internet speed problems

[Metalloid]

ok guys, its time for me to wake up from this terrible nightmare, my problem is the following:

I don't live in the states or anywhere near the states, but in a country famous for its slow internet connection. The best connection speed u can get here from any local ISP is 15kb/s. on an average, all connections share a speed of 10 kb/s, and under some circumstances, it is also considered "normal" for the speed to fall to 4 or 5 kb/s occasionally. The ISPs comment: "The more you pay, the more you get", and I find that hard to believe. They tell you they can significantly increase your bandwidth if u increase your payments, but they are already charging people 40$ per month for a 10kb/s connection!

Couple of days ago, I was SHOCKED:
For the first time, I decided to see how would the connection do at 5 AM in the morning (of course, at that time, all or most of the subscribers are offline). I tried to download a program, and out of no where, the download speed averaged 150kb/s !!! This never ever (and I mean NEVER EVER) happened to me or to anyone I know who lives where I live. And it proved to me one thing: the network is " capable" of handling such speeds (because the connection remained like that until 8 am, after which it started to decline to reach 10 kb/s again (which makes sense because more and more users will be logging online after 8 am).

I observed my internet connection for 3 days (and now my eyes hurt because I didn’t get enough sleep for the past 3 days lol) and I noticed the same pattern: between 3 am and 8 am, the connection can reach 150kb/s, and in the worst cases, 100kb/s.

PLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE HHHHEEEELLLLLLLPPPPP!!!!!
Am not that good at computers, so can someone explain to me what is going on here? And do anyone know how can I solve this problem? I'm sure there is a way to keep my connection speed like that all the time, probably a unique specialized software can do the trick? Or maybe all it needs is a few changes in my pc network configuration and settings? As u can see, I cannot resolve the problem with my ISP (who obviously doesn't care and consider 10 kb/s to be the norm and a great connection speed for 40$ per month)

again, any help is really really appreciated!..

You may need the following information:
~ I have a wireless internet connection.
~ My connection icon in the system tray shows: "Speed: 100.0 Mbps"
~ I have: windows XP professional, SP2...............384 MB of RAM

Thank u all in advance

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

The SysTray icon only refers to the LAN (internal network) speed, which is normally 100 Mbps - unless you use wireless, in which case it could be around 54 Mbps...

384 MB of RAM doesn't sound like much - especially as the "minimum requirements" of XP states 256 MB, I'd recommend at least 512, but most PCs use 1 GB+... This shouldn't have ANY affect on the connection speed though.

Your ISP has prolly got some software (at the Exchange, or your local equivalent) that sets a limit during the "daytime". I haven't heard of any that block it down that bad - even dial-up here (in the Land Of Eng) was around 4 kbps...

I would suggest going to somewhere like speedtest.net and check what the results are, you could prolly also compare what other providers are offering there...

Whereabouts are you, I noticed that you're using the $ sign, but you state that you're not near the US. As a general rule, you do pay more for more speed, but I haven't seen anything that low for 5+ years (here). If you let us know where you are, we could suggest another provider...

Oh, and WELCOME TO TECHIMO...!

[Metalloid]

well first of all, i just wanted to say thanks for replying Nude Lewd Man . Second, I live in Lebanon (middle east), and here we use two currencies: the American ($) and the Lebanese (LP). And like you said, i don't think the RAM has anything to do with the internewt service, because the whole country pretty much recieve the same internet service. Also, like i mentioned, there are no better local ISPs. All services are pretty much the same, except for International companies who provide very expensive internet services that normal citizens like us can't afford. (they are basically used by big corporations here).

i already mentioned this problem to someone before and that person analyzed my problem as the following: "You're on a connection where everyone shares the same bandwidth, so when nobody else is on (5AM) then you get full bandwidth (150kb/s) but when 10 people are on it drops to 150/10=15kb/s..." So now I'm confused who is right, u or him? I'm I on a shared bandwidth or is my ISP using a software to limit speed during daytime?

by the way, I tried speedtest.net, but i didnt find any server for my country, the closest servers to my country were in Israel & Egypt. Maybe the rumors are right: Our Lebanese ISPs are not legal.

Anyways, I thought to my self that there must be a software available created for this specific problem, I searched on google but i couldn't find anything promising, also tried few programs and tricks but no luck, I was hoping that someone can help me by giving me a name of a software or describing a certain procedure to follow. Again, Any help is really appreciated...

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

By the sounds of it, we're both right...

What your friend is referring to is the "contention ratio", so for arguments sake, if you had a line that is (up to) 10 Mbps and you're the only one using it at that time, then you'd get 100% of it - 10 Mbps; if there are 10 connections to it, you're gonna get 10% - 1 Mbps; 50 connections = 200 Kbps........

What I am talking about is something on the ISP's level, whereby they can control the speeds using a device at the exchange called a DSLAM (or whatever is your local equivalent). This is a fairly complicated bit of kit, and (here in UK) it is normally used to give everyone the best rate their line can handle or limit their speed if the user is on a cheaper (limited speed) service...

So, for example, at my house in SE London I have an (up to) 8 Mbps line, but due to the distance from the exchange the signal drops off at the top of the range, so I normally get around 4 Mbps. It used to be able to download at around 200 Kbps, until I went onto a better package which meant that I had a better contention ratio, meaning that (on the same line) I was able to download at around 300-400 Kbps. At first I had a contention ration of around 1:50, but then I went onto a business grade line with a contention ratio of somewhere around 1:20 - meaning I was contending with up to 20 others, instead of up to 50 others.....

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

I haven't heard of any software (or hardware) that would allow you to get round this, so I'm afraid it seems that you're stuck with either paying more or staying in the slow lane... The only other way I can think of to get round that would be to get together with some neighbours and pay for one business service and share it among yourselves. Having said that, it could be fairly tricky for a non-techie to set up for firewalls etc to control who can access what on any computers on the (enlarged) network. That doesn't mean that it can't be done, just that you'd kinda need to know what you're doing........

I can't comment as to the legality of the ISPs in any country, but I'm sure that they adhere to the laws in the country that they're operating - whether that is fair or not is perhaps another matter...

I would still try to see what speeds you're getting using speedtest (or similar) as they'd give you a confirmation that it is at your end, rather than any sites having slow connections or being busy - although it does sound to me like it is your side... Even if you don't have a router in your country, you should get a fairly accurate speed record if you use the closest one to you - at least you could use that to check against in future.....

[Metalloid]

Again, thanks for replying to my thread & bearing with me Nude Lewd Man.
It seems that there is no easy way out of my problem, but the funny thing is that the solution u suggested ("get together with some neighbors and pay for one business service and share it among yourselves") was also suggested by that person I told about earlier. But the thing is that I don't know if its going to work or not, because I don't think that my current ISP is willing to provide a private decent bandwidth for few people (me & some neighbors) when they're already charging $ 40 for a standard connection (a single bandwidth with a heavy load of users on it. So I'm sure the price is going to substantially increase, don't u think? Or did I get the concept wrong? If I did, please correct me. Because your solution might actually work then. I know a couple of neighbors who are close friends of mine & have the same problem, so we can actually try this "sharing" thing. So I guess my question is: would it cost more? Because I don't want my ISP to trick me with any extra charges. And u seem to know in this stuff a whole lot better than me

Thanx in advance

By the way, I tested my bandwidth at www.tellmemybandwidth.com and it gave me this result: Download Speed: 10.82KBps

I also revisited Speedtest.net. I didn’t find any servers for my country, so I chose the closest one available (Egypt) & the results were: Download Speed: 118 Kb/s.

[Metalloid]

hey ionutpetre,
I already tried Internet Download Manager, As well as Download Accelerator. No luck but thanx anyways

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

Originally Posted by Metalloid

I don't know if its going to work or not, because I don't think that my current ISP is willing to provide a private decent bandwidth for few people (me & some neighbors) when they're already charging $ 40 for a standard connection (a single bandwidth with a heavy load of users on it. So I'm sure the price is going to substantially increase, don't u think? Or did I get the concept wrong? If I did, please correct me. Because your solution might actually work then. I know a couple of neighbors who are close friends of mine & have the same problem, so we can actually try this "sharing" thing. So I guess my question is: would it cost more? Because I don't want my ISP to trick me with any extra charges. And u seem to know in this stuff a whole lot better than me

Hi, sorry for the delay in responding but I have moved house, been taking care of "Daddy's Little Monkey" (my 10 week old daughter) and also been in hospital...

I don't know what the prices would be, and without knowing your ISP I can't give overly accurate prices... I have done a quick check on Google for Lebanon ISPs and had a click around:

FIBERLINK NETWORKS - seems fairly decent, but doesn't give prices...
Welcome to Broadband Plus services is another one, they seem to also want to have residential customers - see also here for residential page or here for "business" with prices.


The last one has the prices below, which I don't know how that compares to the "cost of living" - but it seems VERY good VFM considering what you're paying now...
MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION
Plan Price (USD) 128 Kbps $23.99 256 Kbps $33.99 512 Kbps $46.99 1 Mbps $76.99
Just using the above, I would suggest trying to get the $77 package. Once you have it installed (as long as you can).

Depending on how close your friends live to you (distance-wise) you could either run a cable (best if next-door) or possibly get a wireless Access Point - or AP for short...

I was actually looking for this sort of thing (for a customer) at work recently. Bearing in mind that this is for the UK, the results were:
Wireless Access Point - Aria Technology

Of these, also bearing in mind that she only wanted to be able to work in the back garden and has also recently had a baby (read "skint"), I suggested that the best solution for her needs would be this:
Netgear WG602 54Mbps Wireless Access Point - Aria Technology

Those would be best suited for if you already have a router (regardless of whether it is xDSL or Ethernet) in your existing LAN, depending on how far apart you are from the neighbours would determine how powerful a device you would need. I would advise that you have this set up in the home that is most central - as the wireless signal will only travel so far. You should also be able to use additional devices to "repeat" the signal to those who are beyond the originating AP's signal. It would be best to ask again if this is required...

Depending on how many friends/neighbours you are sharing with could also affect the requirement for additional APs anyway, not so much for the number of connections, but to try to avoid "bottlenecking" the traffic.

Whatever you do, if you go wireless you REALLY should implement some form of security. At a bear minimum you should lock down the wireless access with MAC control and/or "WEP" (encription) security to avoid anyone freeloading into your network. Ideally, you should have a better flavour of encription to stop anyone getting any passwords, account/card details, et cetera....

If you need any more assistance feel free to ask - just bear in mind I/we could do with more info to give the best answers....

[Metalloid]

well, First of all, I hope u like ur new home and congratulations on ur newly born daughter, and I hope everything else is ok (u mentioned a hospital)...

I did check the websites u've found on google (by the way thanks) and like u said, they look promissing, but unfortunately their service areas doesn't include my area
Just when i thought am out of luck, a friend of mine was also complaining about the internet connection earlier today, & he said our local telephone company is providing a DSL service, and we should try it!
So i just googled the company, and yes, i did find fair prices, but........i was surprised to find download limits (for example, u can't download more than 3 GB per month for $33.3)...anyways, i hope u can take a look and advise me if i should go for it or not, here is the link: OGERO - DSL Prices (see the monthly subscribtion prices. Do u think its a good deal?)

p.s. every 1500 L.L. is equivelent to $ 1
(example: 50,000 L.L. = 50000/1500 = $ 33.3)

Again, Thanks alot in advance this is a great forum