EXTREMELY slow upload speeds

[Captain Satellite]

I don't know what happened in the past couple of days but I'm uploading at an average of 2 to 5 KB/s with cable. A 11mb file just took over 30 minutes. I have disabled my firewall. I am uploading with FTP software, different free trials. They were ALL fast up until a couple of days ago. Any ideas? Help!

[Bodyslide]

I would run a full scan with Spy Sweeper or Adaware. Sounds like you might have picked up a trojan.... Or your Network Card has gone bad. Good Luck

[Doramius]

I would run a full scan with Spy Sweeper or Adaware. Sounds like you might have picked up a trojan.... Or your Network Card has gone bad. Good Luck

I agree, run a full scan. It's probably not your card, unless it's an old one or you've had to play around with it a bunch, physically. Also if it's within recent days, it gives the impression that a trojan has infected your system.

[redwudz]

If you haven't done it, you might do a speed test to check your connection speed: http://www.dslreports.com/stest

If it's OK, then I would be more likely to suspect software/trojans.

My ISP never bothers to tell me when they are having problems or making hardware changes. I've seen my upload speed drop to 50K at times, while the download remains the same. Then they fix it without me doing anything.

[Skith]

My ISP never bothers to tell me when they are having problems or making hardware changes. I've seen my upload speed drop to 50K at times, while the download remains the same. Then they fix it without me doing anything.

Same experience here. There will be times when speeds will just drop, and it is not because of congestion (not many people stay around my area in the winter, in addition speeds are slow during off-peak times). So my guess is that your cable company is probably doing maintinance work somewhere, and after some time, normal speeds should return. Although I wouldn't rule out trojan/spyware.

[Captain Satellite]

OK, this is BAD. I haven't tried any downloads but now it's going to take me about 15 minutes to download a 8mb free trial of a spy program. Which program should I go out and buy outright? My card is an outboard Motorola SB5100 and doesn't move around at all. I suppose it is infected.

[Captain Satellite]

Also, AOL comes with a spy sweeper built in, is it a toy?

[redwudz]

One site that has a decent online virus/spyware scanner: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Your other alternatives: Using XP, restore to a time before your problems.
Worst case, reinstall the XP OS.

Some spyware scanners work more effectively when you boot the computer in 'Safe Mode'. This prevents some malware programs from loading. Check your computer info for getting into this mode.

Some spyware/trojans/viruses needs more than one program to detect/remove them. I'm sure other members will tell you what works for them.

Do one step at a time. It may not be spyware/malware. Don't destroy your system without doing the simple fixes first.

[Captain Satellite]

Ok, here's where I'm at. Scanned but didn't find anything major. Took the router out of the chain then BAM! Got my speed back, I think. Can you tell me if these numbers look right? At PC pitstop I got 411 kilobits d/l speed, 154 upload speed. My uploading speed with my FTP software is nowhere near 154, is that right? Sorry, I'm a major noob. Uploading with CuteFTP says 370.O... I can't tell what this is, obviously not kilobits. Thanks, Oh, I did a firmware update on the router.

[redwudz]

My cable is running 3919 / 374kbps at the moment. Slow on both up and down. Should be 4000/500. But it varies with the time of the day and day of the week.

If you check your speed with a site like I mentioned at different times, you may get an average. 411/154 is on the slow side for both. What does your ISP say it should be? Do they make any guarantees for speed? ( I doubt it, but WTH. ) Cable is also influenced by how many users are on your node. If the speed has been dropping over the last year, it's probably getting overloaded and they need to upgrade. They only do that when they have to or they get enough complaints.

Have you tried unplugging your cable modem for a few minutes, then plug it back in and let it reacquire the signal? I do this about once a month as the ISP DLs new firmware for the modem and it doesn't reset automatically.

Your router shouldn't affect the speed, but sometimes it needs a reset also.

If your tested speeds are high enough, but your programs run really slow on DL/UL, then your programs may be the problem.

DSL reports also has reviews of different cable services speeds, so you can see what other people are getting.

I would complain to my ISP. If your can get hold of a tech, they may be able to run some diagnostics on your down/uplink. I've got them to reset my connection and gained speed. They will usually ask you to remove your router for testing, so do this in advance. (Of course you aren't supposed to use a router to run more than one computer online, but the techs don't care. )

For routers, use a fixed address for your computers, not DHCP.

Probably some other ideas, but usually I find the problem is the ISP, not my system. Don't let them jerk you around.

[Captain Satellite]

I just got 3354/378. I ran 'Search and Destroy' by Spybot and it found a bunch of stuff. Does 6 minutes to upload a 17 meg file sound about right? My friend says he can upload a 10 meg file in 90 sec with cable. Is he full of it?

[Captain Satellite]

Oh yeah, redwudz and others, thanks for all of your help, I appreciate it VERY MUCH!

[hech54]

I had screaming fast uploads with my old cable modem back home in America till one day Adelphia started limiting the upload speeds....not sure why. The download speeds were never effected.
Adelphia were a bunch of a$$holes anyway...I dropped them soon afterwards.

[Kingnog]

Before everyone goes crazy buying anti-spyware software or complaining to their cable company...

First thing you should do is unplug both your router and your cable modem (from the power cord), leave them unplugged for about 30 seconds, and plug them back in. This should 'reset' both of them (without losing any settings, don't worry). Depending on the quality of the router/cable modem, they might need to be reset more often. I do mine about once every 2 weeks, and there is a definite speed jump.

EDIT: I just realized the problem was 'solved' already, so maybe someone else who has a similar problem will find this useful.

[Captain Satellite]

Well, my excitement was short-lived. Whenever the speed has taken a dive if I unplug the router, I get my speed back, but EVERYTIME I SIGN ON! This isn't funny anymore.

[MJA]

what kind of router do u have? I hope its not netgear

[Captain Satellite]

Linksys WRT54G

[TBoneit]

Personally I'd see if I could go back to the old firmware as you say you did a firmware update but didn't if before or after the speed drop.

You have password proected your router, If Wireless you do have encryption turned on?
If you are not encrypting wireless and have no passowrd you may have someone sharing your internet.

Also I prefer D-Link Routers. Where I work a D-link wireless card will show 5 networks, a Linksys has trouble showing more than 2 wireless networks.

Cheers

Also FWIW I see rock solid Speeds of "DSL Connect Rate (Down/Up) 3360 KBits/Sec by 800 KBits/Sec" And I trust that report as other software reports that speed too.

[isogonic]

maybe its the firmware upgrade you did.if you take the router out of the picture and everything is good then i would start looking at the cable from the modem to the WAN port or to the computers. maybe bad cable or port?

also when its bad i would get a snap shot of your modems signal levels. point browser to http://192.168.100.1 if you called your isp they should have ckecked them already.

[Captain Satellite]

I did the firmware upgrade because it was slow. Unplugging wires, running the cable directly from my modem to computer is fine. Hooking back up to the router is fine then after a while it chokes. Not to be a big baby, but this whole set-up is within minutes of being in the middle of the street. Thanks for the help.

[isogonic]

if you pretty much ruled out it being your isps network then it looks like its the router for whatever reason. dslreports has a hardware forum for your router here:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/linksys
i would also poke around the linksys website for troubleshooting/FAQ

[Sabro]

I've noticed the same behavior on my network after heavy usage (up or down).

Reboot your computer and unplug (not soft reset) your cable modem and router for a few secs and see if that corrects the problems.

Sabro