Slow Internet connection

On 2011-11-01, Haines Brown wrote:

I'm running Debian Sqeeze, with a Realtek 8168 or 8169 chip though a
LAN cable to a modem

Bingo! I'd ask yer ISP to provide another modem. I had a Motorola
DSL/wireless modem that went bad and had them send another. It was no
better. I had my ISP send a 2nd modem. I discovered, later, both
were refurbs. I called for a onsite tech. He brought two more modems
(zyxel), different brands/models, both refurbs. He finally had to
drive back to the shop for a NIB, top of the line zyxel replacement.
It worked! Took he and myself 2 hrs or arguing and testing, but
finally fixed it. Four bad modems!!

Prior to that, I had a similar problem, but fixed it myself. It was
not the modem, but my own bad 100ft phone line from the box and my
responsibility. I merely went to RadioShack and bought a new cable.
Problem resolved. Make sure it's not your wiring before calling in
your ISP with some serious accusations, as they charge up the
ying/yang if you don't have house phone service.

nb

On 11/01/2011 09:32 AM, notbob wrote:

On 2011-11-01, Haines Brown wrote:

I'm running Debian Sqeeze, with a Realtek 8168 or 8169 chip though a
LAN cable to a modem

Bingo! I'd ask yer ISP to provide another modem. I had a Motorola
DSL/wireless modem that went bad and had them send another. It was no
better. I had my ISP send a 2nd modem. I discovered, later, both
were refurbs. I called for a onsite tech. He brought two more modems
(zyxel), different brands/models, both refurbs. He finally had to
drive back to the shop for a NIB, top of the line zyxel replacement.
It worked! Took he and myself 2 hrs or arguing and testing, but
finally fixed it. Four bad modems!!

Prior to that, I had a similar problem, but fixed it myself. It was
not the modem, but my own bad 100ft phone line from the box and my
responsibility. I merely went to RadioShack and bought a new cable.
Problem resolved. Make sure it's not your wiring before calling in
your ISP with some serious accusations, as they charge up the
ying/yang if you don't have house phone service.

nb

Just a note: I have never bought a new DSL modem, buying
all of them so far at thrift (2nd hand) stores. The original
Alcatel went bad and I have a Netgear ADSL modem router now
from that source and from a sidewalk (private) sale picked
up a later model for use when this Netgear DG834G might fail.

Maybe it is just my inherent distrust of the prices
charged for "free" equipment of any sort. My notebook is
a refurb too I believe.

bliss

Bobbie Sellers writes:

On 11/01/2011 09:32 AM, notbob wrote:

On 2011-11-01, Haines Brown wrote:

I'm running Debian Sqeeze, with a Realtek 8168 or 8169 chip though a
LAN cable to a modem

Bingo! I'd ask yer ISP to provide another modem.

I've been using a couple D-Link 2640B modems in recent years because
they combine the wireless. Never had a problem.

Are you implying that a faulty modem is a likely cause of cause of
reduced bandwidth? If so, I'll test by trying another modem. Is there
any way to test modem bandwidth?

Haines Brown

On Tue, 1 Nov 2011 18:15:45 UTC in comp.os.linux.hardware, Haines Brown
wrote:

Are you implying that a faulty modem is a likely cause of cause of
reduced bandwidth? If so, I'll test by trying another modem. Is there
any way to test modem bandwidth?

You said you had another machine - boot that and see what its throughput is
like. If it's good then it's not your cable modem. Try changing the cable from
your machine to the router next, that's also cheap to try out. Also look at
which driver is loading for your ethernet card and see if the other Realtek
driver also has support for your card - if it does switch to that and try it. Do
you have a PCI slot and an old PCI ethernet card - if so try with that cabled up
instead of the Realtek PoS. Maybe try a live CD and see if that shares the
problem.

That lot sounds like a reasonable starting place...


Trevor Hemsley, Brighton, UK
Trevor dot Hemsley at ntlworld dot com

"Trevor Hemsley" writes:

On Tue, 1 Nov 2011 18:15:45 UTC in comp.os.linux.hardware, Haines Brown
wrote:

Are you implying that a faulty modem is a likely cause of cause of
reduced bandwidth? If so, I'll test by trying another modem. Is there
any way to test modem bandwidth?

You said you had another machine - boot that and see what its throughput is
like.

Thank you for the sequence of likely causes. As it turned out, I had my
grandson, who accesses my modem with wifi, check his connection speed,
and it was just as bad. So it looks like I'll have to dump the modem.

Haines