My DSL is... Screwy
 

Alright, first off its DSL by verizon {{insert groans here}}
(Note, when I say 'we' I imply My Father and I.)

Now then, We were struck by lightning a few weeks back and it wasn't to nice to some of the routers in the house. Now the Network cards seem perfectly fine, as do the computers. But the DSL speed just sucks! When I go to http://www.ba-hss.com/ and run a test, I get varied results. About an hour ago it was 244 KBits/Sec, now it is 316.1 KBits/Sec. First off, DSL isn't supposed to even vary THAT much, beyond that I'm supposed to get like 640 Down and 120 Up. My Computer, mY mother's computer and my fathers computer all get about ~300 down, while my sister's computer is getting about ~500 down(still not quite par, but a lot faster!). We've changed network cards, we've connected directly up to the DSL Modem, Hell we even got a new DSL Modem and put that in... still the same shitty rate. My tather has called up Verizon and spoke with them about it. They don't seem to have any clue about anything. (I hear you saying "go figure":D) They point out that we have things like file sharing on... even tho we disconnected the network and turned off computer, so that it no way it could be a problem. Just one computer and a fresh reboot. Apparently they came to our house to check something, no one was home to talk to them about it, but they checked something outside and said everything was reading normally. I am out of ideas. I don't know what else to fix. I'd almost wonder if the lightning could have screwed up some of the CoAx Cables, but it can't be. For as I said my father tried it on his computer, then switched it out with my sister's who got 500 something.

Is this Internal? How do I fix it? or is this External? How do I get Verizon to get on it?

Hopefully you guys know whats going on.

Thanks for any help you can give.
--GakFace

www.dslreports.com
has some good tools.
try the tweek options.
there are a lot of things you can tweek to maximize your connection speed.

Do you mean KiloBits, or KiloBytes? I sure hope you're talking about bytes, else your connection is a wee bit slow.

-Lasereth

yes, BITS.. or else I wouldn't say my DSL is screwy. As I said, ITS GOING REALLY SLOW. This isn't where Tweaking is useful. I used to get the full 600+ KBits/Sec... since the lightning, something is totally screwed up. I explained everything I tried to fix it, yet nothing has worked.. Anyone have Ideas?

Thanx for the Idea ART, but I don't think its going to tweak me to my 600+ that I should already have. :(

600 Kbits per second is slower than 56k, man. The test has two answers: Kilobits and Kilobytes. Are you sure that your results are 250-300 Kilobits? That would mean that your Kilobytes score would be around 25 kilobytes, or when it used to be fixed you would download at 60 kilobytes per second. That's incredibly slow for DSL.

Run the test again, and post the kilobits and kilobytes score. It gives both of them on the graph. If your DSL is running at 25 kilobytes per second like you said, that's barely better than 56k.

-Lasereth

I have NO CLUE what you're thinking of, but you're wrong there.

Yeah, I was exaggerating. But please post your scores so we can see what your speed is; it's integral to what your DSL problem is. What's your KBits and KBytes speed?

-Lasereth

Re: My DSL is... Screwy
 

It would be helpful if you actually read my original post Lasereth.. Let me quote myself....
as for an update, I tested the speed, I just got 433, then again and got like 320, and again and I got like 292..... I don't think it can be internal.. as the "speed barrier" between computers has now turned to crap.

http://www.appstate.edu/~bt52438/test.jpg

You see my KBits? It's at 5,100. You said yours is at 600 regularly. My DSL is at 1,500 regularly, and my DSL service is known for being slow.

If you say yours is at 250 KBits now, that's rougly 30KBytes. In other words, you download at 30 kilobytes per second, which is slow as HELL for DSL.

My only assumption is that you have bits and bytes backwards. It would make perfect sense if you're talking about bytes, and your problem could be diagnosed most likely. 600 KBYTES is a pretty average DSL speed if not above average, but 600 KBITS is an insanely below average speed. It's possible to get two linked 56k modems to download at 600 KBITS.

Like I said before, post what you got in KBITS and KBYTES, then we can at least see what the problem is.

-Lasereth

Re: Re: My DSL is... Screwy
 

You're missing my point! There is a HUGE difference between bit and byte in the computer world. Download speed is measured by bytes usually, and in bits if you're talking about network tech crap. Did you get 433, then 320, then 292 KILOBYTES, or KILOBITS? It is very odd that it varies that much, but it is even odder if you're getting these scores on a KiloBIT scale.

-Lasereth

no.. You obviously dont' understand the payment systems for DSL. There are different option. My parents are paying for the 600/120 deal. There is a gold and there is a premium option, YOU SIR, obviously have the premium option. Don't be so quick to judge. 600 KBits is what we pay for, that that sir.. would be in the 512K area. if you notice 56K, thats 56 KBITS per second. Double that and you're only in the 100's.. still no where near as fast as 600. I know what I'm talking about, I'm not a moron when it comes to computers. I have taken a MCSE course, I know my stuff. I would not make a mistake such as this. My parents aren't paying for the same DSL package that you are paying for. If that is the only Package available in your area, then yours simply wanted to compete with cable, period.. the one in my area like to compete also with money.

Sure there are bytes too, but everywhere ya look you see Bits.. Heck even the speed test shows it in bits before it shows bytes. Besides Lasereth, I can tell you know the difference.. so what is the huge problem? Personally if someone only knows bytes, then I don't see how they could help me here. 90+% of all the possible problems would have been network-wise.. (which deals directly with how the net gets to my room). I feel that if people don't know what bits are, then they won't really be able to help me. Might sound mean, but peopel who just know bytes are usually peopel who just know from surfing the net, and the differences they receive. yes Bits is more networking, but that also means they are more probable on how it works. I am looking for an answer from those types of people, because I am one of them and i prefer to not screw up my settings. Sorry If I came off as rude, and sorry if i'm cominf off as rude now, but I posted in so that I would get my answer from people that would be most probable of giving me a good, precise answer. I am stumped, and I have asked friends that actually work in the IT area and they too do not know what the matter could be.

This section is for help, and that's what I'm giving. I didn't know that there was a DSL service that offered a maximum of 75 KByte downloads. I've heard the lowest one is 150 KBytes (the one that I have at home). I wasn't making fun of your download speeds, I was agreeing that something was wrong.

If your DSL is going as slow as 30 KByte downloads, I would seriously call the DSL company and ask for a new router/modem. Are you still under contract with them? If so, I think they have to give you one. The modem/router at our house was actually nuked 2 weeks ago by a lightning storm, maybe the same one. :) We had to go buy a new one (our contract was out).

It doesn't *sound* like a hardware issue, but that's the only thing I can think of. I'd give'em a call about a new router/modem, and if they can't help, I don't know what to tell you. Whatever happens, good luck!

-Lasereth

See thats the thing, we DID get a new modem!.. thats why this is wrecking my brain so much.. (and why I'm on the edge.. which again I apologize for)

Umm.. I don't know where you're from Lasereth, but in most US markets, 768kbps/128kbps is the most common service (and also cheapest at between $25 and $35 a month). Of course, for cable I get 3Mbps/128kbps. Other rates I've seen for DSL have been 144kbps, 384kbps, 512kbps, 1.5Mbps, 2.1Mbps, 3Mbps, and 7.1Mbps (download rates). As you can see, they vary quite a bit. So it's a bad idea to assume that <75kBps is bad performance for DSL...

I've already stated that in my town, it doesn't vary like that. There is one option, and it's $50 a month.

-Lasereth

Count yourself lucky then. For most people DSL is not that great.

Do you use the filters that verizon provides? Did you try removing them or switching them around.

try taking all the phones off the line and the filters leaving just the modem connected, maybe one is damaged. but the fact that one pc is getting 500kbits and the others are getting slow speeds, that would indicate a pc issue not a dsl issue.

And for the record, our providers also call this the 150 KiloByte service, not measured in bits. I think that's where the confusion began. I wasn't used to measuring download speeds in bits, because every single Internet browser measures download speeds in kilobytes, and even my ISP measures it in bytes. Sorry if I made things more complicated. :)

-Lasereth

Bits is the standard for internet access measurements. Just because your browser measures access rate in bytes doesn't change that. I used to know why ISPs measure in bits, but I forgot. I think it has to do with the atomicity of bits vs. bytes. :)

I agree with brian1975. Sounds like a problem with the other computers. Damned if I could tell you what it is, Gak...

One of the first things that I suggest is that you try some of the speed tests available off of http://www.dslreports.com , They have mentioned that time of day and internal network traffic/traffic on that site may cause inconsistencies in speed reporting.

I know that if you are using a router, you do need to tweak your system to use an mtu of 1492 or else you can't use their e-mail server so that may be part of the issue( http://www.linksys.com/support/support.asp?spid=87). (you can change this by going to our tools and downloading/using dr.tcp off of dsl reports webpage).

Some other things that I recommend are just doing some basic things to get your pc into shape, defrag, scan for viruses/spyware and remove unneeded programs from startup.

I should also mention that your network settings should be explicitely set to the speed of your network (not autodetect), and you should only run the network protocols needed (mostly tcp/ip and maybe netbeui for peer to peer networking).

Hope some of these suggestions help.

are the upstairs pc's when going online using the same walljack as the the fast pc? or are they plugged into modem using the same walljack? or using a long ethernet cord? whats the step physical wise?

I posted up earlier that I can't seem to be computer related, as That computer did get 500.. but apparently recently its all over the place. On top of that, my computers is all over the place, withing about 10 minutes I went from 444 to 244.. Not sure about you, but to vary 200 KBits/Sec... something is whack.

We have the Moden downstiars and then some switches going to the other computers. Weird thing is, this was all fine before. now its crazy. Also We've connected the computers directly to the DSL modem and disabled the network and the speeds have still been crap! I'm trying to convince him to just get Comcast again. When we first had them, apparently our node was pretty damn full. Technology is better and I don't expect the slowdown anymore, and on top of that I hear its supposed to get the 3MBpS/120KBpS by the end of the year... so I hope we switch soon. I figure its gotta be verizon, I mean if we've hooked it up to the modem Directly, and we even got a fresh new modem.... and replaced network cards.. would else could it be? That and even IF that one computer had a consistant 500, its still not what it SHOULD be... i guess 500 is the max we've gotton lately. (and its not too often.)

K, I'm going to check it right now.... It is.. "324.1KBits or 40.5KBytes " ughness

Lasereth, sorry 'bout the attitude.. :( and I'm jealous of the rates you get :(:(.. I want that.. for that price.

What were your average speeds before the lightning strike?

I think this is the most important factor of all. Modem's, DSL routers, switches, hubs, nic cards, even the cat five between them were all effected by that lightning strike.

How is everything cobbled together now? Do you you have a wire closet and wall jacks or really long ethernet_cables and huge holes in the walls?

Have you tested the speed from just a single workstation attached directly to your ISP's appliance/device? What were they?

I'd make a gentlemen's wager that lightning is culpable here. At minimum need to change or re terminate a stretch of cat 5.

over,

bear

You sir, are the confused one

56k referes to 56kilobits per second. Line speeds are ALWAYS measured in bits per second.

56k connections are usualy only around 48kpbs

600kpbs / 48 kbps (an avarage 56k connection) = 12.5

Two linke 56k modems will only provide 96kpbs speed, most likely

SBC's standard DSL is 384 to 1536kbps depending on line quality.

600kpbs is an avargae DSL speed. 600KB/sec is VERY fast. about 5mbps

If you would have read my post, I said none of the DSL providers where I live provide anything below 1.5 MBit connections. I'm not confused, I just wasn't aware that there were "money-saver" DSL connections. I also mentioned that our services are measured in Kilobytes, not Kilobits.

-Lasereth

i didn't consider the possibility that you are running wireless network. I reread your post and didn't find anything about wireless. I was struck by mention of coaxial cable. How is this involved. This would indicate a cable modem NOT a DSL line which runs on a single pair of cat5 type copper.

I would like to learn more about your situation and still firmly believe this to be lightning related.

-bear

I have DSL from Verizon we only get 80Kbytes/sec and 10kbytes/sec upload. Where do you get the fast stuff?

We get 150-200 kilobytes per second downloads and 30-50 kilobytes upload, even though I've downloaded at 1 megabyte per second with DSL, and some browers downloads have went at 10-15 megabytes per second. The average is about 175 kilobytes download, though. It's from Alltel.

-Lasereth

Yeah you spotted the blurb in my memory. I realized this but forgot to fix it. It is Cat5.. for some reason The thought of Coax was in my mind at the time of writing and I put that... slipped my mind to return here to fix it. Cat5 Cat5 Cat5... Here is where I stand for you alone to take your free punch on me, and as a fair warning, I'm gonna put a cup on just for safe measures. :) Good spot tho..... CAT FIVE!!! damn.. what an aweful mistake to type huh? :(

Nothing is wireless.. I don't think. Hmm.. wait a minute.. there might be a wireless router SOMEWHERE in the house... but I don't think mine is connected to it if it exists. As I have a cord going to my room from the basement where the modem is at. I want to say its lightning, but WHERE did the lightning do this? Thats the whole thing. I figure its gotta be lightning, but lightning cannot simply SUCK the DSL outta the line permanently can it? ;) So it had to affect something, but what?

Oh, btw, I haven't slept yet, and I assume I'm now gonna have a bad dream about 5 blue cats attacking me.. heh

Isn't the quality of a DSL connection related to the quality of the copper phone wiring in your house? And also related to the wiring that connects your house to the phone lines from the outside? If that is the case, then maybe the lightning damaged *that* wiring. Does some tool exist to test the physical quality of the line?

on a 640 connection 500 is still slow, but when you add routers you add NAT overhead, and also you have to allow for the TCP overhead of the connection

DSL speed depends heavily on how far from the phone company's DSL equipment you are. At my house, my line is a 384kbps to 1.5mbps line accordingg to my bill, but I only get 384kbps due to distance. I cannot get a faster ADSL line, period. It is not a matter of cost.

Lightning could have easily effected parts of only certain pairs within the cat5 itself. It's relatively cheap and I recommend you test all of it on a quality cat-5 tester which can determine length with TDR. This will reduce it down to what you must change, but barring that pricey ass piece of test equipment, just replace it all. You mentioned that veirzon had come out since the strike and did it's own tests on the copper from the CO to your demark, even providing another DSL router. Press on wuth them then, and make sure they did, continue to insist that you are below what is normal. Could also have effected each of the nics that each workstation use. Replace these second. The switch might have been effected also. To eliminate the copper from verizon, plug a PC with a new cat-5 patch directly into the DSL router. No appliances or suspect copper between workstation and circuit. Make sure you using the wall outlet closest to the demark point as possible.

hoping this has already been worked out for you. Finally. Use dslreports.com tools, speed test links for your speed eval and logging needs.

out,

bear