Internet has slowed considerably

[squarepegs]

Hello,

This is my first post here. Any help would be appreciated.

The problem I'm having is that ever since I began using a wireless router (about 2 or 3 months ago, for my new laptop), my Internet speed has been slow (both for the laptop and the existing PC, which is hard-wired from the router, not using wireless). However, I made other changes at about the same point in time, so I'm not sure I can blame the router.

I have Qwest DSL.
The modem is an Actiontec GT701 (in bridge mode).
The router is a D-Link DIR-615.

The PC runs:
Windows XP Home
AVG Antivirus Free Edition 8.5.287
Ad-Aware Free Anniversary Edition 8.0.3
ZoneAlarm 6.0.667.000
and it has 3GB of RAM

The laptop runs:
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
AVG Antivirus Free Edition 8.0.238
Ad-Aware Free Anniversary Edition 8.0.3
and it has 4GB of RAM

I've run spyware scanners several times and nothing has been found.

The site that has slowed most significantly is Hotmail. It sometimes takes more than a minute to load, whereas in the past it took maybe 2 or 3 seconds.

I've tried deactivating the link checker functions in the freeware, to no avail.

Is this a compatibility issue between the modem and router? Could it be a driver issue? Or maybe just a setting I need to change?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[63083]

Hello,

This is my first post here. Any help would be appreciated.

The problem I'm having is that ever since I began using a wireless router (about 2 or 3 months ago, for my new laptop), my Internet speed has been slow (both for the laptop and the existing PC, which is hard-wired from the router, not using wireless). However, I made other changes at about the same point in time, so I'm not sure I can blame the router.

I have Qwest DSL.
The modem is an Actiontec GT701 (in bridge mode).
The router is a D-Link DIR-615.

The PC runs:
Windows XP Home
AVG Antivirus Free Edition 8.5.287
Ad-Aware Free Anniversary Edition 8.0.3
ZoneAlarm 6.0.667.000
and it has 3GB of RAM

The laptop runs:
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
AVG Antivirus Free Edition 8.0.238
Ad-Aware Free Anniversary Edition 8.0.3
and it has 4GB of RAM

I've run spyware scanners several times and nothing has been found.

The site that has slowed most significantly is Hotmail. It sometimes takes more than a minute to load, whereas in the past it took maybe 2 or 3 seconds.

I've tried deactivating the link checker functions in the freeware, to no avail.

Is this a compatibility issue between the modem and router? Could it be a driver issue? Or maybe just a setting I need to change?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Sadly, this can happen and seems to be a farily common problem with our wireless router too.

Some things. Have you changed services recently? Do you download large files? What do you use the computers for? Is there some program you run which uses lots of bandwidth? (This could seriously decrease internet speed with a wireless router). Are there any times when the internet is faster than another time?

 

[squarepegs]

Some things. Have you changed services recently? Do you download large files? What do you use the computers for? Is there some program you run which uses lots of bandwidth? (This could seriously decrease internet speed with a wireless router). Are there any times when the internet is faster than another time?

We have not changed services. We've been using Qwest DSL since late 2005.

I don't think I download large files. At least not frequently. I'm not sure how large is large, though. The occasional 8 page PDF is about the biggest I can think of.

We primarily use them for web browsing (including streaming short video segments), working on Excel documents, iTunes, and storing/editing photos.

If we run a program that uses a lot of bandwidth, it's a secret from me. From what I know, it seems like if anything we might be using a lot of system resources, but not bandwidth. But I'm not particularly knowledgeable about such things. We completely avoid file-sharing type things. We try to run a very clean ship.

The speed doesn't seem to vary greatly from one part of the day to the next. There have been 2 or 3 times (out of many dozens) when Hotmail loaded surprisingly quickly (~3 seconds), but I haven't seen any pattern.

 

[TalkToQwest]

Hello my name is Steph and I'm at Qwest, it sounds like you are experiencing some technical issues, if you would like more assistance, please email me at talktous@qwest.com, put Steph in the subject line. For the fastest assistance please send your billing phone number and address, as well as the best time/number a technical support specialist can reach you near your computer and I will be happy to try to help you get this situation resolved.

Stephanie Boyd
Manager - Consumer Affairs Team
talktous@qwest.com - attention Steph
www.twitter.com/TalkToQwest


"At Qwest your account information is confidential and protected by law, so I need your permission to access the account.”

 

[setishock]

Do not repond to that. You have no idea who that really is. Pick up the phone and call the tech support 800 number. Besides the fact this thread has some miles on it.

 

[Grantofhell]

Try unplugging teh modem and wireless hub at the same time then plugging them back in. Normally works to fix any network issue I have :S.