN - download speeds return to normal. So I don't think its either my router or my modem. I thought it might be DNS related, but I've reset those several times as well. It

So what do you guys think? Traffic Shaping from Time Warner?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3

Posted on Mar 23, 2016 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 23, 2016 2:15 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

Same thing in iTunes 12.3.3.17 with downloading apps 😕 Podcasts are downloading with normal speed.

OS X 10.11.4

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Answer 2

Mar 23, 2016 3:50 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

Same issue here. A download of 80 mb takes up to 8 minutes. On a high broadband connection.

No issues downloading on other sites or streaming.

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Answer 3

CWaffles

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2016 5:18 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

Interesting theory about Time Warner. I am also on Time Warner (in central Texas) and am seeing the EXACT same thing you are. This has to be traffic shaping or throttling on TW's end.

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Answer 4

Mar 23, 2016 5:35 PM in response to CWaffles

I'm in Austin. So this make me feel good to know that I'm not crazy.

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Answer 5

Mar 23, 2016 5:42 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

I am having this exact same issue on Time Warner in Austin as well. Only Apple downloads are slow. Normal speeds when downloading from other sites or streaming netflix or amazon.

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Answer 6

CWaffles

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2016 6:12 PM in response to gigemaggie

Well, seems we all have the Time Warner Austin thing in common, so now the question is, who do we talk to at TW to look into it. This is definitely not a front line support kind of issue.

I'm not sure if this has any bearing on what we are seeing, but Level3.net has been getting nailed with denial of service attacks over the past few days. I would think though, if this had anything to do with the level3.net issues, we would be seeing slowness or outages everywhere, not just with Apple.

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Answer 7

Mar 23, 2016 6:18 PM in response to CWaffles

I've been tweeting with them. No solution yet. They call back in the AM when I'm not at home or I'm not experiencing the issue. They were supposed to call back this evening but haven't done so yet. Would suggest you context twc help on Twitter.

It actually could be the DDoS attacks on Level3. The success Im having with VPN might support that if I'm getting off their backbone.

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Answer 8

Mar 23, 2016 6:21 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

Same situation. I like in Cedar Park (which borders North Austin). Everything else is very quick, mac store is insanely slow (10+ hours to upgrade Xcode).

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Answer 9

Mar 23, 2016 6:26 PM in response to developer-atx

Wow. If it's any consolation to all of us, they told me they are getting lots of complains about this. Not that it means they will do anything.

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Answer 10

CWaffles

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2016 6:26 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

But if it was the DDoS attacks on Level3, why are we only seeing the issue with Apple. I've got no issues anywhere else.

I'm out near Liberty Hill.....it took 5-6 hours just to get OSX 10.11.4 downloaded the other day.

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Answer 11

CWaffles

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2016 6:27 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

Well, lots of complaints is a good thing. It will at least get them looking into it. Did they say the complaints are only from in and around the Austin area or are they all over?

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Answer 12

Mar 23, 2016 6:28 PM in response to CWaffles

Thats a great question, and I don't have answer. It's why I keep coming back to traffic shaping.

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Answer 13

Mar 23, 2016 6:32 PM in response to CWaffles

They told me they were local support based off mopac so I assume she meant Austin area.

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Answer 14

Mar 23, 2016 7:36 PM in response to tulanejosh2002

I'm so glad you posted this. I also have TimeWarner in Austin. I noticed this problem all week and then freaked out when I saw how long it would take to update my iPhone. I hope they get this working.

I also noticed some slow playback with youtube on my laptop over wifi. Speedtest showed my connection to be blazing fast, but I couldn't even playback a video at 720p. Same issue maybe?

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Answer 15

Mar 24, 2016 1:28 AM in response to Scaggnetti

Well I'm not in the Austin area - I'm from Denmark but still has issues with the iTunes server speed

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