Very slow DSL service

Hello:
New here.
I have been with the DSL Extreme ISP for a few months and have noticed a steady decline in my line speed when watching youtube videos. I began to wonder about my DSL speed so I ran speedtest.net. I am contracted for 1.5M download speed but all my speed tests (by various apps) show under .5M speeds!
DSL Extreme tested my system and tells my the problems are with my AT&T phone lines outside my apartment and they want to order up an AT&T service tech to my building and (maybe) charge me $60 to check my lines! AT&T tells me that my Voice service is OK so the lines should be good enough for Data use but DSLX tells me there is a big difference and the lines need to be checked for Data bitrates by an AT&T tech! I've noticed the very same pattern with other unhappy DSLX customers = the DSL service starts off real good then gradually goes down! If my lines are so bad, why did the service begin so well, then slowly drop???
Can you help me sort things out and recommend some tests or examinations I can do short of paying AT&T to come out here, find no problems but still charge us $60 or more for an unnecessary call? I have some experience with looking in "ipconfig /all", running various ping tests and getting the performance records of my Siemens modem.
My OS is win xp, home ed., sp3. Modem is Siemens SpeedStream 4100. Using AT&T filters and hook up. DSL Extreme checked my modem WITHOUT any other items in the system right up to the wall point where the AT&T line comes into my apartment and found no problem with the equipment so they say it must be the AT&T stuff beyond our apartment (within the building). Somehow they can not explain how we started off so good then went downhill! We think there is a scam going on here based on others complaints.
We greatly appreciate any help with this issue.
Jim and Irene

 

IMHO, don't spend the $60 for the inside wiring test. I think that's just money down the drain.
They always throw out that possibility, but I suspect that it is RARELY the cause of the problem.

I'm using AT&T DSL rated at 3.0 Mbps.
When you run SpeedTest, the result for the download speed is the Highest transfer rate
achieved during the test.
For me, the results can be anywhere from 2.6 to 3.2.

The modem I have is a Westell provided by AT&T, which I had to buy.

The things I have done to remedy lagging internet are the following:

• Turn Off the modem for about 30 seconds and turn On again.
  This resets some things and causes the modem to re-establish a link.
  --
• Run TCP Optimizer.
  When ready to "Apply Changes", be sure to Check the Backup option at the bottom of the dialog box.
  --
• Check your browser. Maybe Save your settings, uninstall and re-install the browser.
  Check the settings and Options in the browser such as Security settings.
  --
• If you use a HOSTS file, temporarily Deactivate it by renaming it to HOSTS.TXT Before loading the browser.
  Also, if it's old, get the latest version.
  --
• Check the DNS settings to see if they match what your ISP says it should be, OR
  switch to OpenDNS

Another option: AT&T FastAccess DSL

 

I disagree with this statement, many times working in dsl tech support, issues were caused by people with inside wiring issues, ie they tried to add phones lines themselves or so on and messed stuff up, and or fixtures being place incorrectly or having gone bad (rare but does happen). If i had a dollar for everytime someone added a home security system with dial out features, or direct tv with phone hookup for pay per view, id be able to quit my job and enjoy life . Chances are someone/something has been added to your phone line recently thats causing issues. One of the hardest troubleshooting i had ever done was a guy who had an solar powered fence that was to keep animals out of his garden, it was close enough to his phone line coming in that it caused interference and randomly knocked him offline. Definitly pursue the outside situation, but also make sure none of your neighbors have added new equipment that might cause problems.

 

Well, I might have a phone tech come out here IF I can get the building manager to foot the bill for the tests.
LOL, I won't be surprised to find all's well at this apartment building whereupon DSL Extreme will "snow me" with lots of other excuses and reasons why they can not deliver the 1.5 M line speed I am paying for. I see at many posts on line how the ISPs will stoop to any excuse to keep on collecting their payments while delivering less service.
Thanks for your feedback
jim

 

Thanks for that, Colemanguy. I really wasn't aware of that.

I was thinking of what I suspect is the usual or "normal" situation where Nothing has been tampered with.

Didn't know a lot of people try to do those things themselves.

 

I would push the issue with the isp first, before having inside checked, but, then i would also not rule out the inside being an issue, sometimes isp's have like 2-3 dollar insurance that would cover inside work. Might be worth checking out?

 

Spoke with an ISP rep. yesterday and we decided that I should get a new modem from Fry's to test against my current modem and see if there is any improvement in line speed. If not, I need to get the building manager to join me in ordering up an examination of the phone lines at this building. I'll let you know how all of this turns out.

 

Hello:
Well, in case you are still following this string
I did many of the things you mentioned. I have run the TCP Optimizer several times even after I reset my modem today to see if anything might change. It's still showing .66 M down line speed which seems to be the best I can get by messing with any of the settings. Never did figure out what the HOSTS file is or does. Tried that Open DNS thing but there again - what's it for???
The DSL Extreme rep and I agreed that I should get a new modem and use it to determine if my current modem is the problem or not. If not, order a service call for this building as Colemanguy said.
Thank you,
jim :wave

 

Neither a HOSTS file or the DNS service is likely to cause such a poor response with your internet connection.
Those are both tweaks that can provide additional security and in the case of the DNS servers, might provide a very slight
increase in performance.

That was just a list of things that I do that may help.
Sometimes, the first one is all that is needed.

Here is some information about the HOSTS file and DNS.

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File

Domain Name System

OpenDNS: BENEFITS