Slow DSL Internet Connections
DSL Internet is typically a solid service, but as with most computer technology, the more advanced it gets the more things can go wrong with it. It doesn't take much to slow down the DSL connection on your computer. With consumers more accustomed to fast email and blazing web browser downloads, a slow DSL connection is that much more noticeable.
When the Internet was young and dial up Internet access was all that was available to consumers, these types of slow downs were rarely noticed. Now, if a DSL user has their download speed affected, it is obvious and aggravating. The three most common areas that DSL slowdowns can occur are the phone line, the computer, and the Internet itself.
Phone Line Issues
It has become common knowledge that the users distance from their phone services hub in their area will hurt their download speeds. This is true today, but filters and signal amplifiers are helping to correct this problem and distance is not the issue that it used to be. This being said, if a user is at the end of the line, they can expect slower speeds than someone who is next door to the phone service hub.
The line leading directly to a user's house is often more of an issue now. Length, as well as load coils, taps, and resistive crosses can create line noise. This noise will slow down a DSL connection, and if there is enough of it can prevent a connection. There is nothing the end user can do about this line noise themselves. It is recommended that the phone company be contacted and a line test be done. The phone company will be able to identify line noise, and if there is enough of it, they are required by FCC regulations to fix it.
One way to help determine if line noise is being created by external devices is to disconnect all devices from the line except the DSL modem. All phones, answering machines, fax machines, and other modems can all cause line noise in small amounts. If one of these devices is defective, it is possible that it could create enough noise to slow down your DSL Internet speed. Once these devices are disconnected, check your download speed again.
Be sure that your line filters that came with you DSL modem are in place. Their purpose is to decrease device generated line noise.
Computer Issues
The user's computer is the most likely source of any DSL slowdowns. There are any number of hardware and software issues that could be the culprit, including processing power, defective hardware, spyware, worms and viruses.
If the user's computer is old enough, it is possible that it cannot process information as fast as their DSL connection is serving it. If this is the case, regardless of the download speed the information will only be available when the computer has time to process it. This can usually be identified by the fact that all aspects of the computer slowdown during downloads or web surfing. On way to test this is to open a program such as Word while downloading a large file from the Internet. If it takes a much longer time than normal to open your processing power may be a problem.
Defective hardware can be notoriously difficult to locate, and can cause DSL slowdowns and prevent connection entirely. NIC cards are the first place to look. Network Interface Cards are what connects the computer to a device such as a DSL modem via a CAT 5 cable. More often than not if the NIC card is the problem, then no connection can be made at all. There are instances however where an older or faulty NIC card will only slow down a connection.
Other hardware to look is of course the DSL modem, but if this is new and from the provider that is supplying Internet service, the modem is probably not the problem.
Spyware, worms, and viruses can all slow down DSL download speeds. Spyware and worms are famous for their ability to consume computer resources to the point that a computer slows to a halt or shuts down entirely. The problem is that all spyware and most worms use processing power. New computers can handle a great deal of spyware before it becomes noticeable, but older machines can't deal with it.
Worms, spyware and viruses can be removed with a good anti-virus product such as Norton or McAfee. Both of these products have a feature called Auto-Protect that scans all incoming traffic for problem, and this will prevent most infections. Auto-Protect can also slow down a users download speeds due to the scans it is performing. The slowdown is nominal, and most certainly worth it. Some peer-to-peer software will be slowed to a crawl by Auto-Protect, namely applications such as BitTorrent and Kazaa. Fortunately this feature can be shut off as needed from the system tray, so this should not be an issue.
General Internet Issues
There are many factors that cannot be controlled that will slow down a DSL connection's download speed. High traffic times will not only crowd bandwidth, but popular web sites can get bogged down with visitors and be unable to serve information quickly enough. If a website is not ready for a particularly effective marketing campaign, users may encounter delays.
Viruses not only harm individual computers, but slow down sections of the Internet itself. Many viruses spread by having currently infected computers send out thousands of new copies of itself. During an outbreak, this is happening millions of times over potentially millions of computers, and DSL slowdowns are inevitable.
During prime time, what is generally called “peak hours”, slower than normal speeds can occur due to local Internet congestion. This is common, and easily identified by the time of day. There is of course no way for users to remedy this slowdown, and everyone in their area is probably feeling it.