My connection seems slow!

The connection speed your dialer reports is only an approximation made by the modem when it first connects. The modem will raise and lower your speed as necessary, depending on line conditions. Also, due to traffic on the Internet or excessive load on a certain server, you may not be able to use this speed to its full potential. For these reasons you must distinguish your connection speed from your throughput, which is the actual number of bits or bytes you can send or receive in a given time. (There are 8 bits in a byte.) Most web browsers and FTP programs calculate your throughput in real-time when you download a file from the Internet. This is usually expressed in kilobytes per second (abbreviated K/sec, KB/sec, Kbps, etc.), which is different from your modem's connection speed, expressed in kilobits per second (kbps).

There are two kinds of throughput you can calculate, the maximum throughput and the average throughput. If you are downloading an uncompressible file, certain overheads mean you'll be transferring roughly 9 bits for every 8 bits of the file. To determine the maximum throughput, take the speed reported by your modem (in kilobits per second) and divide by 9. For example, a connection speed of 28,800 bits per second (28.8 kilobits per second) allows a maximum throughput of 3.2K/sec:

28.8 kilobits per second ÷ 9 = 3.2K/sec

At any given time, this speed may be similar to or may be much lower than what your browser or FTP program reports, but the maximum should come close. To determine the average throughput, you need to know the exact size of the file (in kilobytes) and the exact download time (in seconds...multiply minutes by 60 to get seconds). Divide the file size by the time to calculate K/sec. For example, a 12,500-kilobyte file downloaded in 56 minutes (3360 seconds) means an average throughput of 3.7K/sec:

12,500 kilobytes ÷ 3360 seconds = 3.7K/sec

This will be lower than the maximum throughput because you are averaging the highs with the lows, but it may be a better gauge of what to expect. To make these tests even more accurate, download a file from Bee.Net's FTP site. Because we run the server and it is reachable directly through our network (without hitting the Internet), you can expect better reliability and more consistent speeds.

If you see a dramatic difference between the maximum or average throughputs and what your browser or FTP program reports, try one of these tips:
 
 

  1. Hang-up the modem connection and then redial. Your speed may have dropped due to noise on your phone line and did not go back up automatically.

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  2. If web pages are loading slowly, try connecting to a different site to compare. The site, its network connection, or the Internet in that part of the world may be running slowly. You can use tools like ping and traceroute to confirm this.

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  3. If you are downloading a file, try getting it from a different site, even from a different country. (Larger services usually make their files available from several locations called "mirror" sites.) The site, its network connection, or the Internet in that part of the world may be running slowly. To prove this, open a second browser window and download a second file from another site. The combined speed of both downloads should more closely resemble your maximum throughput.

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  4. The data you've requested may not be reaching you computer intact on the first try, due to noise on your phone line. Your computer requests the corrupt or missing packets be resent, but this effectively decreases your throughput. See our article on Why am I constantly getting disconnected? for troubleshooting tips.

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  5. Try lowering your port (DTE) speed to 57600, 38400 (generally, V.34 modems only), or lower if necessary. A port speed that's too high may cause the computer to work so hard that it actually loses incoming data. The computer requests the packets be resent, but this effectively lowers your throughput. Note that lowering the port speed too much will adversely affect your connection speed and/or your throughput.

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  6. Make sure your modem is using the most recent firmware or driver. This is done by contacting your modem or computer manufacturer or by checking their web page for updates. 56k technology is still evolving and some manufacturers release new code every couple months. As Bee.Net upgrades its modems, you need to upgrade yours as well. Failure to do so could result in slower connection speeds, disconnections, and possibly the failure to connect at all.

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  7. If you are using a "56k" modem, as a last resort try disabling 56k. This will reduce your connection speed, but if the 56k protocol was struggling, may actually increase your throughput.
If your maximum or average throughputs come close to what your browser or FTP program reports, but your Internet connection still seems slow, try one of these suggestions:
  1. If your web browser seems slow, try clearing its cache. Also check your hard drive for errors. Windows users would run programs like Scandisk and Defrag, or the commercial Norton Utilities. Mac users would run programs like Disk First Aid or Norton Utilities. A cluttered cache or random hard drive errors could force your browser to spend unnecessary time searching the cache, thereby degrading performance.

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  2. The problem may be related to a specific program. Switch to a comparable program and see if the problem goes away. For example, if Internet Explorer 4 seems slow, switch to Netscape Communicator, Opera, or another web browser.

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  3. It's possible you are simply using a slow modem (14.4 kbps or less). Do yourself a favor and upgrade to at least a 28.8 kbps modem, which should nearly double your throughput. You may also be using a software-based modem which is not completely compatible with your computer or the software you are running. Again, getting a better modem is the best fix.

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  4. You may be suffering from a hardware or operating system-related problem like a slow processor or video card, or old video drivers. Contact your computer manufacturer for advice or have it upgraded at a repair shop.