SSLLOOWW internet

Bruce Wutzke · Post by **Bruce Wutzke** » 13 Jun 2004 2:33 am

I have a cable modem, 2G processor, 1G of RAM. The computer is fine except for the internet where I am down to telephone modem speed. I have had my ISP check the connection right through to my my ehthernet card. All cables, box, and hardware are OK. I have updated and scanned with everything I can think of (Norton, Spybot, HouseCall, Adaware etc.) normally and in safe mode. I've tired ToniArts Easy Cleaner. I've tried dumping the system tray. Any suggestions? Am I destined to format my hard drive? A terrible thought but I got to get this back to normal somehow. Any ideas?
Thanks, Bruce

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Jun 2004 3:57 am

Get some test result numbers from the free test at http://www.bandwidthplace.com/

(only three freebies a month)

Here's my DSL results:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Communications 1.7 megabits per second
Storage 208 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 4.9 seconds
Subjective rating Great
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bruce Wutzke · Post by **Bruce Wutzke** » 13 Jun 2004 4:46 am

Thanks Joey....here's mine

Communications 1.7 megabits per second
Storage 213.5 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 4.8 seconds
Subjective rating Great

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Jun 2004 7:31 am

Your numbers are better than mine.
Looks like you ISP was correct that the connection is OK.

Now what? Anyone?

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 13 Jun 2004 8:13 am

Hey Bruce, stay with what you got, you just retired, remember, & now speed don't mean a thing.. You got all the time you want.. Just get yourself a suitable drink mix, & wait for the thing to load...& welcome to my world, the slow phone line of 24.6 kbps

John

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 13 Jun 2004 8:21 am

YIKES>>> Just did a test on mine...
Hey Bruce or Joey, either one of you want to trade for my dial-up???? John

24.3 kilobits per second

Communications 24.3 kilobits per second
Storage 3 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 5.8 minutes
Subjective rating Very slow

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 13 Jun 2004 10:36 am

My cable modem is a little faster than your DSL, but not that much:

Communications 2.2 megabits per second
Storage 264.5 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 3.9 seconds
Subjective rating Great

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 13 Jun 2004 11:17 am

And heres a "not bad" result (DSL)

Communications 496.9 kilobits per second
Storage 60.7kilobytes per second
1MB file download 16.9 seconds
Subjective rating: Not bad[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 13 June 2004 at 12:20 PM.]

Larry Clark · Post by **Larry Clark** » 13 Jun 2004 2:43 pm

Joey, thanks for the link. I recently bit the bullet and switched from a frequent disconnect dial-up to a cable IP. Wow,what a difference. Here's my stats:

Communication 2 megabits per second
Storage 248K per second
1MB file download 4.1 sec
Subjective rating Great

I am using a Pentium 2@ 300w/mmx on Windows 98.
If I were to get a new computer running XP on an Athlon 2800+ or better or Pent 4 would those specs get even faster?

Bruce Wutzke · Post by **Bruce Wutzke** » 15 Jun 2004 10:33 am

Well...I have great news!(no I didn't save a bunch of money on my car insurance)
My ISP called. They have been getting complaints from all over that I am sending spam out to AOL customers. Really!! Had a nice long talk with them and guess I better format the ol' hard drive. I'm out of tricks to try. After talking to them, I think I am going to invest in a firewall hardware box.
Anyone have any experience with these? recommendations? I'm not gonna crap this thing out til next week. Maybe by then, I can do it with a smile.

Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 15 Jun 2004 12:58 pm

3 megabits per second

Communications 3 megabits per second
Storage 368.2 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 2.8 seconds
Subjective rating Awesome

I use Comcast Cable.
Richard

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 15 Jun 2004 1:23 pm

Dang Richard, I'm on Comcast too but my results are a lot slower than yours. Have you done something to soup yours up?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 16 Jun 2004 6:43 am

You guys are making me jealous. I'm still at 50kbps on a BestData modem. We don't have cable so DSL is my only other option. But I don't really want to shell out $400 a year for the privilege, either....

------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 16 Jun 2004 8:11 am

Bruce;

I use and have installed a half dozen SMC 7004ABR and 7004VBR Firewall routers.

They can be used with cable modems, DSL modems, or dial-up. When you use the 7004ABR with dial up you gotta have an external modem. The external modem connects to the router. The router connects to a Network Interface Card (NIC) that you also must have in your PC. Total cost for the NIC, Router, and Modem is about $150. This setup lets ISP connection be entirely under control of the router and off-loaded from the PC. It also allows blocking of those evil ports that the current wave of worms are attacking.

There is also a non-modem version (7004VBR)that you can use with Cable and DSL (not for dial-up) that is a less expensive option. It doesn't need the external modem.

Check out www.smc.com/index.cfm?sec=Products&pg=Product-List&cat=4&site=c
for additional information.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 16 June 2004 at 09:12 AM.]

Bruce Wutzke · Post by **Bruce Wutzke** » 16 Jun 2004 8:41 am

Thanks Ray. I have ordered one similar to the
7004VBR, different brand is all. As soon as it gets here, I should be psyched up to get started.
How do these things do all this blocking but still allow cookies?[This message was edited by Bruce Wutzke on 16 June 2004 at 09:42 AM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 16 Jun 2004 11:28 am

Bruce, the 7004VBR acts as a NAT router. NAT stands for Network Address Translation. They also can do DHCP IP addressing.

What this means is that you will set your PC to an IP address of like 192.168.2.0 (the "dotted quad"). Your 7004VBR will appear on the net at whatever dotted quad your IP service provides at connect time. The NAT router (the 7004VBR) converts the packet addresses from the ISP assigned quad to the 192.168.2.0 you've set your PC to. Hackers cannot easily see past the NAT router.

HTTP or web browsing is done thru TCP/IP port 80. Anything directed to port 80 is allowed to pass thru, and I believe cookies are port 80 too.

With the NAT router you can shut off those port numbers you don't want to be listening to the net with.

When you get that animal and are ready to set it up, give me an e-mail if ya get stuck. There are some tricky parts.