Slow/Unstable internet connection?

Question

My internet has been getting slower lately, even when it's signaled to a d-link wireless range expander, my AIM is often disconnected and it may take minutes to get myself back online. What can I do to improve all of this without having to do anything major?

Answer 1

Try to check your bandwith connections at some of these websites :
http://www.speedtest.net
http://www.my-speedtest.com

If the test results is not the same on your bandwith speed. there is some problem.. Otherwise, it may just your feelings..
Try to repair your connections at Local area connections status under support at control panel under network connections..
I hope this helps..

Answer 2

First thing to check would be to hardwire your PC to Internet, to see are those by any chances ISP troubles. If hardwire connecting is fine than considering that signal strength is not an issue (which is really only assumption, you didn’t said what are your signal strengths even considering you are using range extender they probably good) you could check following:

-try plugging extender and/or PC to different electrical outlet to eliminate possibility of radio interference from things like: refrigerator, microwaves etc
-try setting channels in extender to upper ones (10,11 if you in US) – unorthodox way of increasing range, as appear channels uses higher frequency which travels farther
-if you not using wireless encryption and living in vicinity of other houses (roommates, neighbors etc) – set wireless encryption to any flavor of WPA along extremely long key (to eliminate possibility of neighbors piggy riding on your connection and leeching your bandwidth (could happen especially if they use things like torrents, limewire etc).

I noticed that in most post in which I mention wireless security (or encryption) I am receiving negative ratings. Even personally I could care less about ratings, thumbs down confuses people which read replies. Its obvious that probably some single person shares entirely different than my opinion on same subject.

For this reason if you feel not comfortable with my opinions – don’t listen to it. Listen to people smarter than me.

Below links with voice auditions made by security expert Steve Gibson from GRC, which explains in excruciating details wireless security concerns.

To explain in short: Steve Gibson is creator of AdAware (given away for free to Lavasoft), person who successfully negotiated with Microsoft removal of raw sockets from Windows XP, person thanks to which illegal activates of AOL, Real One Player and Netscape Navigator found its finale in courts, person which was asked for help by FBI numerous times (including extortion case of Russian mafia on Las Vegas casinos). Security Now won award of best security podcast in USA.


http://media.grc.com/files/tl_08_15_01.wmv - TV news clip of Steve Gibson

All audition (downloadable and possible to listen from webpage directly, as well their text transcripts) are available form following page:
http://www.grc.com/SecurityNow.htm

http://www.grc.com/nat/arp.htm - READ THIS

http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-010.mp3 - Open wireless Access Points (start listen to from 6 minutes 50 secs)

http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-011.mp3 - Bad WiFI security
http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-013.mp3 - Unbreakable WiFI security
VPNs – auditions 14-19
http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-027.mp3 - How LANs works
http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-029.mp3 - Ethernet Insecurity
http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-089.mp3 - Even more badly broken WEP

Answer 3

yeah the same happens to me, but i guess it's from the ISP, not from your computer.

Answer 4

sounds like you need a new ISP or to upgrade your ISP package.

Answer 5

A couple things I would do is clean your computer out: disc cleanup, disk defragmenter, maybe a registry cleaner.

Afterwards, reset your network. Unplug the router and modem from the wall and leave them unplugged for a while. After an hour or so, plug them back in, modem first.

If this does not help, shoot me an email.