Broadband download speed

[Craig Tucker]

I am in the uk and have a 512k broadband connection with NTL. I use Imesh for downloading movies and when I first connect I get download speeds ranging from 50-70kb/s.

As long as I am surfing the net or checking my email this speed can be maintained, but if I leave the pc for a while and then come back to it the speed has usually dramatically dropped down to just a couple of kb/s or even 0kb/s, its as if its going into some kind of sleep or idle mode. If I then start working online again the speed usually goes back up.

My service provider supplies some software called correct connect which monitors the state of the servers, these being:-

Default gateway
My ntlworld news
Incoming ntlworld email
outgoing ntlworld email
My ntlworld homepage

There is also a status bar for the ethernet card.

When I first boot up all these servers have ticks next to them showing that they are available, and the status bar shows connection to my netgear ethernet card.

If I leave my PC unattended before too long these ticks become crosses showing the servers are unavailable, and the statusbar reads no NIC/Ethernet adapter detected. Although sometimes it can still be downloading all be it at a much reduced rate.

If I then start browsing online, before long the ticks come back and the speed increases, although the statusbar still reads no NIC/Ethernet adapter detected.

If I don't have Imesh running the servers will remain available for a long time unattended, its the combination of running imesh and not using the PC that seems to cause this problem, kaaza lite had the same effect.

Anyone any idea as to why this is happening, or anyone on ntl broadband in the UK have the same problem. If I could just maintain 70kb/s my downloads would go a lot quicker, as it is I have to keep an eye on the computer to see if I am still online.

Sorry for the long post, but I felt it was needed to fully explain the situation.

If you've got this far, thanks.

Craig

[sean madison]

your nic card may have a "stand-by" setting on it to where if you are not actively transferring data and have been on idle w\o any traffic for a while, it could go into some stand by status.

Just an assumption

[Craig Tucker]

Data is being uploaded and downloaded via Imesh though.

Craig