Verifying the problem

To determine whether the problem is your connection & not the website or server you are trying to connect to, take this test*, courtesy of speedtest.net.
*Remember to close any applications that may be using the connection, before you start.

If the test returns good results but you are still getting poor download speeds, it is likely to be an issue with the source you are downloading from. Try downloading from another source & see if that makes a difference.

Diagnosing the Problem

While it's not always possible it is best not to use any form of extension lead between the modem & the phone socket (this includes hardwired extension sockets as these are still just extension leads). The further your broadband signal has to run the more interference there will be & as such, the connection will run at a slower speed. A small increase in line noise can cause major problems, so it is always worth trying to connect your modem directly to the main phone socket.

It is also very important to ensure that all equipment attached to the phone line is connecting through a DSL filter. Unfiltered equipment (such as Phones, Fax, Cordless Telephone Base Units, Alarm Systems, Surge Protectors, Sky Set Top Boxes, literally anything attached to the telephone line) can interfere with the broadband reception of your modem. If you are in doubt as to whether a piece of equipment attached to the telephone line is causing a problem, simply disconnect all devices (except the modem) and try your broadband connection again.

Still having problems?