Help: Tweak my Speed

[Al_graze]

Hello!

I'm using Windows XP + SP2 and have already removed the TCP connection attempt limit. I connect through a cable modem (Motorola SB5120 SURFboard) and my ISP is www.racsa.co.cr (Costa Rica) with an advertised speed of 1024/256.

SpeedGuide.net TCP/IP Analyzer

Browser/OS = Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6

TCP options string = 020405640103030101010402

MTU = 1420

MSS = 1380

Default TCP Receive Window (RWIN) = 126960

RWIN Scaling (RFC1323) = 1 bits (scale factor of 2)

Unscaled TCP Receive Window = 63480

Your TCP Window limits you to: 5078.4 kbps (634.8 KBytes/s) @ 200ms

Your TCP Window limits you to: 2031.36 kbps (253.92 KBytes/s) @ 500ms

MTU Discovery (RFC1191) = ON

Time to live left = 51 hops

TTL value is ok.

Timestamps (RFC1323) = OFF

Selective Acknowledgements (RFC2018) = ON

IP type of service field (RFC1349) = 00000000 (0)

Speed Test after TCP Optimizer

Download Connection is:: 447 Kbps about 0.45 Mbps (tested with 386 kB)

Download Speed is:: 55 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/01 - 11:43am

Bottom Line:: 8X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 18.62 sec

Tested from a 386 kB file and took 7.078 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 36.28 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-BIGC8LAXW

User Agent:: Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6

Tracert and Ping program

The current date is: Fri 09/01/2006

The current time is: 13:32:09.87

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

Pinging testmy.net [67.18.179.85] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=51

Reply from 67.18.179.85: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 67.18.179.85:

    Packets: Sent = 12, Received = 12, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

    Minimum = 81ms, Maximum = 84ms, Average = 82ms

Ping Complete.

Tracing route to testmy.net [67.18.179.85] over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    10 ms    8 ms    7 ms  host1-racsa.co.cr [190.*.*.*]

  2    11 ms    9 ms    15 ms  196.40.3.33

  3    *        *        *    Request timed out.

  4    11 ms    11 ms    8 ms  tele-border01-ge3-1.racsa.co.cr [200.122.150.18]

  5    9 ms    10 ms    10 ms  sj-border01-ge3-0.racsa.co.cr [200.122.150.21]

  6    52 ms    53 ms    52 ms  so-5-2-1-0.miabb1.Miami.opentransit.net [193.251.251.49]

  7    75 ms    53 ms    52 ms  so-2-0-0-0.miacr4.Miami.opentransit.net [193.251.128.141]

  8  115 ms  111 ms    97 ms  globalcenter-1.GW.opentransit.net [193.251.252.222]

  9    81 ms    81 ms    82 ms  so0-0-0-2488m.ar1.dal2.gblx.net [67.17.73.30]

10    81 ms    82 ms    81 ms  The-Planet.ge-4-3-0.ar1.DAL2.gblx.net [64.210.104.58]

11    86 ms    80 ms    83 ms  vl32.dsr02.dllstx3.theplanet.com [70.85.127.62]

12    85 ms    81 ms    80 ms  vl41.dsr01.dllstx4.theplanet.com [70.85.127.83]

13  273 ms    83 ms    83 ms  gi1-0-2.car17.dllstx4.theplanet.com [67.18.116.85]

14    82 ms    81 ms    82 ms  55.b3.1243.static.theplanet.com [67.18.179.85]

Trace complete.

LAN Connection Properties and Settings

I uninstalled all the protocols that I didn't need (File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks), and made sure nothing was checked in LAN settings.

NIC Settings

My NIC is now set to 10mb half duplex (do not use a router) and firmware is the latest available

Next steps...

Power cycled my modem

Downloaded, updated, and scanned with SpyBot and Ad Aware

I have ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall and AVG antivirus

I have downloaded all of the latest Windows Updates

I have run CCleaner

New Speed Test

Download Connection is:: 490 Kbps about 0.49 Mbps (tested with 579 kB)

Download Speed is:: 60 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/01 - 1:18pm

Bottom Line:: 9X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 17.07 sec

Tested from a 579 kB file and took 9.688 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 39.6 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-9INUR2WHT

User Agent:: Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6

Tweaks

I have installed Cablenut 4.08, but dont know what file i should use

[FallowEarth]

Try the attached cablenut file.  Don't forget to restart your computer after applying the settings.

Also, you may want to try disabling all of your startup items, and try testing after a restart.  This way, you may be able to tell if you are being slowed down by software.

Your trace indicates that you are in Costa Rica.  It is possible that you are downloading at your advertised speeds, but the route to our server is not optimized for you.

Try downloading from http://test.tampabay.rr.com

You can also run a traceroute to that site while downloading.  This will show you your latency.

[Al_graze]

After CableNut Settings:

TestmyNet Speed Test

Download Connection is:: 484 Kbps about 0.48 Mbps (tested with 579 kB)

Download Speed is:: 59 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/02 - 10:55am

Bottom Line:: 8X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 17.36 sec

Tested from a 579 kB file and took 9.812 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 27.37 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-RNYGQ6S1Z

User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.6) Gecko/20060728 Firefox/1.5.0.6 [!]

Megapath Speed Test

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-09-02 13:59:30 EST: 455 / 119

Your download speed : 455 kbps or 56.8 KB/sec.

Your upload speed : 119 kbps or 14.9 KB/sec.

Speakeasy Speed Test

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-09-02 14:01:57 EST: 445 / 119

Your download speed : 445 kbps or 55.6 KB/sec.

Your upload speed : 119 kbps or 14.9 KB/sec..

Don't know what (if anything) I'm doing wrong. My ISP doubled my speed yesterday: from 512/128 to 1024/256 and I dont seem to notice a big difference. When I tweaked my speed BEFORE the new speeds, I was getting similar speeds to what I

[dlewis23]

Al_graze run this test, but before you run it clear your cache.

http://www.testmy.net/dl-2992

[Al_graze]

Restarted, cleared my cache and ran the test. Here are the results:

Download Connection is:: 550 Kbps about 0.55 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)

Download Speed is:: 67 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/02 - 11:17am

Bottom Line:: 10X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 15.28 sec

Tested from a 2992 kB file and took 44.578 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 38.54 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-J41CTGILS

User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.6) Gecko/20060728 Firefox/1.5.0.6 [!]

It improved, but I'm still not close to the 90% of my advertised speed of 1024/256

[tommie gorman]

You are running a clean comp right?

http://www.testmy.net/forum/t-4257

I almost forgot, welcome to the forum Al_graze 

[Al_graze]

My PC is 100% free of all malware: no virus or spyware. I have the latest Windows Update, run ZoneAlarm Pro firewall and AVG antivirus (both updated) and haven't detected anything with SpyBot, Ad Aware, Ewido, Bitdefender Online Scan and Panda Activescan.

So yeah... I'm pretty sure I'm ok; thanks for the suggestion though 

Thanks for the warm welcome: feeling right at home here!

[Al_graze]

Hey Guys...

I had some trouble connecting through my cable modem so I took it to my ISP tech support but they said it was perfect. Sent another tech guy to look over the coaxial lines and connections and they were also in great shape. Long story short, I was advised to reinstall Windows (a real pain, but finally finished today) and I'm having no trouble now; went through all of your suggestions and ran a new test, here are the results:

Download Connection is:: 508 Kbps about 0.51 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)

Download Speed is:: 62 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/07 - 8:01pm

Bottom Line:: 9X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 16.52 sec

Tested from a 2992 kB file and took 48.219 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 22.41 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-MUXYB3IWT

User Agent:: Mozilla Firefox1.5.0.6

Anybody know why I'm still only getting less than 50% (508 Kbps) of my advertised speed (1024) even after I tweaked my settings through CableNut, NIC set to 10mb half duplex (do not use a router), firmware is the latest available, and with no malware on my PC? 

[tommie gorman]

Probably because your ISP has not officially changed your speeds yet.

Check again.

Also have you tested on your ISP's site to confirm the speed to them?

[Al_graze]

Tommie Gorman, you were absolutely right! Even though my ISP stated that their connection speeds OFFICIALLY changed on September 1rst, it wasn't until today (Sept 12) that the speed actually changed.

It was a nice surprise because all of sudden, pages started loading faster. I decided to take another speed test and here are the results:

Download Connection is:: 959 Kbps about 0.96 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)

Download Speed is:: 117 kB/s

Tested From:: https://testmy.net/ (Server 1)

Test Time:: 2006/09/12 - 3:02pm

Bottom Line:: 17X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 8.75 sec

Tested from a 2992 kB file and took 25.547 seconds to complete

Download Diagnosis:: Awesome! 20% + : 82.67 % faster than the average for host (23.29)

D-Validation Link:: https://testmy.net/stats/id-6T78S9ZJO

User Agent:: Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6

959 Kbps in a 1024 Kbps connection is well over 90% of my Advertised Speed,

so I couldn't be more happy!

:D

[tommie gorman]

Always a good ending. 

[Al_graze]

Thank you so much for everything! Its a great forum: I've recommended it to all my friends.