Webex, is it also slow for others?

[Joerg]

Gents,

Today it actually worked for a change. But ... it trundled in some sort
of progress bar thingie forever. Had to restart and then wait a whopping
10 minutes while others (but all inside the client's building six states
away) were already on. Meaning our meeting started late and we had to do
the first part with emails.

Is it always so slow? When I asked the support at Webex in the past they
usually said that there were issues and it'll be better next time. Never
was, mostly it completely refused to work. Go-to-meeting, Adobe
NetMeeting and all that always work instantly. I am puzzled. Got to get
to the ground of that because some clients insist on Webex.

 

[Jamie]

Gents,

Today it actually worked for a change. But ... it trundled in some sort
of progress bar thingie forever. Had to restart and then wait a whopping
10 minutes while others (but all inside the client's building six states
away) were already on. Meaning our meeting started late and we had to do
the first part with emails.

Is it always so slow? When I asked the support at Webex in the past they
usually said that there were issues and it'll be better next time. Never
was, mostly it completely refused to work. Go-to-meeting, Adobe
NetMeeting and all that always work instantly. I am puzzled. Got to get
to the ground of that because some clients insist on Webex.

We use that at work and it's about 75% reliable. There are days when
we just give up and the cell phones start ringing for a reschedule.

I don't know if it is related to that system or just the fact the
network simply gets busy at times?

Jamie

 

[Joerg]

We use that at work and it's about 75% reliable. There are days when
we just give up and the cell phones start ringing for a reschedule.

I don't know if it is related to that system or just the fact the
network simply gets busy at times?

It can't be the Internet because other such services work reliably. But
most of all, they start fast. A service that needs several minutes just
to start a remote location is IMHO not useful.

 

[Charlie E.]

It can't be the Internet because other such services work reliably. But
most of all, they start fast. A service that needs several minutes just
to start a remote location is IMHO not useful.

It depends somewhat on security type settings. I know that sometimes,
it will establish a VPN connection where the system waits for an
acknowledgement on the status of each packet. If there is any
significant latency in your network connection and you have that type
of VPN settings, then no matter how fast your actual download and
upload settings, things slow to a crawl!

Of course, there is probably no way to change those settings once they
get set like that... ;-)

Charlie

 

[Joerg]

It depends somewhat on security type settings. I know that sometimes,
it will establish a VPN connection where the system waits for an
acknowledgement on the status of each packet. If there is any
significant latency in your network connection and you have that type
of VPN settings, then no matter how fast your actual download and
upload settings, things slow to a crawl!

Of course, there is probably no way to change those settings once they
get set like that... ;-)

Ok, I understand. But what irks me is that the Webex software just sits
there with a stalled blue progress bar. No information about what it's
missing whatsoever, nada, nothing, zilch. Software writers need to
re-learn the art of how to inform users about what's going on or what's
not going on.

It's like the USB connection on my (otherwise good) Taiwan-designed
scope. Sometimes it just says "DSO not connect". No problem with the
grammar error, but it could be a little more specific. Like that signals
came across the USB but the codes were wrong. That cuts down on debug,
big time.

 

[Joerg]

Tell them to insist but shut up about speed.

Well, I was just wondering if it's just me or others as well. After
Jamie's response it seems I am not alone.