Downloads slow to 10kb/s Verizon - DC / NE US Issue

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It appears Verizon FIOS is the culprit - per other users seems there are difficultues in DC / NE US Area
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As of last night, all of my steam downloads suddenly dropped to approx 10kb/s. This is not specific to any game but any steam game/app. I'm able to download the steam platform just fine and other applications work fine as well. I have a gigabit internet connection - speed test is returning 750/511 MBPS, was able to download a test 1gb file in approx 30 seconds. Games that are updated run fine it's just that my system is unable to download anything from Steam!

https://imgur.com/kMe8Drm

Attempted all of the following without any resolution

Restarting Steam
Restarting PC
Restarting Router
Changing download location
Clearing download cache
Reinstalling Windows
Flushing / Clearing DNS
Turning off Firewall
Files attached: speedtest.jpg

Any help or tips is appreciated

[Eber]

Lambda3 lähetti viestin:

I doubt it, but is anyone using their own DNS server? I currently use cloudflare, 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1 and I've run into issues here anyway even when not using them and trying to use Verizon's DNS.

Regardless the tech rep on the FIOS Direct forum recommended I try this:
https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/home-network/settings/opt-out-of-dns-assist

I'm actually technically already opted out and not using Verizon DNS servers at all (which makes this issue especially weird because they should have no involvement in where my DNS server tells me a server is because it isn't even one of their own!). But I'm going to try that and see if it helps at all.

Unfortunately this didn't help. I changed my DNS to Google and still nothing. I was hoping this may help. Back to the drawing board.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

I havent read this whole thread, as I dont have the issue, but:

I am in the NE, in NJ, and have no Steam download issues, I also dont use their DNS if that matters (from the last page).

Just tossing it on the fact pile.

[Lambda3]

AmsterdamHeavy lähetti viestin:

I havent read this whole thread, as I dont have the issue, but:

I am in the NE, in NJ, and have no Steam download issues, I also dont use their DNS if that matters (from the last page).

Just tossing it on the fact pile.

Appreciate the reporting. From what I gather this is from the DC area specifically.. it probably includes MD and VA. One person specifically said they're in Philadelphia. Its interesting that it doesn't seem to go beyond that.

[Lambda3]

It seems a quick workaround to force you to a different content server IP is to just do ipconfig /renew while a download is on going. It speeds up either on its own or if you quickly do a pause and resume on the download right after that. If you close and reopen steam the issue comes back because you're then connected to that problematic IP that gives the 404 error.

[ReconCharlie]

Lambda3 lähetti viestin:

It seems a quick workaround to force you to a different content server IP is to just do ipconfig /renew while a download is on going. It speeds up either on its own or if you quickly do a pause and resume on the download right after that. If you close and reopen steam the issue comes back because you're then connected to that problematic IP that gives the 404 error.

I called Verizon again and after being shuffled around to FOUR different people, I finally was able to talk to a "fiber technician". This gentleman stated that the best they could do was reset my IP address or something (couldn't really understand him) but I needed to be in front of the router in order to reset it after he did whatever he was mumbling about, remotely on his end.

Not being tech savvy I don't know if this is a similar concept to what your suggesting with ipconfig. Going to have to call them again once I get home from the Station and try this. What I don't understand is why is this only happening to FIOS customers in the DMV/Philly area?

[hku 神]

experiencing same issue, Live in DC with Fios Gigabit, cant download anything on multiple devices. downloads slowed to 10 kB/s. Calling FIOS right now. I called them last night and they blamed me, my computers firewall, and steam. Glad to see its something on their end.

[Eber]

Hku CS.DEALS lähetti viestin:

experiencing same issue, Live in DC with Fios Gigabit, cant download anything on multiple devices. downloads slowed to 10 kB/s. Calling FIOS right now. I called them last night and they blamed me, my computers firewall, and steam. Glad to see its something on their end.

Let us know what Verizon may say and if any steps are taken on their end.

[Lambda3]

ReconCharlie lähetti viestin:

Lambda3 lähetti viestin:

It seems a quick workaround to force you to a different content server IP is to just do ipconfig /renew while a download is on going. It speeds up either on its own or if you quickly do a pause and resume on the download right after that. If you close and reopen steam the issue comes back because you're then connected to that problematic IP that gives the 404 error.

I called Verizon again and after being shuffled around to FOUR different people, I finally was able to talk to a "fiber technician". This gentleman stated that the best they could do was reset my IP address or something (couldn't really understand him) but I needed to be in front of the router in order to reset it after he did whatever he was mumbling about, remotely on his end.

Not being tech savvy I don't know if this is a similar concept to what your suggesting with ipconfig. Going to have to call them again once I get home from the Station and try this. What I don't understand is why is this only happening to FIOS customers in the DMV/Philly area?

Yeah that sounds concerning and like they don't have a damn clue.

The ipconfig /renew (or sometimes first doing ipconfig /release then doing ipconfig /renew works and not just renew) seems to be a bit of a quirky thing that gets different IP address than the one that for some reason Verizon keeps pointing us to. It is done on your PC side so my PC doesn't actually have its IP address change on the local network, nor does the IP Verizon gives address to your connection change on the router. I really haven't sat and analyzed the wireshark logs as to what is going on during the ipconfig commands. Other than after doing it, I'm no longer pointing to the problematic Verizon IP address anymore and instead a different one which provide no 404 errors and actually lets me download things. Not quite sure why that seems to work, must be bypassing some sort of way the IP address is being pushed to us when Steam is opened. It also doesn't work all the time. Either way, effect is temporary and its not a real fix.

[hku 神]

I got off the phone with them, the guy was super nice but had no idea what was causing it. He ran a bunch of tests on my modem and router but nothing helped. He made an elevated/escalated ticket for me and said if other people called and had a similar issue they get grouped together and the more that have the issue the sooner they try to deal with it.

[thesauceisforever]

Following along with this post - have been experiencing all of the same issues with slow download speed in DC. Have tried everything in this thread along with other threads and no luck...

[Iceira]

another idea , try DL at opposite side of Primetime, because US have have multi time zone, you should get through if lesser congestion in the US , if its even that problem. im not saying that is the cause but that could be why it work sometime for maybe some of you, and also proof or dismis my idea of congestion in primetime. ( it will look weird if more of you can get through in that timeslot window ) and same time give a little clue why. )

dont forget right steam DL zone or next nearest

then usa are at sleep , traffic should be lesser. but dont forget most business start to update at midnight so wait a hour or 2 or get up earli morning to test, and isp's work also start at midnight then update network so morning should be better then they are done.

[ReconCharlie]

Just got off the phone with them for the third time. Thankfully, it seems enough people have been calling that the first guy I talked to, Phil, was aware of the issue. I was then passed around to two other technicians until I finally got Gary who was the head tech supervisor. He said that it was an issue with the router not being open to Steam's ports and that they needed to connect with my router to open up the correct Steam port in order to fix the problem.

Again, this all might as well be Chinese to me. I'm a firefighter not a tech savvy IT guru, sadly; I have no idea if this proposed solution even makes sense. However, having had this problem for so long I was gung ho to move forward. Until he gave me the typical warning about opening ports and the possibility for those open ports to allow viruses etc. to get onto your system. I told them that I wanted to hold off and they are going to call me back on Thursday. Does this idea even make sense to folks?

Finally, while this was all going on I had Steam open and low and behold, SOMETHING happened because one of my games actually updated! I have no idea how or why, but at some point, while I was on the phone, it started working. However, it did go back to the usual 10-12 kbps like before.

Anyway, just wanted to share. One of these days we'll figure this out!

[Eber]

ReconCharlie lähetti viestin:

Just got off the phone with them for the third time. Thankfully, it seems enough people have been calling that the first guy I talked to, Phil, was aware of the issue. I was then passed around to two other technicians until I finally got Gary who was the head tech supervisor. He said that it was an issue with the router not being open to Steam's ports and that they needed to connect with my router to open up the correct Steam port in order to fix the problem.

Again, this all might as well be Chinese to me. I'm a firefighter not a tech savvy IT guru, sadly; I have no idea if this proposed solution even makes sense. However, having had this problem for so long I was gung ho to move forward. Until he gave me the typical warning about opening ports and the possibility for those open ports to allow viruses etc. to get onto your system. I told them that I wanted to hold off and they are going to call me back on Thursday. Does this idea even make sense to folks?

Finally, while this was all going on I had Steam open and low and behold, SOMETHING happened because one of my games actually updated! I have no idea how or why, but at some point, while I was on the phone, it started working. However, it did go back to the usual 10-12 kbps like before.

Anyway, just wanted to share. One of these days we'll figure this out!

The idea does make sense as certain ports do need to be open that Steam needs. The concern I have is that those ports should already be open. So I'm perplexed they are not. I reviewed my ports and I believe all the required ones are open. I'll have to double check.

And yes, there are occasional bumps of speed and I get games updated too, but it never lasts long.

[Slayer]

I'm currently having this same issue. Fios, DC area 100mb/s but 10kb/s download speed on steam. Everything else works. Downloaded a game on battle net and it finishes instantly. Can someone hotspot into their comp and see what the speed is? i have tired everything, uninstalling steam, reinstalling, running as admin, temporarily turning off firewall. The only thing that helps is deleting download cache and then it starts at 2mb/s and then drops to 10kb/s.

[Slayer]

I connected to a VPN and restarted steam. that seemed to fix it. Its a shame