New Dell PC, internet speed/modem problem

[RU482]

I recently purchased a 1Ghz Dell for my mother inlaw. When she dials into her local internet provider, the icon on the systray says it's connected at 46.6K, but speed tests and slow connection lead me to beleive that she is actually connecting somewhere around 19.2K. Any idea what's going on here?

 

[alanwj]

What kind of speed tests are you doing? If you are using one of the web based "check you line speed" pages, I would take their results lightly. A somewhat better test can be performed using System Monitor (if it isn't installed, you can install it from any Win98 CD). It has an option to monitor network adapter traffic. Turn it on and download a multimegabyte file (10 MB should be sufficient), then take an average.

Alan

 

[Helznicht]

You hardly ever get your full connection speed from a website.

I have a cable modem rated for 1Mb/sec, speed tests say im around 800Kb/sec and Im happy when I can download @ 200kb/sec.

Go try a large file from a good server, Windows should say she is downloading between 4-5 kBYTES a second for 46.6 connection.

 

[dullard]

If your speed is much lower than it should be there are several possible causes:
1) Bad modem,
2) Modem has interference by other faxes, phones, modems, answering machines in your house,
3) You are connecting to a bad modem at your internet provider,
4) You are getting interference in the phone lines.

The quickest and easiest to check is #2. Unplug all other equipment hooked up to the phone line in the house. If your speed changes, you've found the problem.