Why Are My Download Speeds So Low??

I recently switched to Time Warner Cable High Speed Internet/Road Runner from AT&T and I did the speed test below.



My download speed should be fast, but when I download from MegaUpload, my speed is 350 kb/s or less. There however was 1 time when I was downloading a torrent and the speed went to and above 1 mb but then went back down to 300 range. There are also times when download that the download speed freezes or something and starts back after some seconds and repeats.

EDIT:

I've now switched back to AT&T DSL. Despite having lower speeds on the test



I actually download faster. Example:

I was download this file (WMV) on TWC's internet and I averaged about about 220 kb/s. Then I downloaded the same file on on AT&T's DSL internet and I averaged about 590 kb/s. Though MegaUpload speeds remain the same (I guess they have limited again on how fast free users can download) my overall speeds from others places have gotten faster on DSL. So, I'll probably cancel TWC tomorrow. Thanks for the help, helpers.

 

Download speeds are predicated not just on what speed you are capable of, but the machine you are downloading from as well.

Torrents are notoriously unreliable predictors of speed because you are downloading from other peers, which come and go, firewalls tend to block them or block them partially.

What about normal downloads?

 

Also, you're testing from a server that's 10 feet away.

 

Give me somewhere/a link to download from and I'll let you know about the speed of the "normal download". Anywho, I did another speedtest and the result is below:



Is there a way to increase my speed from MegaUpload (ala better router) or something?? About the server, I just chose the one that marked Los Angeles, my city.

 

No, your dl speeds are probably limited by the places you're downloading from so upgrading your stuff isn't going to help.

 

MegaUpload limits your download speeds unless you're a premium member anyways.

Also, you're still testing from a server that's in your backyard. Unless you download everything from only servers in LA, that's definitely not going to be representative of your normal browsing speeds.

 

But before, despite being a free user, I'd at least get 500 kb/s on MegaUpload with AT&T.

EDIT:

Here is my connection speeds after going across the country.



Anywho, I'm likely gonna cancel Road Runner, what is the recommended ISP??

 

Those speeds arent bad at all. Edit: well excluding those last ones

The actual download speeds depend on what your downloading. The server you are downloading (whatever it is) from, could just be slow. Your fast connection doesnt make thier slow onw faster. Or if its in the case of torrents, then there are just no fast seeders connected.
...What are you trying to download?

For reference, i have a 15Mbps Cable Connection, and i can get up to 1300KB/s sometimes if its on the right torrent (for legal linux distributions of course ) And if its on a slower torrent with not as much seeders, ill get less, more around 300Kb/s


Edit: and i would recommend Comcast Or FIOS.

 

Wow, that's almost as low as my stupid Australian internet.

And Verizon FIOS?

 

Well, I mainly download from MegaUpload and I miss the minimum speeds of 500 kb/s vs. this new average speed of 300 kb/s. Not to mention that this speed is suppose to be faster, yet everywhere I download from (except torrents) have rather low speeds. Torrents are the only time I get decent speeds (like my previous average).

Also, FIOS is not available in my area.

I'm amazed at why my speeds on MegaUpload are so low though. The speeds I had with DSL were



and the one I have now is



Yet my speeds are slower.

 

Have you tried any download managers. I use downthemall. As has been stated your downloads are also controlled by who you download from. Downthemall has better software for reading the signal. It is a free add on for firefox and you can pause it or shut down the computer and restart it from where you left off without any problems.

 

I've actually tried that on journey to maximize my download speed, unfortunately it didn't work/help.

 

Try using CableNut to optimize your system. It has worked for me when no other work.

Are you using Time Warner's router or you own?
and, do you have their TV service too, running on the same cable?

Time Warner may also restrict your speed after a limit has been reached, I know Comcast does that.

 

I've tried CableNut and I didn't see any improvement.

Yes, this is a TWC Router and I have their Cable Service and I do believe that the cable go into the same splitter or w/e that thing is.

 

There is a max of 4-5 spiters that can be used up to the router. This is from the tap (alley) to the router. Any more than that and there is not enough power to support the speed.

 

Software like this is not going to 'read the signal' better. Downthemall is good for download management, nothing more.

Your download speeds are dependent on every link between you and the source. And the slowest link determines your overall speed.

 

i was bored and decided to do the halfway accross the world test

kinda surpised

 

Is the speed problem only on this NB or other pc's on your network. I assume you are trying this with a wired connection.

Also have you tried a direct connection without the router, if possiable.

What network services are you running? My want to drop back to the bare minimum, MS network, Internet Protocol TCP/IP. YOU do not need QoS or other services.

 

Problem s universal.

I had a modem which gave me the same speeds.

I assume that network services = ISP and therefore my ISP = Time Warner Cable.

 

That points to the ISP. I dumped Comcast years back for FIOS for the same reason. If you just bumped your speed they may have not a scrip right. Being off as far as you are.

What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ speed test give you.

 

I got this for my city (Los Angeles):

Download Speed: 15465 kbps (1933.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 984 kbps (123 KB/sec transfer rate)

And this for New York:

Download Speed: 5473 kbps (684.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 970 kbps (121.3 KB/sec transfer rate)

 

It apears you do have some speed. 15/1mbps

One thing that can cause problems for pages loading is the MTU setting. Normally def is 1500, but dsl is 1492. You may try lowering the setting on the router and see if that helps.

 

Pages loading wasn't my problem, it was the speed of downloading stuff. Especially from MegaUpload. I used to get at least 500 kb/s from MegaUpload with DSL, now I get 300 KB/s and under.

EDIT:

I've now switched back to AT&T DSL. Despite having lower speeds on the test



I actually download faster. Example:

I was download this file (WMV) on TWC's internet and I averaged about about 220 kb/s. Then I downloaded the same file on on AT&T's DSL internet and I averaged about 590 kb/s. Though MegaUpload speeds remain the same (I guess they have limited again on how fast free users can download) my overall speeds from others places have gotten faster on DSL. So, I'll probably cancel TWC tomorrow. Thanks for the help, helpers.

 

Hi to all
I have a little problem of connection fail. I use torrent software for downloading so my connection takes too long time to download data.I have checked all connection and port. So i am so confuse about this problem. Is there any problem for low speed? what is your opinion? Reply me.

 

Afro,

TW is a party system, more user they have the slower it goes. DSL is deciated line so it's a stable connection. Sounds like TW is limiting bandwidth from certain sites, they have done this in the past.

 

Ok, thanks for informing me.