Download Speed Slowdown

Yuenku · 10-14-2009, 04:16 PM

Hello, I've had this problem for quiet some time and cannot figure out what is causing this, and it is really starting to get on my nerves. My problem is that my download speed is unnecessarily slow compared to what it should be. I used to have 156 Kilobytes per second, though I recently just got an upgrade to my DSL, And am Supposedly getting 18 Megabits per second. I believe this is a download speed of around 2 megabytes per second.

My problem is that when I start a download, It starts off very quickly, with speeds of almost 1 megabyte per second. Unfortunately, within a few seconds, it lowers dramatically to the speed of around 100 kilobytes per second. Why is this always happening? I know it can be faster, and I really find it frustrating to have to deal with slow download speeds when it starts off several times faster.

**johnwill** · 10-14-2009, 05:59 PM

Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. It's best to run this test with a direct wired connection to eliminate any wireless issues from the results. It's useful many times to run this test several times, and we'd like to see each of the results. Post the results link from the top of the test display page for each test run here.

The link to post is near the top of the page and looks like:

If you wish to post this result to a forum, please copy/paste this URL
http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2357195 <- sample only, yours will obviously be different!
and your IP will be disguised.

Copy/paste that link here.

Note: You will have to enable PING (ICMP) request response either in your router (if you have one), or in your computer's firewall for direct modem connections. This is very important to get the most important part of the test to run.

DSLReports

Here's also the Line Quality Tests FAQ to help you understand the results. This will answer some questions about the line quality display.

Yuenku · 10-14-2009, 08:17 PM

I hate sounding so helpless...Yet I tried reading through the Faq about firewalls, but I wasn't able to turn off my firewall. I do have Windows Firewall and can find the one with advance settings...But I still can't quiet figure out how to enable ping.

Is there something the Faq doesn't mention?

**johnwill** · 10-15-2009, 09:17 AM

What is the make/model of your modem and your router? The firewall in question is in the router.

Yuenku · 10-15-2009, 11:06 AM

I have an At&T 2wire 3800hgv-b Modem/Router.

steveb1234 · 10-15-2009, 11:14 AM

If your download speed starts ok but quickly slows down or even stops then this could be an SP fault and you should have the fault raised with them. Also are you able to find your loop loss measurement from your router ( expressed in decibels).

10-14-2009, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Yuenku Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Download Speed Slowdown Hello, I've had this problem for quiet some time and cannot figure out what is causing this, and it is really starting to get on my nerves. My problem is that my download speed is unnecessarily slow compared to what it should be. I used to have 156 Kilobytes per second, though I recently just got an upgrade to my DSL, And am Supposedly getting 18 Megabits per second. I believe this is a download speed of around 2 megabytes per second. My problem is that when I start a download, It starts off very quickly, with speeds of almost 1 megabyte per second. Unfortunately, within a few seconds, it lowers dramatically to the speed of around 100 kilobytes per second. Why is this always happening? I know it can be faster, and I really find it frustrating to have to deal with slow download speeds when it starts off several times faster.

10-14-2009, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Download Speed Slowdown Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. It's best to run this test with a direct wired connection to eliminate any wireless issues from the results. It's useful many times to run this test several times, and we'd like to see each of the results. Post the results link from the top of the test display page for each test run here. The link to post is near the top of the page and looks like: If you wish to post this result to a forum, please copy/paste this URL http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2357195 <- sample only, yours will obviously be different! and your IP will be disguised. Copy/paste that link here. Note: You will have to enable PING (ICMP) request response either in your router (if you have one), or in your computer's firewall for direct modem connections. This is very important to get the most important part of the test to run. DSLReports Here's also the Line Quality Tests FAQ to help you understand the results. This will answer some questions about the line quality display. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-14-2009, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Yuenku Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Download Speed Slowdown I hate sounding so helpless...Yet I tried reading through the Faq about firewalls, but I wasn't able to turn off my firewall. I do have Windows Firewall and can find the one with advance settings...But I still can't quiet figure out how to enable ping. Is there something the Faq doesn't mention?

10-15-2009, 09:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Download Speed Slowdown What is the make/model of your modem and your router? The firewall in question is in the router. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-15-2009, 11:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Yuenku Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Download Speed Slowdown I have an At&T 2wire 3800hgv-b Modem/Router.

10-15-2009, 11:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
steveb1234 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 374 OS: xp, windows 7	Re: Download Speed Slowdown If your download speed starts ok but quickly slows down or even stops then this could be an SP fault and you should have the fault raised with them. Also are you able to find your loop loss measurement from your router ( expressed in decibels). Last edited by steveb1234; 10-15-2009 at 11:15 AM.