Slow 500K Broadband - Help appreciated - Out of ideas!

Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?

BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
modem.

My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!

I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.

The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.

My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.

My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.

The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.

Ideas appreciated,
Thanks, David

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?
>
> BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
> from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
> modem.
>
> My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!
>
> I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
> XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.
>
> The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.
>
> My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
> only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.
>
> My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
> Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.
>
> The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
> the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.
>
> Ideas appreciated,
> Thanks, David

So you have replaced your modem for one exactly the same?
Personally i dont like usb modems, i would go for a network card and a
router, or next best a pci adsl modem.

What motherboard chip set do you have - some mobos have very poor USB
implementation. Get latest drivers for your motherboard. but i would ditch
the USB altogether.

On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 16:17:57 +0100, "John R Whale"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?
>>
>> BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
>> from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
>> modem.
>>
>> My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!
>>
>> I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
>> XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.
>>
>> The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.
>>
>> My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
>> only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.
>>
>> My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
>> Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.
>>
>> The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
>> the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.
>>
>> Ideas appreciated,
>> Thanks, David
>
>So you have replaced your modem for one exactly the same?
>Personally i dont like usb modems, i would go for a network card and a
>router, or next best a pci adsl modem.
>

Yes the modem is the same!

>What motherboard chip set do you have - some mobos have very poor USB
>implementation. Get latest drivers for your motherboard. but i would ditch
>the USB altogether.
>

Thanks for the reply.

The main PC is K7S5A motherboard with SiS 735 chipset (1.8Ghz).
The old PC I think is GA-5AA, Ali Aladdin V AGPset (500MHz).
The Laptop is Compaq EVO 115 (no idea what chipset, 1.3Ghz).

As I previously indicated they ALL give identical poor results!

I agree the weak link is USB but it is supplied to do the job so in
theory should work, at least close to full spec.!

I got the startup pack from the ISP and decided to get USB version to
allow more than one PC to use broadband if required. That has proved
useful as the ISP is being very helpful but is now running out of
ideas. Their last suggestion was to change 'MUT' (whatever that is)
and change the packets. They have some information on their website
but I don't see there should be anything special about my system which
needs to get that deep into the system and start tweeking.

Maybe it would be helpful to mention my BT line is only about half a
mile from the exchange and was checked at 24 db loss and 33 db noise
level.

I have also checked with the BT speedtester direct into their system
and got almost identical results to www.adslguide.org.uk.

Hope that helps and await your further suggestions.

Thanks,

Regards, David

E-mail: (E-Mail Removed)

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 16:17:57 +0100, "John R Whale"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>
>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
>>> Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?
>>>
>>> BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
>>> from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
>>> modem.
>>>
>>> My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!
>>>
>>> I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
>>> XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.
>>>
>>> The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.
>>>
>>> My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
>>> only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.
>>>
>>> My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
>>> Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.
>>>
>>> The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
>>> the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.
>>>
>>> Ideas appreciated,
>>> Thanks, David
>>
>>So you have replaced your modem for one exactly the same?
>>Personally i dont like usb modems, i would go for a network card and a
>>router, or next best a pci adsl modem.
>>
>
> Yes the modem is the same!
>
>>What motherboard chip set do you have - some mobos have very poor USB
>>implementation. Get latest drivers for your motherboard. but i would
>>ditch
>>the USB altogether.
>>
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> The main PC is K7S5A motherboard with SiS 735 chipset (1.8Ghz).
> The old PC I think is GA-5AA, Ali Aladdin V AGPset (500MHz).
> The Laptop is Compaq EVO 115 (no idea what chipset, 1.3Ghz).
>
> As I previously indicated they ALL give identical poor results!
>
> I agree the weak link is USB but it is supplied to do the job so in
> theory should work, at least close to full spec.!
>
> I got the startup pack from the ISP and decided to get USB version to
> allow more than one PC to use broadband if required. That has proved
> useful as the ISP is being very helpful but is now running out of
> ideas. Their last suggestion was to change 'MUT' (whatever that is)
> and change the packets. They have some information on their website
> but I don't see there should be anything special about my system which
> needs to get that deep into the system and start tweeking.
>
> Maybe it would be helpful to mention my BT line is only about half a
> mile from the exchange and was checked at 24 db loss and 33 db noise
> level.
>
> I have also checked with the BT speedtester direct into their system
> and got almost identical results to www.adslguide.org.uk.
>
> Hope that helps and await your further suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Regards, David
>
> E-mail: (E-Mail Removed)

none of those motherboards are really new, I would till put my money on the
usb being the weakest link. In fact a network card & router is the best way
to get several pc sharing the connection rather than usb as you suggest.
The only way to really eliminate things to hook up a modern pc up to the
modem and see what the resuts are - have you got a friend that can bring a
pc around? Obviously if the results are the same then you need to look
elsewhere for the problem.
Its just a process of elimination i am afraid and that can take a long time.

On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 17:39:07 +0100, "John R Whale"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 16:17:57 +0100, "John R Whale"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>news:(E-Mail Removed) ...
>>>> Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?
>>>>
>>>> BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
>>>> from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
>>>> modem.
>>>>
>>>> My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!
>>>>
>>>> I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
>>>> XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.
>>>>
>>>> The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.
>>>>
>>>> My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
>>>> only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.
>>>>
>>>> My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
>>>> Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.
>>>>
>>>> The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
>>>> the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.
>>>>
>>>> Ideas appreciated,
>>>> Thanks, David
>>>
>>>So you have replaced your modem for one exactly the same?
>>>Personally i dont like usb modems, i would go for a network card and a
>>>router, or next best a pci adsl modem.
>>>
>>
>> Yes the modem is the same!
>>
>>>What motherboard chip set do you have - some mobos have very poor USB
>>>implementation. Get latest drivers for your motherboard. but i would
>>>ditch
>>>the USB altogether.
>>>
>>
>> Thanks for the reply.
>>
>> The main PC is K7S5A motherboard with SiS 735 chipset (1.8Ghz).
>> The old PC I think is GA-5AA, Ali Aladdin V AGPset (500MHz).
>> The Laptop is Compaq EVO 115 (no idea what chipset, 1.3Ghz).
>>
>> As I previously indicated they ALL give identical poor results!
>>
>> I agree the weak link is USB but it is supplied to do the job so in
>> theory should work, at least close to full spec.!
>>
>> I got the startup pack from the ISP and decided to get USB version to
>> allow more than one PC to use broadband if required. That has proved
>> useful as the ISP is being very helpful but is now running out of
>> ideas. Their last suggestion was to change 'MUT' (whatever that is)
>> and change the packets. They have some information on their website
>> but I don't see there should be anything special about my system which
>> needs to get that deep into the system and start tweeking.
>>
>> Maybe it would be helpful to mention my BT line is only about half a
>> mile from the exchange and was checked at 24 db loss and 33 db noise
>> level.
>>
>> I have also checked with the BT speedtester direct into their system
>> and got almost identical results to www.adslguide.org.uk.
>>
>> Hope that helps and await your further suggestions.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Regards, David
>>
>> E-mail: (E-Mail Removed)
>
>none of those motherboards are really new, I would till put my money on the
>usb being the weakest link. In fact a network card & router is the best way
>to get several pc sharing the connection rather than usb as you suggest.
>The only way to really eliminate things to hook up a modern pc up to the
>modem and see what the resuts are - have you got a friend that can bring a
>pc around? Obviously if the results are the same then you need to look
>elsewhere for the problem.
>Its just a process of elimination i am afraid and that can take a long time.
>
Thanks again.

Unfortunately I don;t know of a friend who could help!

I'm not sure if I've been clear with my comments re. 3xPC's.
I only use one PC at a time and conect directly to the modem.
I've even removed the 4 way USB outlet and go direct from the modem to
the PC.

I'm just updating the ISP again ans will see how they respond.

Regards,

> >> I have also checked with the BT speedtester direct into their system
> >> and got almost identical results to www.adslguide.org.uk.
> >>
> >> Hope that helps and await your further suggestions.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Regards, David
> >>
> >> E-mail: (E-Mail Removed)
> >
> >none of those motherboards are really new, I would till put my money on
the
> >usb being the weakest link. In fact a network card & router is the best
way
> >to get several pc sharing the connection rather than usb as you suggest.
> >The only way to really eliminate things to hook up a modern pc up to the
> >modem and see what the resuts are - have you got a friend that can bring
a
> >pc around? Obviously if the results are the same then you need to look
> >elsewhere for the problem.
> >Its just a process of elimination i am afraid and that can take a long
time.
> >
> Thanks again.
>
> Unfortunately I don;t know of a friend who could help!
>
> I'm not sure if I've been clear with my comments re. 3xPC's.
> I only use one PC at a time and conect directly to the modem.
> I've even removed the 4 way USB outlet and go direct from the modem to
> the PC.
>
> I'm just updating the ISP again ans will see how they respond.
>
> Regards,
>





Make sure you do have any file sharing software running in the background.

Andy

On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 18:34:05 +0100, "Andrew Portess"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> >> I have also checked with the BT speedtester direct into their system
>> >> and got almost identical results to www.adslguide.org.uk.
>> >>
>> >> Hope that helps and await your further suggestions.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >> Regards, David
>> >>
>> >> E-mail: (E-Mail Removed)
>> >
>> >none of those motherboards are really new, I would till put my money on
>the
>> >usb being the weakest link. In fact a network card & router is the best
>way
>> >to get several pc sharing the connection rather than usb as you suggest.
>> >The only way to really eliminate things to hook up a modern pc up to the
>> >modem and see what the resuts are - have you got a friend that can bring
>a
>> >pc around? Obviously if the results are the same then you need to look
>> >elsewhere for the problem.
>> >Its just a process of elimination i am afraid and that can take a long
>time.
>> >
>> Thanks again.
>>
>> Unfortunately I don;t know of a friend who could help!
>>
>> I'm not sure if I've been clear with my comments re. 3xPC's.
>> I only use one PC at a time and conect directly to the modem.
>> I've even removed the 4 way USB outlet and go direct from the modem to
>> the PC.
>>
>> I'm just updating the ISP again ans will see how they respond.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>Make sure you do have any file sharing software running in the background.
>
>Andy
>

Could you be more specific, I'm not that familiar with file sharing
software.

Thanks Dacid

Are you sure you are not comparing apples and oranges?
in kbps (bits/sec) 467 is reasonably good given that you max at 512
in KBPS (bytes/sec) 63 is very good

Peter


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Any suggestions as to why I am getting slow broadband download speeds?
>
> BT have updated my phone system and the engineer got 467Kbps download
> from www.adslguide.org.uk right at my PC connection using his laptop &
> modem.
>
> My PC (1.8Ghz Win98se) and modem only get 63Kbps!
>
> I have tried two other computers (500MHz Win98se & Compaq Laptop
> XP-Pro) using the same modem but all give poor results.
>
> The modem is a Binatone ADSL500 USB and has been replaced.
>
> My ISP has been helpful but is running out of ideas and Binatone can
> only suggest there may be a software conflict but no idea where.
>
> My main PC runs Norton, Zone Alarm & Spysweeper, the laptop runs
> Norton, Zone Alarm and the old PC only AVG.
>
> The file download speeds are usuallyaround 10K though my AVG update on
> the old PC did download at 22K. Still well under what I would expect.
>
> Ideas appreciated,
> Thanks, David

On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 19:53:19 +0000 (UTC), "Peter"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Are you sure you are not comparing apples and oranges?
>in kbps (bits/sec) 467 is reasonably good given that you max at 512
>in KBPS (bytes/sec) 63 is very good
>
>Peter
>

I wish I was!

63Kbps and 8KB/sec. (I usually see around 10-11KB/sec which is ot that
much better than the old 3-4KB landline).
The best I've seen was today, on the slowest PC which I've not used
for months. When I downloaded the latest AVG update (~3.5MB) it
downloaded at 22.7KB/sec.

This is a real mystery. My guess is either two faulty modems (highly
unlikely), software incompatibility including modem driver (also
doubtful) or something to do with the USB interface (but on 3x PC's?).

David

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
> Their last suggestion was to change 'MUT' (whatever that is)
> and change the packets. They have some information on their website
> but I don't see there should be anything special about my system which
> needs to get that deep into the system and start tweeking.

That would be "MTU"

Try downloading and running
http://www.broadband1.bt.com/downloa..._and_QandA.zip

BTs website is down at the moment but the link should work when it
reappears.

After running it, reboot and see if that makes a difference.

If not, running the tool again, will reset the settings

Regards
Sunil