Speed not consistant

[EvanColson1]

I have very little prior knowledge in the area of data communications and I have a question that may see kind of simple. My current bandwidth is rated as 10Mbps by my ISP and I can get download speeds of up to 1Mb/s with reliable servers such as Fileplanet, but I can't seem to get speeds over 5Mbps on speed tests, and my BitTorrent downloads struggle to get past 250 kb/s. I am using Cogeco High Speed through a Belkin wireless g router. Any suggestion as to what the problem is and how I could fix it?

[trogers]

Which country are you in?

Post your TCP Analyzer report.

[EvanColson1]

I live in Canada. Here is my report.

« SpeedGuide.net TCP Analyzer Results »
Tested on: 10.12.2007 21:43
IP address: 72.38.xxx.xx

TCP options string: 020405b40103030201010402
MSS: 1460
MTU: 1500
TCP Window: 256960 (multiple of MSS)
RWIN Scaling: 2
Unscaled RWIN : 64240
Reccomended RWINs: 64240, 128480, 256960, 513920
BDP limit (200ms): 10278kbps (1285KBytes/s)
BDP limit (500ms): 4111kbps (514KBytes/s)
MTU Discovery: ON
TTL: 49
Timestamps: OFF
SACKs: ON
IP ToS: 00000000 (0)

[trogers]

TCP Window is set correct for 10 mbps.

Do a tracert to www.yahoo.com and post.

[EvanColson1]

PING www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net (69.147.114.210): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 69.147.114.210: icmp_seq=0 ttl=56 time=2.120 ms
64 bytes from 69.147.114.210: icmp_seq=1 ttl=56 time=1.949 ms
64 bytes from 69.147.114.210: icmp_seq=2 ttl=56 time=2.261 ms
64 bytes from 69.147.114.210: icmp_seq=3 ttl=56 time=2.947 ms
64 bytes from 69.147.114.210: icmp_seq=4 ttl=56 time=2.196 ms

--- www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 1.949/2.295/2.947/0.342 ms

Is this the right information because the traceroute doesn't work.

[trogers]

To do a tracert, click 'Start' and then 'Run'. Type "cmd" into the box and click 'ok'.

A DOS black screen will appear. Type after the C:\>

tracert www.yahoo.com

and press enter key

When test is completed, move mouse cursor to the DOS black screen, click right and choose 'select all'.

Move mouse cursor to the Quick Reply box of this forum, click right and 'paste'.

[EvanColson1]

Oops.. Sorry.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Patrick Conroy>tracert www.yahoo.com

Tracing route to www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net [69.147.114.210]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 7 ms 9 ms 5 ms 10.70.224.1
2 31 ms 19 ms 16 ms d226-12-125.home.cgocable.net [24.226.12.125]
3 19 ms 20 ms 19 ms cogeco-gw.peer1.net [69.90.37.245]
4 21 ms 33 ms 22 ms oc48-po4-0.tor-151f-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114
.193]
5 28 ms 31 ms 26 ms oc48-po6-0.tor-1yg-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114.
133]
6 39 ms 33 ms 1673 ms 216.187.114.141
7 27 ms 39 ms 33 ms exchange-cust1.ch1.equinix.net [206.223.119.16]

8 55 ms 86 ms 49 ms ge-2-0-9.p550.pat1.dce.yahoo.com [216.115.97.21]

9 44 ms 50 ms 51 ms ge-3-1-0-p150.msr2.re1.yahoo.com [216.115.108.61
]
10 46 ms 47 ms 48 ms gi1-22.bas-a2.re3.yahoo.com [66.196.112.27]
11 68 ms 47 ms 47 ms f1.www.vip.re3.yahoo.com [69.147.114.210]

Trace complete.

[trogers]

Oops.. Sorry.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Patrick Conroy>tracert www.yahoo.com

Tracing route to www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net [69.147.114.210]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 7 ms 9 ms 5 ms 10.70.224.1
2 31 ms 19 ms 16 ms d226-12-125.home.cgocable.net [24.226.xxx.xxx]
3 19 ms 20 ms 19 ms cogeco-gw.peer1.net [69.90.37.245]
4 21 ms 33 ms 22 ms oc48-po4-0.tor-151f-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114.193]


Uneven ping times at the modem in hop 1. This can be cause either by presence of spyware in your comp or by electromagnetic interference from some nearby electrical device on the modem.

Scan your comp with SpyBot and Ad-Aware 2007 and clean the registry with CCleaner.

Turn off power to the modem and relocate it a few feet away from all other electrical devices.

[EvanColson1]

I have scanned for both spyware and viruses, cleaned the registry with CC Cleaner, and moved the modem as far as the ethernet cable would allow and I am still getting uneven pings.

[trogers]

I have scanned for both spyware and viruses, cleaned the registry with CC Cleaner, and moved the modem as far as the ethernet cable would allow and I am still getting uneven pings.

Do another tracert.

[EvanColson1]

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Patrick Conroy>tracert www.yahoo.ca

Tracing route to rc.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.112.135]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 9 ms 12 ms 9 ms 10.70.224.1
2 25 ms 27 ms 22 ms d226-12-237.home.cgocable.net [24.226.12.237]
3 1230 ms 34 ms 31 ms qix-tor-gw.peer1.net [69.28.230.245]
4 27 ms 31 ms 22 ms oc48-po4-0.tor-151f-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114
.193]
5 23 ms 25 ms 32 ms oc48-po6-0.tor-1yg-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114.
133]
6 32 ms 43 ms 40 ms 216.187.114.141
7 35 ms 34 ms 51 ms exchange-cust1.ch1.equinix.net [206.223.119.16]

8 59 ms 105 ms 64 ms ge-0-0-8.p169.pat2.dce.yahoo.com [216.115.96.76]

9 52 ms 54 ms 48 ms ge-1-0-0-p101.msr1.dcn.yahoo.com [216.115.108.43
]
10 57 ms 56 ms 61 ms ge6-1.bas2-m.dcn.yahoo.com [216.109.120.221]
11 49 ms 51 ms 65 ms w2.rc.vip.dcn.yahoo.com [216.109.112.135]

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Patrick Conroy>

[trogers]

My guess is that there is still some spyware in your comp. Try a-Squared Free. Download, install and update the program before scanning.

[EvanColson1]

I did a deep virus scan and then an a squared deep scan and ran another registry cleaning utility and my tracert results seem to still be sporadic. What do you think?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Patrick Conroy>tracert www.yahoo.com

Tracing route to www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net [69.147.114.210]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 7 ms 6 ms 6 ms 10.70.224.1
2 14 ms 20 ms 15 ms d226-12-125.home.cgocable.net [24.226.12.125]
3 20 ms 19 ms 22 ms cogeco-gw.peer1.net [69.90.37.245]
4 1337 ms 20 ms 18 ms oc48-po4-0.tor-151f-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114
.193]
5 20 ms 23 ms 20 ms oc48-po6-0.tor-1yg-cor-1.peer1.net [216.187.114.
133]
6 31 ms 32 ms 30 ms 216.187.114.141
7 29 ms 30 ms 28 ms exchange-cust1.ch1.equinix.net [206.223.119.16]

8 46 ms 47 ms 45 ms ge-2-0-9.p551.pat2.dce.yahoo.com [216.115.97.23]

9 49 ms 56 ms 46 ms ge-3-1-0-p150.msr2.re1.yahoo.com [216.115.108.61
]
10 46 ms 45 ms 50 ms gi1-23.bas-a1.re3.yahoo.com [68.142.238.67]
11 48 ms 48 ms 46 ms f1.www.vip.re3.yahoo.com [69.147.114.210]

Trace complete.
« SpeedGuide.net TCP Analyzer Results »
Tested on: 10.13.2007 01:17
IP address: 72.38.xxx.xx

TCP options string: 020405b40103030201010402
MSS: 1460
MTU: 1500
TCP Window: 256960 (multiple of MSS)
RWIN Scaling: 2
Unscaled RWIN : 64240
Reccomended RWINs: 64240, 128480, 256960, 513920
BDP limit (200ms): 10278kbps (1285KBytes/s)
BDP limit (500ms): 4111kbps (514KBytes/s)
MTU Discovery: ON
TTL: 49
Timestamps: OFF
SACKs: ON
IP ToS: 00000000 (0)

[trogers]

Hop 2 shows some uneven ping times.

Log into your modem and check its signal power levels. Check also for any loose connectors or wiring in the cable from the modem to the wall jack. Make sure you do not coil up any excess length of power and signal cables.

[EvanColson1]

I cant ping the router on either computer, so I have no access to the configuration utility.

[trogers]

I cant ping the router on either computer, so I have no access to the configuration utility.

You have a router in the connection? Its IP address is not showing up in the first hop. Make sure it is not set to bridge mode.

What brand and model is your router?

[EvanColson1]

Sorry, I wasn't clear in the first post. I'm using a RCA Cable Modem and A Belkin Wireless G router. I used to be able to access the configuration utility from this computer (not the host), but now I am not able to access it. And the host computer has never even recognized the presence of the router.

[trogers]

Sorry, I wasn't clear in the first post. I'm using a RCA Cable Modem and A Belkin Wireless G router. I used to be able to access the configuration utility from this computer (not the host), but now I am not able to access it. And the host computer has never even recognized the presence of the router.

My guess is that the router has been set to bridge mode and no longer act as a router. If your comp has no software firewall, then it is not protected against undesirables.

Either reset the router to factory default by pressing the reset button at its rear or use a software firewall. I use Comodo.

In the mean time scan your comp for possible spyware/malware using SpyBot and Ad-Aware 2007. And clean your registry with CCleaner.

[EvanColson1]

Both copmuters are using Zone Alarm Free Firewall as well as a variety of other antivirus/anti-spyware applications. How do I check if the router is in bridge mode, because factory defaults were not applied when I reset the router.

[trogers]

Uninstall Zone Alarm and clean your registry with CCleaner.

Use Comodo Free firewall instead.

You will have to pull out your Belkin user manual to set it up again.

[EvanColson1]

Can you just list all the apps you think I should be running instead of whatever else I have installed.

[trogers]

Can you just list all the apps you think I should be running instead of whatever else I have installed.

Applications known to cause slowdowns in PC and laptops:

McAfee
Norton
Zone Alarm

For recommended replacements, see the Security section of our forum.

[EvanColson1]

I've done everything you've asked on both computers and i haven't seen very much improvement (I've actually experienced more lag in TF2, even with ping <50ms). Is it possible that there is a problem with the ethernet cable connecting the router to the host computer? Should I buy another router? Since the host occasionally gets really slow downloads, is it possible that I should reinstall (its connected by USB but shows up as the LAN connection) the modem or buy a new one?

[trogers]

I've done everything you've asked on both computers and i haven't seen very much improvement (I've actually experienced more lag in TF2, even with ping <50ms). Is it possible that there is a problem with the ethernet cable connecting the router to the host computer? Should I buy another router? Since the host occasionally gets really slow downloads, is it possible that I should reinstall (its connected by USB but shows up as the LAN connection) the modem or buy a new one?

I suggest you create a LAN by connecting the router directly to the modem and all computers have their own connections to the router. In so doing, there is no host computer that you need to leave turned on.

To check if the router is the factor causing slow down, test with a direct connection through the modem. If speed is still slow, problem is from modem onwards, or within the comp itself.

[EvanColson1]

The router is already directly linked to the modem with an ethernet cord. And the direct connection through the modem only gets about 2Mbps on speedtest.net. How would I create this LAN, becasuse I only have on ethernet port and the computer thinks that the modem is the LAN.

[trogers]

The router is already directly linked to the modem with an ethernet cord. And the direct connection through the modem only gets about 2Mbps on speedtest.net. How would I create this LAN, becasuse I only have on ethernet port and the computer thinks that the modem is the LAN.

Check this link for basic LAN setup:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/49372/how_to_set_up_a_lan_in_your_home.html

Since you said that speed is still slow when connected directly to the modem, the router is not a suspect.

If you have another comp, try a direct connection and see if speed is still low. If not, the cause is in first comp.

[EvanColson1]

I have discovered that the problem is with the modem. With a direct connection and the router unplugged, it starts downloads at ~750 kb/s, but the speed quickly decreases to ~150kb/s. What should I do? Oh, yeah and while I'm here, can you tell me what the optimal settings for my bittorrent clients are onve my connection is up to max speed?

[trogers]

I have discovered that the problem is with the modem. With a direct connection and the router unplugged, it starts downloads at ~750 kb/s, but the speed quickly decreases to ~150kb/s. What should I do? Oh, yeah and while I'm here, can you tell me what the optimal settings for my bittorrent clients are onve my connection is up to max speed?

First make sure that the modem is placed a few feet away from all other electrical devices. Electromagnetic interference given out by a nearby device can cause slowdown in the modem as you have described. See this thread:

http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=1885

You have to experiment in setting limits to your torrent client. Use this thread as a guide:

http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?t=222078&highlight=p2p