8MB broadband performing like 512K

[cdfreelancer]

I live in the UK and have 8MB broadband (ISP= Demon internet) but for some reason I have a very high ping (latency) in online games of about 100+ when it should only be around 10. Not long before making this post I went to http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/speedtest and ran a speed test. Before the test I made sure that all applications apart from firefox were shut-down. I only scored 688KBPS which is only a fraction of the result I should be getting.

When I check my broadband status, at the bottom right of the screen, next to the time, it says I'm connected at 7.6Mbps. I don't understand why my connection is apparently so slow if I should have a total window of 7.6Mbps.

FYI, I have a speedtouch 330 modem with the latest drivers.

I'm wondering if my system might have been hacked and someone is hijacking my bandwidth? What could be causing this problem?

Thanks for any help!

 

[ETSA]

Speed
The service operates downstream at up to a 8Mbps* and upstream at up to 448kbps, offering always-on, unmetered access** and unrestricted 24-hour TCP/IP traffic. The speed of a broadband connection is determined by the distance between your telephone line and the local BT exchange.

From there website...

 

[Lectrician]

Is your modem connected directly to the master socket or to an extension? I am not saying tht this extra distance has any affect - it is negligable. BUT, if you have lots of extension wiring, the ringer can cause some detrimental effects one it splits at the master.

You have kilometers of twisted, balanced phone cable from the exchange to your house, carrying the DSL nicely. From the master socket, there is a capacitor connected to terminal 3 of the sockets to create ring current for the phones. This single wire pulls one leg of the phone line out of balance and can cause all sorts of faults with DSL, including no sync. It is mainly on longer exchange runs that this is a problem.

When DSL was first brought out, the instructions used to say to remove the ringer connection from termial 3 at the master socket. They now don't say this as many people got very confused, and the suppliers ended up having to pay for engineers to attend. They now keep it quiet unless there is a problem.

The microfilters (I assume you have one on every item of kit plugged in? Phone, fax, sky box, alarm system?) have ring generators in them, and you therefore don't need the ringer from the master socket. Disconnect this, and see if you speed increases.

 

[Schonza]

I live in the UK and have 8MB broadband (ISP= Demon internet) but for some reason I have a very high ping (latency) in online games of about 100+ when it should only be around 10. Not long before making this post I went to http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/speedtest and ran a speed test. Before the test I made sure that all applications apart from firefox were shut-down. I only scored 688KBPS which is only a fraction of the result I should be getting.

When I check my broadband status, at the bottom right of the screen, next to the time, it says I'm connected at 7.6Mbps. I don't understand why my connection is apparently so slow if I should have a total window of 7.6Mbps.

FYI, I have a speedtouch 330 modem with the latest drivers.

I'm wondering if my system might have been hacked and someone is hijacking my bandwidth? What could be causing this problem?

Thanks for any help!

Well, I'm sure that when you said your internet runs at 8 MBPS you meant Mbps (mega-bit per second) As thats what line speeds are measured in. Which equates to 1 MBps(Mega-byte per second). So if you're pulling 688 KBps (kilo-bytes per second) I wouldn't but worrying about anything, but if it's 688 Kbps(kilo-bit per second, Then I'd be concerned. Just thought I"d clear it up for some people who may get confused.

 

[TFT]

Well, I'm sure that when you said your internet runs at 8 MBPS you meant Mbps (mega-bit per second) As thats what line speeds are measured in. Which equates to 1 MBps(Mega-byte per second). So if you're pulling 688 KBps (kilo-bytes per second) I wouldn't but worrying about anything, but if it's 688 Kbps(kilo-bit per second, Then I'd be concerned. Just thought I"d clear it up for some people who may get confused.

In full agreement with schoning16, too many get confused with the bits and bytes.

I am also on an up to 8Mbps and today this comes out at 5314 Kbps / 448 Kbps or roughly translated 664KBps / 56 KBps.

This was on http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

 

[Geoff]

Latency (ping), doesnt depend on if you have a 1Mb or 8Mb Cable/DSL line. It depends on the server you're trying to connect to, and how far you actually are from the server.

 

[cdfreelancer]

Is your modem connected directly to the master socket or to an extension?

The main splitter is connected into the phone socket whilst the mini-sky splitter is connected to the main splitter. The phone is then connected to the mini-sky splitter. My broadband cable is connected to the main splitter and leads straight from there into the modem using no extensions on the way.

Incidentally, I live about 500 metres from my exchange so...

However, I contacted my ISP and they informed me that my local exchange is congested and is due for an upgrade before the end of this month. I was told that this is most likely the cause of the problem.

Still, I'm not entirely convinced.