Whirlpool

Does WestNet's ADSL work with PPPoA?
And is it true that A is slightly faster than E?

Silmaril writes...

Does WestNet's ADSL work with PPPoA?

Yes.

And is it true that A is slightly faster than E?

PPPoA has slightly less overheads and maybe slightly faster but not a lot of difference. Possibly more stable.

I found PPPoA to be between 3-8 KB/s faster than PPPoE on a 512Kb connection.
Nothing that will rock your world, but it'll do.

Worm

lol this maybe a dumb question but how do you connect using PPPoA?

kong writes...

lol this maybe a dumb question but how do you connect using PPPoA?

its driver dependant, if your modem allows PPPoA then you will need the adequate driver.

Also, make sure you change your encapsulation method from LLC to VC-Mux if you want to use PPPoA.

EDIT:

If none of this makes any sense to you probably best to give support a call.

Wormy Worm writes...

I found PPPoA to be between 3-8 KB/s faster than PPPoE on a 512Kb connection.
Nothing that will rock your world, but it'll do.

Worm

I found that it lowered my ping by about 10ms or so to Aus, and 25ms or so to USA.

3-8kBs and 10ms ping is a pretty significant difference I'd say.

CJS writes...

PPPoA has slightly less overheads and maybe slightly faster but not a lot of difference. Possibly more stable.

Why on earth isn't it the default/recommended mode, then?

PPPoA is completely better than PPPoE in my view

Some people find that either PPPoE or PPPoA works better for them (for different reasons)
I've even seen some modems that refuse to connect with PPPoA (or vice versa).

I am using PPPoE here at home, and it works a treat. That said, stick with whatever works best for you.

Regards,
Brad

Yeah I switched to PPPoA and am downloading about 2-3K faster and uploading about 800b/s faster

hehehe, i just converted to PPPoA too and it jumped up a little...

So, is this (roughly) how it works? (going from me to WestNet)

PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet (over ATM))
My IP packet->encapsulated in ethernet frame->encapsulated in ATM frame->sent to WestNet over xDSL ATM connection->ATM header stripped->ethernet header stripped->IP packet sent to WAN

PPPoA (PPP over ATM)
My IP packet->encapsulated in ATM frame->sent to WestNet over xDSL ATM connection->ATM header stripped->IP packet sent to WAN

If so, clearly PPPoA has less overhead (no virtual ethernet channel over ATM), which would account for the jump in throughput. And beers all round!

You want reliability and service go with PPPoA, the reason I suggest that is that it is an ATM based service, and there are less overheads involved within the workings of TCP/IP, also with Westnet I have noticed that my connection is less vunerable to disconnections, but also the Uptime is better and more stable. For more information on PPPoA and PPPoE visit the Telstra Wholesale website, information is very broad and discusses the differing methods of connecting within ADSL, based type services

www.telstrawholesale.com.au

Cheers

I too am using PPPoE at home, and it works fine for me.
I know of people who have been unable to use PPPoA at all, its all dependant on personal preference, trial and error and your hardware.

If you have the choice of both, give them both a go and see which works better for you, although as said by someone before, it may not even be a very noticable difference.

Troy Reynolds writes...

Also, make sure you change your encapsulation method from LLC to VC-Mux if you want to use PPPoA.

So if my encapsulation method is VC-Mux, I'm using PPPoA?

Brad Ticehurst writes...

TO
Brad Ticehurst... Some people find that either PPPoE or PPPoA works better for them (for different reasons)
I've even seen some modems that refuse to connect with PPPoA (or vice versa).

When I first plugges everything in, the modem default was PPPoA, and it connected quite happily to WestNet. Support over the phone however, walked me through changing it to PPPoE.

What does the Encapsulation method preference do? I have been using PPoA since I started and the encapsulation method has always been LLC.

In a nutshell, it defines the method by which data transmitted to and from your adsl modem is packaged up and sent along the network.

And now a relatively technical definition..

ATM Encapsulation Methods

Dont say i didnt warn you ;P