My Internet is SLOW!

[Aztech]

I recently upgraded (supposedly) my Internet bandwidth from the cheap 384K plan to the all out 3Mbps plan. Let's just say it ain't workin'. I've gone to a couple of sites and done free speed tests and they show anywhere from 275K (right now) up to 1Mbps (saw it a couple of times). But mostly, hovering around 400K - 700K.

This can't be right. What settings can I adjust? I know cable is a shared medium but dayum!

 

[InlineFive]

1. Set your MTU to 1500.
2. I think you might be confusing Kb and KB. There are 8Kb in 1KB. So if you take 3000Kbps divided by 8Kbps you get about 375KB/s. However, keep in mind that most servers are slower and do not always max out your connection. A good way to test is download a large file from Microsoft (very fast servers) like the network install of SP2.

Try those and see what you get.

 

[Aztech]

I don't think my math is off. I'm supposed to be getting 3MegaBits/second. I'm getting 275 KiloBits/second.

Where's this MTU setting?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

You'll never see a single download at 3 megs per second. Servers just don't run that fast on the open internet. And don't trust what those "speed tests" say either. They rely on the internet, which has tons of variables. Not to mention some just aren't legit. The most accurate test I've found is a good Bit Torrent client. I'm using ABC 3. No single download will max out your connection, but multiple torrents can do it easily. Just limit your upload for the purposes of testing, so you don't choke your packet acknowledgements. Do the reverse for upload testing. Remember, higher bandwidth is like adding lanes to a highway: More cars get through at once, but the speed limit stays the same.

 

[Aztech]

I understand that I'll never see 3Mbps, but come on! 275K? And it's been 3 nights in a row that I've checked (using various online speed tests). Test your speed at, say, Toast.net and let me know what you get.

 

[Garion]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
You'll never see a single download at 3 megs per second. Servers just don't run that fast on the open internet. And don't trust what those "speed tests" say either. They rely on the internet, which has tons of variables. Not to mention some just aren't legit. The most accurate test I've found is a good Bit Torrent client. I'm using ABC 3. No single download will max out your connection, but multiple torrents can do it easily. Just limit your upload for the purposes of testing, so you don't choke your packet acknowledgements. Do the reverse for upload testing. Remember, higher bandwidth is like adding lanes to a highway: More cars get through at once, but the speed limit stays the same.

Actually, I frequently get 3Mb/s downloads from fast servers.

OP: What your ISP sells you for bandwidth is just the connection from your house to their POP. That doesn't mean that they have adequate bandwidth from their POP to the Internet to be able to give you the full speed.

I just went to toast.net and got a pretty accurate reading on my bandwidth - 3.5 Mb/s on a 4Mb/s cable line.

Two thoughts:

Setting your MTU and tweaking your network settings is a good idea - I'd use Dr. TCP to help you do so.

It is also possible that you've got some network problems at your house - Check your cabling and your network settings to make sure that you're getting a clean connection to your DSL modem or your router. Use a tool like Ping Plotter to ping a host on the Internet that you KNOW is good (like www.yahoo.com) and keep an eye on the results and see if there's any dropped packets or wierd slow spots. Network problems will DEFINITELY cause this kind of problem.

If all else fails, call your ISP. If you're not getting what you paid for make them fix it.

- G

 

[SaintTigurius]

before ppl start talking about MTU

are u using a router...?

if you are take out the router, and test speed with directly to modem.

*note* MTU if u have, PPPoE like DSL = your MTU will be set automatically on your router to 1492. u can only go lower.

IF your using DYNAMIC IP, CABLE internet its set as DEFAULT for 1500, so you can only go down if thats the issues, DEFAULT IS 1500.. try 1450...


IF u only have a MODEM, and NO router,

Toast have showen slow connection,
Try a different computer,? incase you have lots of spyware on that PC.

CALL YOU ISP AND TELL THEM.....IT might be the modem or they might of forgot to change it OR the stupid tech that talked to u thought u had a new modem that can handle that speed.!!

 

[Aztech]

Thanks for the replies. I'm on cable, not DSL. I have already tried bypassing the router and also using a second computer. Same results. I'm about to check out some of the links provided here. Thanks.

Oh yeah, I've already been on Tech support with Charter twice. Same troubleshooting steps, same results (nothing).

 

[Eltano1]

If you are in cable, that means that your are in a area that has a lot of users. That is the biggest problem with cable, you share the bandwith with your neighborgs, also there is the security issue, if you don't have your PC or network behind a firewall or router.

Eltano

 

[The Boston Dangler]

There is no additional security problems for cable users. This myth comes from the fact that users in a neighborhood have a "shared" connection. In fact all ISPs share connections at some point, the difference is where the combining occurs. DOCSIS modems cannot be addressed by the user, so your neighbor can't read your data. DOCSIS systems are hybrid networks, full speed until a thresh hold is reached, then switching to a slower token-ring. This doesn't happen frequently in a properly designed system. Slower speeds may also result from packet loss or an improper speed setting on the server side.

Try pinging your DHCP. The ping time should be low teens to mid twenties, with 0% packet loss.

Call Charter and ask a tech to check your account. Ask if your service tier matches the rate on your billing (3Meg). The billing and sevice systems likely aren't 100% connected, and glitches may occur.


If you have a Motorola modem try this site.
http://192.168.100.1/index.htm
I don't know if it will work with non- Moto modems. It will not work on non-DOCSIS data systems, though these are rare now.

Garion, I'm gonna give Ping Plotter a try. Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: Optimizing & Measuring the "Speed" of Internet Connection.

:sun:

 

[ShadowBlade]

Originally posted by: Aztech
Thanks for the replies. I'm on cable, not DSL. I have already tried bypassing the router and also using a second computer. Same results. I'm about to check out some of the links provided here. Thanks.

Oh yeah, I've already been on Tech support with Charter twice. Same troubleshooting steps, same results (nothing).

I dont know about charter, but with sbc yahoo, they have a higher level of support for when the idiots you get when you call them cant fix things like "is your modem turned on?"
so call back and ask if theres a higher level of support

 

[jamesbond007]

With a 3Mbps connection, you should max at about 400KB/sec, which is what I got when I use to have it. 3000/8=375 and my cable ISP is very leaniant on their bandwidth, so they just rounded it to about 400...

Anyways, you should peak at 375KB/sec. You are paying for 3Megabits, not 3MegaBytes. There's a BIG difference. About 8 times difference.

If you want a real speed test, try downloading anything from Microsoft's website. I've pulled things off there at over 1.2MB/sec, which is about 12Mbps.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Merovingian]

No way, he should be seeing 300K per sec flat. That's it as for whatever reason the industry considers a 10 instead of 8 conversion to be statndard. I have 1.5Mb/s which equates to 150K per sec. I wan't to get some of my neighbors to go in on a fiber channel line with me. I hear that it's $400 for 26MB/s not Mb! I think it's like 1500 install and a few hundred bucks for the card. Anyway, I want it!

 

[chaudharymic]

Wait for FIOS TheMerovingian
If he pays for 3000 he should get it. I pay for 4000 and am capped at 4300 or 4400
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 4205 Kbps about 4.2 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 513 kB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Sun Apr 03 2005 16:50:37 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)
Bottom Line:: 75X faster than 56K 1MB download in 2 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 27.5 % faster than the average for host (comcast.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-GYFSD8TWV

Ask in the broadband tweaks section at dslreports

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: Aztech
I recently upgraded (supposedly) my Internet bandwidth from the cheap 384K plan to the all out 3Mbps plan. Let's just say it ain't workin'. I've gone to a couple of sites and done free speed tests and they show anywhere from 275K (right now) up to 1Mbps (saw it a couple of times). But mostly, hovering around 400K - 700K.

This can't be right. What settings can I adjust? I know cable is a shared medium but dayum!

I think those tests are crap

my favorite test has been my download speed getting a service pack from Microsoft or some other huge file from a big company. At work I can get almost 1MB per second speeds. At home on the 1500/1500 SDSL it's slower.

depending on the website you visit you may not see any improvement since their bandwidth may already be maxed out on their end

 

[Merovingian]

Yeah, at caltech we got 1.2MB per/sec, I've been spoiled. Now I deal with 150K per sec. Those DL speeds are pretty good chaud! I agree that the best tests tend not to come from test sites but maybe that one is different.

 

[syco83]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
You'll never see a single download at 3 megs per second. Servers just don't run that fast on the open internet. And don't trust what those "speed tests" say either. They rely on the internet, which has tons of variables. Not to mention some just aren't legit. The most accurate test I've found is a good Bit Torrent client. I'm using ABC 3. No single download will max out your connection, but multiple torrents can do it easily. Just limit your upload for the purposes of testing, so you don't choke your packet acknowledgements. Do the reverse for upload testing. Remember, higher bandwidth is like adding lanes to a highway: More cars get through at once, but the speed limit stays the same.

my website runs that fast and faster i max out my 4mbit connection on it

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Can I max out my 6 meg connection?

 

[berserker]

Ya aztech you are confusing bits and bytes. Your rated speed is 3 mega BITS/second, and you are getting 275 kilo BYTES/second. 275 x 8 = 2.2 megabits/second, which ain't bad for a 3 megabit cable conn in my experience.

 

[syco83]

Originally posted by: berserker
Ya aztech you are confusing bits and bytes. Your rated speed is 3 mega BITS/second, and you are getting 275 kilo BYTES/second. 275 x 8 = 2.2 megabits/second, which ain't bad for a 3 megabit cable conn in my experience.

he said he was getting 275kilobits not bytes so that would be 275/8 = 35kilobytes

and i have 4megabit cable connection and i can download over 500kilobytes a seconds

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Ping Plotter is teh bomb.