Advertised connection speed a lie?

VenomHowell · 10-05-2007, 11:35 AM

Pretty quick question... I pay for an advertised 10 mbps connection from Aliant Newfoundland, which is split to a number of computers through my router. Through numerous, numerous speed tests, I've concluded that, when connecting through my router, my download maxes out at ~4800 kbps, but if I use the 'Connection Manager' that the Aliant company provided me with (Which is a simple PPPOE connection under My Network Connections), I am fully capable of getting ~8500 kbps or higher, and still have my LAN connection active and remain on the network.

Now, is there any rationale or reason for this? Anyway I could fix it so I didn't require the connection manager? Am I getting gipped somehow?

**johnwill** · 10-05-2007, 12:22 PM

Try changing the MTU size on the router to 1492.

VenomHowell · 10-05-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwill

Try changing the MTU size on the router to 1492.

It defaulted to 1492.

**johnwill** · 10-06-2007, 02:36 PM

I guess the advertised speed is a lie.

I have no idea what the "connection manager" does for them, so I don't know if it's required.

VenomHowell · 10-06-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwill

I guess the advertised speed is a lie.

I have no idea what the "connection manager" does for them, so I don't know if it's required.

So far as I can tell, the 'connection manager' is just a wizard for creating a normal PPPOE connection. It runs like any other connection would through XP, after all... Which makes me wonder if it's a router-central problem, considering a PPPOE connection is capable of getting the full advertised speed.

**johnwill** · 10-07-2007, 09:47 AM

The only thing I can suggest is reduce the MTU in the router by 100 a few times and see if that affects the speed one way or the other. I've heard of connection issues where it had to be smaller than 1492, though they're pretty rare.

What's the make/model of the modem?

VenomHowell · 10-07-2007, 05:18 PM

Linksys WRT54G V6. I also have a Linksys BEFW11S4 with DHCP disabled daisy chained to it, but my main computer is connected to the WRT54G.

**johnwill** · 10-07-2007, 05:28 PM

Don't know what else to suggest.

10-05-2007, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
VenomHowell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 52 OS: WinXP	Advertised connection speed a lie? Pretty quick question... I pay for an advertised 10 mbps connection from Aliant Newfoundland, which is split to a number of computers through my router. Through numerous, numerous speed tests, I've concluded that, when connecting through my router, my download maxes out at ~4800 kbps, but if I use the 'Connection Manager' that the Aliant company provided me with (Which is a simple PPPOE connection under My Network Connections), I am fully capable of getting ~8500 kbps or higher, and still have my LAN connection active and remain on the network. Now, is there any rationale or reason for this? Anyway I could fix it so I didn't require the connection manager? Am I getting gipped somehow?

10-05-2007, 12:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Advertised connection speed a lie? Try changing the MTU size on the router to 1492. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-06-2007, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Advertised connection speed a lie? I guess the advertised speed is a lie. I have no idea what the "connection manager" does for them, so I don't know if it's required. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-07-2007, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Advertised connection speed a lie? The only thing I can suggest is reduce the MTU in the router by 100 a few times and see if that affects the speed one way or the other. I've heard of connection issues where it had to be smaller than 1492, though they're pretty rare. What's the make/model of the modem? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-07-2007, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
VenomHowell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 52 OS: WinXP	Re: Advertised connection speed a lie? Linksys WRT54G V6. I also have a Linksys BEFW11S4 with DHCP disabled daisy chained to it, but my main computer is connected to the WRT54G.

10-07-2007, 05:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Advertised connection speed a lie? Don't know what else to suggest. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience