internet speed goes up and down...

ok I've recently got a new motorolla router, because my previous one kept disconnecting and reconnecting by itself. Even with the new router, my internet connection is ridiculously slow in different part of the day. Sometimes at night or during the day. its so slow it cant even load google.com. At the moment the connection is pretty fast.

so whats causing this slow down? My connection currently has a wpa network security set up. and there are 2 other computers that are using the network.

 

Where do you live, who is your ISP?

I live in New York, USA, and Cablevision is my ISP. At random times, the my bandwidth will drop to 0%, but is usually around 12Mbps, 1.5Mbps upload. Since I have cable, I share it with TV, HDTV, and other cable users, so my bandwidth is really my area's bandwidth, which is subject to change as people download, and order on demand programming.

 

i live in toronto, Canada. and my isp is rogers. I use wireless connection. My connection always stays at 54 mbps even when the internet connection is very slow.

 

Try this site:
http://www.speedtest.net/

 

thats my result. Can you tell me what my results mean? I have no idea what it means.

 

It means your internet speed is terrible, as is your latency. Still better than dialup, but not by much. Looks like something is wrong.

Everyone on your network shares bandwidth, so if someone is hogging it up by downloading huge files or torrents, it'll bite into your bandwidth.

 

You should check first of all, how old is the modem, not the router, but the modem that rogers gave you.
About a year ago, I noticed that my bandwidth was really low at times, so I did all the usual checkout, the router, firewall and everything. Every time I change some setting, I'd have a speed test, nothing would help. I then plug the modem straight to the computer then do the speed test. It was the same result, low speed. That means it was problem with either the ISP or the modem. I called them, they said I shouldn't be getting that low speed, so they sent out someone to swap the modem. It was all back to HIGH SPEED after that.

IMPORTANT NOTE: do NOT connect your computer straight to the modem unless you have your machine up to date and is running a software firewall, this is very important. Unless you are prepared to do a reformat after that. Nothing might happen but I don't trust the internet and the worms.

By the way, the conspiracy theorist in me would think that sometimes, ISP limits your bandwidth on purpose, once in a while I do feel a slow down for like 2 days. I would call them to complain, they would do the standard trouble shooting with you, and said, everything seems to be normal, don't know why it's slow, then guess what, the very same night speed comes back to live. That's just my crazy funny conspiracy theory, don't take it too seriously.

EDIT: By plugging the modem straight to your computer and do a speed test, you will get the bandwidth that you SHOULD be getting (since you will only have one computer connected to the net, bandwidth passing through router then to your computer will lose a little as well about 10% , if the bandwidth comes back showing good speed, then maybe it is like vermicious said, other computer on the network is hogging your bandwidth

 

Cable is just like a party line. The more users on your trunk the slower it gets. Your ISP has over populated the line, the reason for the slow service. Or you have a lot of P2P users. They can suck up your bandwidth.

 

honestly I would just call your provider and tell them to fix it. Complain that you didn't pay for dail up, and threaten to switch to another provider.

 

With my N router & G internal card, here is my result: