Dialup downloading at average 2.7Kb/s

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Josamoto

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Hi all!

First of all, do excuse me if I ask a stupid question, mabe I just need a stupid answer.

I've got a dialup internet connection with Atlantic, and downloads with GetRight for example occur at an average of about 2.7Kb/s and then I'm not running any other apps that access the internet.

I called their customer support, asked about the speed, and the technician assured me that it is quite slow, and due to the fact that too many people are on the network. They were unable to even offer me a setting tweak or two to at least try and squeeze a bit more out of those two copper wires.

Now I'm speaking under correction, but isn't a good dialup connection supposed to be able to download at at least say 5Kb/s. If so, is there a better ISP out there which you guys would recommend.

I don't see it good practice to stick servers so full of subscribers that when it gets busy, everyone has to sit with a speed that totally sucks. I'm out for an ISP that's concerned about quality of service first!

Thanks all for reading so patiently what I have to say.
 
Josamoto - TelkomSA used to always give me 52Kbps. Rememeber it could always be a hardware thing, or your phone line / copper quality
 
When I made phonecalls, I found a lot of static noise on the line, especially on my receiving side. The person I spoke to could hear me clearly, but I was unable to hear them.

After about 4 weeks of struggling with Telkom, they fixed the problem. They haven't done a good job really, I can occasionally still hear the static, but it has reduced a lot.

I've tried my other external modem, it also connects at an average 24Kbps.
 
Jasamoto - either its software/hardware related, or telkom is splitting your line. (splitting the line - using the same pare of wires to host 2 phone numbers). Insist that you want it fixed and that you're not happy - they will fix it. They might also tell you that the line speed is not guaranteed, keep on screaming till you get that sorted out. you should be connecting at least at 42kbs - 56kbs. Your top speed should be around 7 / 8Kbs, your average should be around 5.5
 
By the way, Smellkom told me that the static noise WILL NOT affect my internet connection capabilities. I'm not sure if that is entirely true.
 
I've had enough of screaming at Telkom. They keep on trying to tell me that it's my provider that suck, and my provider somehow tries to accuse Telkom.

You can never win with these guys!
 
LabAnimal said:
Jasamoto - either its software/hardware related, or telkom is splitting your line. (splitting the line - using the same pare of wires to host 2 phone numbers). Insist that you want it fixed and that you're not happy - they will fix it. They might also tell you that the line speed is not guaranteed, keep on screaming till you get that sorted out. you should be connecting at least at 42kbs - 56kbs. Your top speed should be around 7 / 8Kbs, your average should be around 5.5
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bit optomistic.... i got that on ISDN 64k... he should get about 5 mox.
 
Maybe your ISDN is screwed! Hee hee!

I think what I'm going to do is change to another ISP, so if it is and ISP problem, than should eliminate the problem. Maby I'll move to TelkomSA, so Telkom can blame their own ISP department if things go wrong.
 
no... ISDN 1 channel is 64 kilobits per second to get kilobytes per second divide by 8

64/8 = 8

so 56k modem / 8 is

7k max but this is all theroretical speed u never get that high.

any way i got adsl now so i'm out.
 
Lucky bugger. I had ADSL in the UK last year, damn it's fast. These days you can get an 8Mb line, uncapped for just £8.99 per month. That is approx R90-R100 smackers.
 
Josamoto said:
Lucky bugger. I had ADSL in the UK last year, damn it's fast. These days you can get an 8Mb line, uncapped for just £8.99 per month. That is approx R90-R100 smackers.
Click to expand...

Hopefully one day we will have it here...not likely though. Is £8.99 the TOTAL amount you pay per month or are there additional charges also?
 
Scooby_Doo said:
bit optomistic.... i got that on ISDN 64k... he should get about 5 mox.
Click to expand...

then you clearly have a problem. I had on dialup 56k good 5 - 8kbs with Telkom Internet / SAOL.

modem always connected around 52kbs. suppose the quality of Dialup has gone to the dogs. time for ADSL and its hassels boys and boys...!
 
Josamoto said:
I think what I'm going to do is change to another ISP, so if it is and ISP problem, than should eliminate the problem. Maby I'll move to TelkomSA, so Telkom can blame their own ISP department if things go wrong.
Click to expand...
I doubt its your ISP, IMO, its probably your line quality thats poor, or the line is being split.

Josamoto said:
By the way, Smellkom told me that the static noise WILL NOT affect my internet connection capabilities. I'm not sure if that is entirely true.
Click to expand...
Thats deffenetly not true
 
Josamoto - Here are my proposals:

1) Download the latest drivers for your modem. Use Everest Home Edition to get the make and model of your modem. Then look for the drivers on the internet.

2) Change the port speed of the COM port the modem uses. Go into "Device manager" and look for COM1 or COM2. Change the port speed to 115200bps.

3) Test the dial-up connection. The windows tasktray should indicate that you are connected at 40 - 55K.

4) Do the HTTP download speed test at www.telkomsa.net to test throughput.

5) Your download speed should be in the region of 4 - 6Kb/s.

6) If you still experience slow speeds take your computer and modem to a friends landline. Test your dial-up from there. If it is faster then there must be a problem with your line. Contact Telkom fault reporting and let them test your line your noise etc.
 
Is £8.99 the TOTAL amount you pay per month or are there additional charges also?
Click to expand...

You pay £8.99 for your broadband provider, all you need is a BT (British Telecoms) landline which off course you pay about £5 per month line rental for. But BT doesn't charge you an additional ADSL connection fee, you only pay your ISP!

Cool!

Franna, I've set my port speed to 115200, it's that all the time. Even now, speed reads 26.4Kbps on the taskbar.

I think testing the modem on another friends landline sounds like a good idea. Thanks, simple as it is, I didn't even think of that!

Useless Info:
In the UK, my cellphone contract had 1000 "callmore" minutes I could use, for less than the price Telkom Closer Option 3 costs me!!!
 
Ive been on Mweb and Global-online, ones Saix and ones IS.
About the same connection speeds hey...
And I also had static, whenever it rained. So my connection speed would drop from 46.6 normal to like 31.2 or even worse 14.4.
So definitely static I'd say for ur line. Should only be ur isp if u can connect at a good speed but still get crap download speed.
But yeah, just my 2 cent:p
 
I must admit, when I connected the external modem the other day I did it like my ass. Well I decided to try that step again, plus I connected the modem DIRECTLY into the phone wall socket instead of in the data port in the back of my phone.

My average connection speed is now hardly 40Kbps, at the moment I am at 33.6Kbps. Still missing that extra 10Kbps or so, bat 40 is better than 24!!!

I'm pretty sure the rest is lost due to static noise on the line! Telkom will have to fix the problem they "fixed" last time, if you know what I mean.
 
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