Download speed so slow only 616Kbps

[sriwp]

Just don't understand why my download speed is so slow.

I've been with sky broadband (broadband connect) for over three weeks and it's always slow. I've connected to the master BT socket and have used all the new leads and micro filter (and netgear router dg934g-1) from the box.

I've used the speed test on this site (and others) which shows a download speed of 616 Kbps and an upload speed of 362 Kbps.
I'm connected to the router with the cable supplied.

I was previously with AOL and obtained speeds over 3000Kbps.

Here are my router stats:
ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 8128 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 23 db 10 db
Noise Margin 8 db 26 db

What can I do to improve my download speed?

Many thanks

[NewsreadeR]

Is it only this slow between 5pm and Midnight ish?

Try doing a speedtest out of that time period.

[sriwp]

Ok this is strange! After getting the same performance for 3 weeks (any time of day), I'm now getting some great speeds!

09 December, 2009 23:54:46 6536 Kbps 374 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:50:44 4144 Kbps 374 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:47:04 5096 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:46:11 4792 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:28:02 6008 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:26:03 6032 Kbps 374 Kbps

At this point I restarted my laptop and it installed a 8 updates! So I wonder if my laptop has been downloading updates for three weeks! Can't see how this could be the case, as the laptop has been on quite a bit over that period and has been regularly turned off and on.

I have also left the laptop connected to the BT mastersocket this evening, so maybe it's somehow reconfigured the settings to speed things up?

I did further speed tests on the Thinkbroadband site and intially got really slow speeds, but then I checked the box called port 80 and wow - it showed a speed of 6663.00 Kbps . So have my problems been due to the port setings?

Further speed tests from this site below
09 December, 2009 23:14:35 5208 Kbps 374 Kbps
Now using wireless
09 December, 2009 23:07:05 4008 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 22:56:39 3992 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 22:51:01 3520 Kbps 374 Kbps

So my problems seem to be sorted now and web pages load instantly. I had also inserted the sky CD first thing this evening. Maybe this did something to prompt the speed increases?

I'll reconnect the router to the extention upstairs tomorrow and I'll see if the speeds are maintained. Thanks

[sriwp]

Sorry to be confusing - I restarted the laptop at 23:30 and went wireless at 23:48 (not at the time I suggested in the earlier post)

[NewsreadeR]

If you are on Connect, then it is traffic shaped during the period 5pm to 12am and so I would expect you to see lower speeds during this time. Users report it is great outside of this window.

However, your speeds seem to be OK as listed

09 December, 2009 23:54:46 6536 Kbps 374 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:50:44 4144 Kbps 374 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:47:04 5096 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:46:11 4792 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:28:02 6008 Kbps 373 Kbps
09 December, 2009 23:26:03 6032 Kbps 374 Kbps

Possibly Sky have turned the shaping off earlier this evening. There have been huge issues tonight (not related to Sky inparticular) just the internet in general.

As for this: Connection Speed 8128 kbps 448 kbps

I would test your stats both in the test socket, and where you normally have it plugged into to see if there are any wiring issues. Post before and after if possible.

but then I checked the box called port 80 and wow - it showed a speed of 6663.00 Kbps

Port 80 is what websites are shown on, so as such should be no real restrictions. It is possible using a different port, that that port may or not be restricted / shaped by Sky.

I had also inserted the sky CD first thing this evening.

I doubt that would have made any difference, in 3 years of being on Sky I never once used the CD and the speeds were always good.

[User05]

You're syncing in at the top speeds for connect so all's well there. You'll need to do the following during non-peak as opposed to peak times to check whether it's down to traffic shaping between 5pm-12am.

Test Result

Enter your phone number. Then when it asks for a username, it is your MAC address (without the colons, found on the bottom of the router) with '@skydsl' after it.

e.g.

001F0485B93@skydsl

Click go and copy, paste and save the results (all of the contents in the results, such as IP profile) for future reference. Compare stats from, say, 12pm and 8pm.