Web browsing may have lost a bit of it's 'zip' - what can I tweak?

[Rik]

Sounds like your wiring is OK, though do get rid of the bell wire.

The test socket can't be broken as that's what the faceplate plugs into to make the connection. How did you connect?

[Nerval]

Just goes to show though.... a few extra metres of copper cable (even crapola flat stuff) doesn't make much difference.  (Or am I just being lucky?)

Now...to try disconnecting the ringer wire...

When you consider the length of wire to the exchange it's not surprising that it doesn't - (unless your jointing is really bad)

[RostokMcSpoons]

I've tried disconnecting the ringer wire - hasn't made any difference to my connection speed.  I can't check the line stats to see if they're different cos the Speedtouch diagnostics doesn't work with the 330 anymore.  I had to reseat the face plate a couple of times to get back to my 6mbps normal speed - maybe the connections are a bit flaky, which perhaps ties into...

I tried the test socket connected directly - the modem wouldn't sync, so I plugged in my microfilter and then plugged into that.   And got a rubbish connection speed.   I realise that's.... weird!

So there you go.. pick the bones out of that

[Nerval]

Sounds as though your main BT socket is dodgy.

Having synched lower than normal while messing about, that will of course affect your profile and download speeds for 3 days, but should come back up OK provided you don't do it again. 

Have you thought of moving house or getting cable? lol

[RostokMcSpoons]

Sounds as though your main BT socket is dodgy.

Having synched lower than normal while messing about, that will of course affect your profile and download speeds for 3 days, but should come back up OK provided you don't do it again. 

Have you thought of moving house or getting cable? lol

It's still synch'ing at the same speed as it always does...  7.6... so I don't think I disturbed my profile.   I just tried the Zen speedtest:   http://specials.zdnet.co.uk/misc/band-test/
and got: 6365.1 Kbps (780 K bytes/sec) which is as good as my connection gets

[RostokMcSpoons]

From the TB (AG) forum - an excellent site that tests speeds accessing websites as well as pure download speeds:

http://www.numion.com/YourSpeed3/index.html

my result is: http://www.numion.com/YourSpeed3/ShowMeasurement.php?ID=54,056,589

Can some of you run the same tests so we can produce some sort of baseline to compare from? cheers

[mrapoc]

http://www.numion.com/YourSpeed3/ShowMeasurement.php?ID=54,056,904

It seems to wipe ur "score" after an hour 

[Mr Booh]

I say Spooney, you havn't added a Phishing Filter recently?

     Just a thought!

[Rik]

I tried the test socket connected directly - the modem wouldn't sync, so I plugged in my microfilter and then plugged into that.   And got a rubbish connection speed.   I realise that's.... weird!

I'd call CS and see if they can get a BT ADSL engineer out to sort that socket, it would appear to be duff from what you say.

[William]

I would try getting rid of "the heaps of security software we all have to run...".

Like Rik, I rely on NOD32 and my router. Also like him I sat and watched all this 'must have' stuff for years and it never found anything! NOD got there first.

I've never (to my knowledge) been infected. Ever. I've been using NOD for about six years, tried all the firewalls, usually at least twice, HIPS, spyware zappers, you name it, I've got a licence!

Even before routers, NOD was the only product that caught anything.

I've certainly visited some dodgy sites over the years (this one), for example, so I've been exposed to all the nasties.

Use lots of common sense, a router, NOD32, and IDNet, and you'll notice the difference.

[Rik]

Though I'd have to add malware sweeps to the list these days, William. Like you, I've never been infected by anything, but these days malware has become a real issue. I also do recommend McAfee's Site Advisor (I started using it before McAfee acquired it, or the name would have put me off ). Free download from here:
         http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ie.html
it has a small footprint, but is quite accurate in warning about iffy sites.

[William]

You've convinced me, Rik. Installed and I'm just about to hit the 'Resart Firefox' button.

[Rik]

We're still grey here, but I've submitted the site for verification. ThinkBroadband is green. It does warn pretty well of suspect sites, though, and while the warnings may be too sweeping at times, it gives you an idea when to be cautious.

[Rik]

Incidentally, for anyone else deciding to give Site Advisor a go, you can post a review of any site, indicating whether it is good, bad or indifferent. We need some here, so do your duty.

[Nerval]

Well Rik my old lad, I've installed it too (totally off topic), so it's all your fault now!

I don't know any bad sites to test it with though  as everything I click on leaves my Go button green .

[Rik]

Go to www.mail.com, I used to use their service for forwarding before I registered a domain. The site is bad for spam generation if you sign up...

[Nerval]

Spot on Rik thanks.

ps I've also found the right thing to look at which isn't my go button, but a little rectangle in the bottom right of my screen!!!
IDNet comes up grey on that, and your bad site RED.

You'll no doubt be pleased than empornium comes up Green too  lol 

[Nerval]

pps.
It doesn't work, as I've just been to www.plus.net and it comes up GREEN.  If ever a site should be RED, it's that one.   

[Rik]

Spot on Rik thanks.
You'll no doubt be pleased than empornium comes up Green too  lol 

It doesn't work, as I've just been to www.plus.net and it comes up GREEN.  If ever a site should be RED, it's that one.

It only questions the 'technical content' of the sites, there is no check for bare-faced (or any other part of the anatomy) issues. You can, however, register as a reviewer and mark the site.

[MoHux]

Though I'd have to add malware sweeps to the list these days, William. Like you, I've never been infected by anything, but these days malware has become a real issue. I also do recommend McAfee's Site Advisor (I started using it before McAfee acquired it, or the name would have put me off ). Free download from here:
         http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ie.html
it has a small footprint, but is quite accurate in warning about iffy sites.

Zone Alarm Pros anti-spyware section does the same thing.

[Rik]

Useful to know, thanks.