Topic: ...Help...(internet issues)

...We have high speed, but not too long ago downloads started becoming ridiculously slow...not sure what the issue is, but my dad isn't helping. And I'm kinda getting annoyed with it, my mom and I noticed when downloading music, and I'm now sure something wrong with it while downloading Mario Party 2. It shouldn't take this long for the Wii to nab an N64 game, although its almost done, Mario has been here for a while going 1 cpm ever since. (coin per minute, lol)

Anyways, got any suggestions to fix this...pretty sure its the router or something...but, ugh.

What do you mean by 'not too long ago'? Today? Earlier this week? If it was just today, it's probably just high traffic, or your ISP doing maintenance in the area. Wait it out a day or two, see if it picks up. See what else in the house is connected, if there's something hogging the bandwidth (like someone downloading something, or some internet-connected device running a firmware update), then it'll be slowing everyone else's down. It's almost certainly not the router.

I think it started acting like this last week, and just got an error from downloading. Tried resetting the modem and router to see if that fixed it...can't tell though. Not sure what else would be hogging it though (not to mention, hogging it nonstop) since all the other computers are off and its just my computer (which isn't really doing anything anyway) and my Wii.

Is the router configured correctly?

If its wireless, is it secure? Never trust the neighbours!!

Have you made sure your computer hasn't been compromised?

...Crud...can't remember. When we did secure it though the Wii had issues connecting and/or the router would randomly kick it off the net, however it works perfectly when its "unlocked". Not much of an internet guy, but I can easily browse the internet quickly. When it comes to downloading, its just slow...
EDIT: ...Still slow, but it managed to download Party 2 anyway...Dunno what to say, ugh, wish my dad was here to look at and fix this thing. I'm not very good at messing with the router/modem, but if you think you have a solution then lemme know, I might be able to look at it. Just afraid that I will screw something up...lol

What's the brand and model number of the router? Do you currently have a computer connected to it by an ethernet cable?

Yeah if you lines isnt secured that could be the reason. Also remember kids are off from school now, people are doing internet shopping due to the Holidays which can attribute to high traffic. What times do you notice the slow down is it all day or at peak times?

I dunno, it seems fine now...like I said, when I'm just browsing everything is fine. It's just the downloading that seems screwy, and as far as I know, all computers are connected by ethernet. (since the wireless part seems to have problems all the time) And I'm not sure about the router info, other than its LinkSys or whatever.

The reason I ask is because all routers have a certain IP you use to log in and complete the administrative tasks. (ex: 192.168.0.1 may be yours). When logged into the router, most of them will tell you which devices are connected. The next time it slows down, log into the router from the computer that is connected by ethernet (not WiFi) and check to see which things are hogging up bandwidth. They'll usually be listed by IP address (most common) or by "name" (rarely). Keep in mind that things in your household like consoles, handhelds, smart phones utilizing WiFi connections, some MP3 players, laptops, netbooks, and desktops could all be using bandwidth so you should check out each listing to make sure it's a device that's in your home. If you come across an IP address that doesn't belong to anything in your house, then block it.

I would also suggesting utilizing MAC address filtering as an added level of security.

Well, my computer is hooked up by ethernet, but no clue about logging in the router...hopefully this weekend my dad will be able to look into it. Trying to download my antivirus again, for example...before its speed was like, around 12kps or around that. Now it randomly jumps to 60kps then goes down to 40...ugh. Do you know any good trusted programs out there (free, preferably) that could check my computer and fix anything? I don't know, but there could be a chance that there's a program on my computer I don't know about that could be causing this...

Microsoft security essentials is a good program to clean a computer with. Free to download and use too!

Alright, I'll look into that then...after Ad-Aware downloads...ugh, its speed is going down again. lol
Wait a minute...don't I have that already, thought it-...er wait, never mind..thinking of some AVG program...huh, could've sworn I've seen it somewhere before, lol.

Go here and get the speed. If your downloads are going slower than that than there might be something hoggin it all.

Not sure if my download will affect the test or not, but will try it out once this finishes. (says 12 minutes left...and it was at 70kps and now dropping again, lol)
EDIT: I dunno...but tried the speed test...

...I hope this program will be fine with my other 3 antiviruses...I would like to keep them as well. Do you think they will be fine? (AVG, Spybot, and Ad-Aware)

They'd be fine, but having 4 antivirus programs is kinda overkill. You'd be ok with just two antivirus programs, but it should be ok if you want to keep them.

You sure? lol...I asked that question on that...erm, Mirosoft forums (forget what its called exactly...) and they said "realtime" antivirus programs would cause issues...like AVG.

The only antiviruses I use is AVG and Malware Bytes thats it never needed anything more, of course I am careful where I go and what I open in my email.