Download speeds up & down

[JONNYG]

Just wondering if ne1 knows why this is happening..

I'm on pipex 512k dsl and i've noticed lately when i download from news groups (pipex) using newsleecher the download speed keeps dropping off?
It downloads around 56kb/s for around 30 seconds then drops to 0kb/s and then back up it's constantly up and down ne1 have any ideas??

I'm using a actel speedtouch 330 modem with a DSL filter which was supplied when i signed up for pipex about 18mth ago and i've got the latest actel software from there support site..


Rgrds Jonny

[jackass]

Hi mate i have been having the same problems this past week only i am on the 1meg dsl.Anything else i download of the internet is ok except when i use the newsgroups.I haven't had any problems since i got the bb back in september 2003.



Usually always getting 110+ download speed.

[mooter]

I too have a 512K line and a speedtouch 330 modem and I have also noticed my download speed will go down to zero and 'hang' for a while, before going back to normal. my browsing will also hang in this period.

here is what I 'think' is going on.

I assume when you say newsgroups you mean you are downloading torrent files?? (no shame mate.... )

i'm pretty sure it's to do with torrent downloading / torrent clients / or the way the torrent network actually runs (for instance, giving people "turns" at bandwith) which causes the normal to zero to normal speed fluctuations.

i've never experienced the problem when doing anything else (soulseek / kazaa), but swapping files with friends over the torrent network does seem to cause it.

doesn't really bother me, but it would be nice to know exactly what is happening and even to know if there is a way to stop it.

[jackass]

I don,t use torrent files but use grabiit for binaries.


alt.binaries.cd.image.xbox
alt.binaries.svcd

I have been getting max speed with my 1meg line this past 10 months but can't get even a steady 20k at the minute for some reason.


Anybody else have any probs with pipex newsgroups as this is all i really use my connection for.

cheers jackass

[mooter]

perhaps a big ISP backbone has gone down somewhere and it's affecting the network?

their hardly likely to publicise it but....

[JONNYG]

Anything else i download of the internet is ok except when i use the newsgroups

Same here jackass

I assume when you say newsgroups you mean you are downloading torrent files??

No mooter i mean newsgroups using a newsgroup client (newsleecher)
I do use torrents but don't have any speed probs it's just newsgroups.

I rang pipex support who talked me through a speed test which didn't show anything out of the ordinary...
The only thing he could suggest was to do a full virus check/spyware check etc and to connect direct to the main phone line instead of on a phone extention...
Non of the above have worked.

I was thinking of subscriding to another newsgroup provider like easynews just to see if my speeds change any??
This way i would have some idea weather it was pipex or me, can ne1 who knows more about this sort of thing confirm that this would give me the answers i'm looking for?

Rgrds Jonny

[matrix]

Pipex have been having problems on and off with their news servers for a while now. It is no big secret. The symptons you describe are very common and are complained about all the time on the pipex forum on adslguide.

Someone has now posted a solution to this problem on adslguide which gets around the bouncing from 60k to 0k

see link below for the post and how to get around the speed issue.
Thread link -
http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/showthre...b=5&o=0&fpart=

Solution Link -
http://www.falin.dsl.pipex.com/pipex-news/

if you want reliability then pay for a service. I use news.astraweb with grabit, I am on a pipex 1meg and everytime get a throughput of 116k. The unlimited service costs $15 a month, which is about £8.

thanks,

Andy

[JONNYG]

Thanks for that Andy much appreciated, I will give BNR a go.


Rgrds Jonny

[JONNYG]

After reading through the post's at adslguide.org it looks like this problem is not something that is going away and it's only going to get worse..
I think it would be better for me to change internet provider rather than subscribe to a news provider...

As it stands it costs me £282 per yr (pipex 512k) with a news provider £378 per yr (astraweb)

At the mo Ntl 600k is £300 - 2mth's free = £250 and there would be no need to subscribe to a news provider

Rgrds Jonny

[matrix]

Jonny,

I agree you pay more for a news service. This is what they specialise in and you do get your throughput from them. I have heard that NTL have had problems with their news servers from time to time. News servers are a massive overhead for ISPs and are not on top of their lists to maintain or keep in 100% tip top condition.

good luck with what ever choice you make and happy downloading,

regards,

Andy