Internet Connection

[Glenn9999]

Is there any way I can determine whether an internet connection I'm on is getting selectively throttled for certain sites? I've been trying to track down a problem in my downloader code which has showed up since the ISP I'm on has changed certain things. I've had it working well on some sites but on some sites it downloads very slowly (much below advertised speed) and on one or two sites it just downloads very slowly, stalls, and sometimes drops connection. My code is capable of downloading files, though, which makes me wonder where this problem is coming from.

I really can't tell whether there is a problem with my downloader code from this or the ISP, especially since Firefox and IE seem to download files from these same sites very quickly. Is my downloader getting segregated against because I don't look like common browser traffic, is there something wrong, or is the ISP and/or the web sites pulling some crap?

Thoughts?

Edited May 2, 2011 by Glenn9999

[allen2]

If you download the exact same thing many times (to make consistent tests), with your app or firefox/IE, what are the results (average time / max time /min time for both) ?

[Glenn9999]

If you download the exact same thing many times (to make consistent tests), with your app or firefox/IE, what are the results (average time / max time /min time for both) ?

I don't really do consistent tests and measure them, but I do repeat and observe results. The last test I did before I posted this, I tried to download a 5391KB file with my app and it timed out at 4481KB. Right now, Firefox is having trouble with the same link, but other times, it downloads in 10 seconds.

Are there any configuration issues or problems with the network drivers/internet drivers that could have been brought to light by this ISP switch (they insisted on a different DSL modem, which probably is a different DSL service)? I had no issues downloading anything at all off the old modem.

[allen2]

Yes it might be the cause if you're having problem with all apps at random times. You might try to do a tracert to the source you're downloading from. Also most provider have the ftp where they host some files; you could try to download files from there when you encounter the problem to see if it is doing the same thing.

Some providers offer settings to tweak fastpath and interleaving; you might play with those settings and see if it improves things.

Edited May 2, 2011 by allen2

[Glenn9999]

I ended up unplugging all the filters and found that the service worked a bit better and a lot more reliably. But tried plugging things back in and didn't get an effect. But later on, the problems resurfaced. Any ideas on how to test a DSL Filter and determine whether it is bad or not in short order?

[allen2]

First, some modem doesn't need any filter also you can use this method to check if the filter is ok.

[Tripredacus]

Any ideas on how to test a DSL Filter and determine whether it is bad or not in short order?

DSL line filters should only be connected to telephones!

[Glenn9999]

DSL line filters should only be connected to telephones!

Bad or non-existent DSL filters on telephones adversely affects the Internet service from the DSL connection.