Internet slow on one computer

[Hyperfocal]

I'm running a 384k DSL connection through a Netgear MR814 802.11b router.

2 boxes are on wired 100mbps connections. (both Athlon XP)

1 box is on a d-link DWL-122 USB wireless. (Duron @2ghz)

These three get a consistent full-speed download.

The final is an old Powerbook 1400 running an Orinoco Classic Gold PC card under MacOS 8.1.

I'm getting about 33k throughput from the internet. I can transfer files from the powerbook to my main rig at over the LAN at 2.5 mbps which is slow but usable.

I recognize that this is an old, slow system, but I can't seem to find a reason why the internet is so slow.

Does anyone have any suggestions? There don't seem to be a lot of options for tweaking networking in this old MacOS.


I'd consider going Linux if I could find a good distro that supports the old nubus Macs.

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Download DrTCP: http://www.dslreports.com/front/DRTCP021.exe

Run the program, it will show the current settings of TCP/IP parameters. Write them down.

You can change any variable that you want, click Apply, and reboot the computer, if no good; you can always change to your original values.

Start with:

MaxMTU - for DSL =1492, Cable=1500, ISDN -1322, DialUp=576

Tcp Receive - 256960 (This is the variable to play with).

Window Scaling - Yes

Time Stamping - No

Selective Acks - Yes

Path MTU Discovery - Yes.

Black Hole - NO

Max Duplicate - 2

TTL - 64

Notice it said above Start with

These settings are not written in "stone" there is variability depending on the computer other setting. So try few setting and measure your Download for each setting.

In addition, in case a person has a Router the Router's MTU if set differently can affect the general MTU.

Link: Measuring the "Speed" of Internet Connection.

:sun:

 

[thirdlegstump]

Older Macs running the older OS's ARE slow as molasses when it comes to network performance. The browsers themselves feel like they're frozen when loading pages. It's normal. I have a Powerbook 1400cs sitting here doing nothing for the very same reason. I use it to format Mac floppy disks. (yes the 1400cs has a slot for floppy drives!)

 

[spherrod]

I recently had the same issue on an old Powerbook - DSL router worked fine on any other machine but the Powerbook with OS 8.1 was modem speed. Guess there may be some settings to change but couldn't find any.

 

[Hyperfocal]

Thanks for the replies.

At least is isn't just me. Other than the slow internet, it is a remarkably competant little notebook for its age.