slow broadband ADSL

Hi to everyone:
Used this hardware forum before and found it very helpful. So here goes another 2 questions.
A friend has asked me to look at there computer/broadband problems. Not really my thing but will try for them via this forum.
They are based in Spain and originally had a normal “dial up” service ( this is very slow here) so upgraded to ADSL via Telefonica ( the main telephone supplier in Spain).

This worked fine but they then decided to change ADSL supplier. Since then they have had slow connection speed ( not much better than the original dial up) and when viewing websites and using the back button to return to a previous site, finding they either “unable to find address” or having to press the “refresh button” and re-enter there password etc for that site (ie ebay) .

So any clues to what I should be looking for ?

Have read my xp and repairing pcs books and they tell me to look at “windows registry key” RWIN and check what it is set at. How do I access this ?
Below listed is there modem/router details
Modem:
Intel ® 537 ep v0 df pci modem
Router:
Tp-link td-w8901 54m wireless ADSL2 modem router

Well that will do for now and many thanks for your time in reading this plea for help

Nias43

 

The modem is purely dial-up. I assume there must be a built-in ethernet card which is connected to the router.

There's some ADSL tweaking details here, including a tool to modify the Rwin sttings.

Their ISP should have a speed test site, you should test there, also, access the router and check the connection details, maybe Routerstatslite will be of some use too.

 

nias43,

Assuming you are using ADSL/ADSL2, and on broadband, check out and use DrTCP . Available from http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

A google search, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...rtcp+&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= will give you heaps more links.

First thing to do is to run DrTcp and screenprint out your current settings, BEFORE you start tweaking. That way you will be able to reset your tweaking back to where you started from, if anything goes wrong. :-D

DrTcp doesn't tweak your settings. It works up to XP, not Vista or W7, and only makes it easy to adjust your tweaked settings. You have to figure those out for yourself, by experimentation, but use DrTcp to load them.

I used to use earlier versions of Opera (V9.25) to keep a record of download speeds compared to my various tweaked settings. Downloading the same program (of a reasonable megabyte size) more than once will soon prove if your new download speeds, from the same Mirror site, at roughly the same time of day, are any faster than previous DrTcp settings.

3 thumbnails below to show how different the DrTcp settings may end up. :-D

It may sound like a lot of work, but it is really worth it.

Hope this helps.

Bazza

 

One thing I forgot to mention.

Make sure your Tcp Receive Window number is equally devisive by your MTU setting, with no remainder

In my case, 4918032 divided by 1428, leaves no remainder. I don't know why this is a requirement, but it was emphasised many times, in my research at the time.

Baz

 

To both of you:
Many thanks........lot to learn before I atempt anything I think. Will study all your links and give it a go. Let you know how I get on later in the week.
Once again thanks
Nias43

 

You are welcome.

Make sure that you screenprint your initial DrTcp settings BEFORE you start tweaking and screenprint each change.
Record your speeds with the respective settings, otherwise you will find it hard to progress quickly.

I also forgot to mention, REBOOT your PC after each change to DrTcp settings, A bit of a PITA, but necessary for clean results.

Also check out UnBlocka Turbo 2.03.06 from
http://download.cnet.com/UnBlocka-Turbo/3000-2086_4-10495430.html
(for XP) This will/may give you an alternate starting point.

To give you an idea of how your speeds MAY increase.
My initial defaults gave me a speed of 276Kbps (Cairns to Florida).
26 minutes later, same route, my speed had increased to 1466 Kbps, after tweaking.
(and I've got the screenprints to prove it)
No guarantee for you though. :-D It all depends on too many variables.

Bazza

 

I've just gone through 2 files that I have to compose a print of info, etc., I have gained in 3 years of tweaking. I've added it to my database of "Useful info" :-D for future use, maybe.

BroadbandTweaks ---- 5/9/2010

These links, tips, tutorials, etc., I have gathered from over 3 years of tweaking. First on an ADSL modem/router and lastly on an ADSL 2 modem/router.

Don't be too put off that a lot of these links are Australian.
They will still come in handy for info, and on comparison speed tests.
If necessary try leaving off the .au to see if there is a USA equivalent

In no particular order:

Speed Test sites
www.dslreports.com
http://speedtest.dslnet.com.au
www.speedtest.com
www.speedtest.net
www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/speedtest.htm
www.pcpitstop.com/store/optimize.asp
www.speedguide.net
http://testmyspeed.com.au
http://resources.broadbandguide.com.au/speedtest

Tutorials
www.speedguide.net/downloads.php (5 page tutorial on SG TCP OPtimizer)
Search your Google site for Packet Loss links
www.speedguide.net for SG Bandwidth*Delay Product Calculator
www.overclock.net for How to use DrTcp
Check out majorgeeks http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=127814 when I first started tweaking.
www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/tweak2.htm on Non standard sync speed settings
www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/5._RWIN on RWIN settings
http://help.expedient.com/cgi-bin/print/printerpage.pl
(this was their output on a Search there on MTU ping test)
Or google Search on MTU ping test and choose the expedient.com link

Programs to assist you.
www.unblocka.com
Dan Elwell's Broadband speed test
(does 38 tests on different sites around the world for you, and reports the different speeds)
Make sure you enter the correct plan speeds from your Broadband provider,
and make sure you know the difference between Kbps and KB/s. 8x the difference
PC Pitstop Optimize (v1.5 for me at the time)
I used Opera Browser (v9.25) at the time as it showed, and kept (for some time), your downloads, and speeds achieved in those downloads.
Later versions are not as good in retaining this info.
www.majorgeeks.com I used to download programs of about 10MB-15MB in size to give your settings a fair test.
Too small a download, or too big a download may not be a representative test of your usual Broadband activities.
I also used Ashampoo Internet Accelerator and wasn't very impressed with their suggestions, or results.

Remember this info is from 3 years of tweaking. Don't be too overwhelmed. :-D

I finally achieved an average of around 500KB/s, in my downloads, from the Aussie majorgeeks.com Mirror that I use.
Probably won't get much better than that due to my distance from the exchange that I use.

Bazza

 

Bigbazza
Wow ! this will keep me busy. All joking apart--- appreciate your time on this matter.
Will be good for me to finally get my head round this. Am going to pay my friends a visit in the morning to see first hand the problem with the ADSL/Router and will let you know the outcome.
Best get reading and will leave off the .au , but try .es (based in sunny Spain)
Speak soon
Nias43

 

Try the .au links first, and if they are not suitable try your .es , .co.uk, or .com. Print out my suggestions and work your way through them.

Somewhere you will get links, etc., that appeal to you as a satisfactory and convenient guide/route.

I got best results by having my Modem/Router as near as practical to my laptop and connected by cable to each other.

Wish you luck. You will, at least, learn lots, I reckon. :-D

Bazza

===

 

nias43, news from Major Geeks today.

Special Offer at the MG store today.
Just over 20 hours left for this offer.

See my thread at http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=222257
or the MG store at http://store.majorgeeks.com/?act=details&id=11523

Bazza

PS: you need to join as a Store member, but FREE and easy to do

Baz

 

nias43, make that over 20 days, not 20 hours. :-o :-o:confused

Bazza