ADSL through ethernet faster????

[Ssshaker]

Hi,
I'm using a Billion ADSL/router/USB device which after having probs with USB I plugged directly into my hub and after fluking the config (setting up gateway got me going) am happily using all 6 computers without any probs.
My link is 256/64k with iinet (in Australia) and usually d/l at around 30kbps. Main PC is Win2000, older one with W98 and all the others XP Pro. I have been reading about MTU's and wonder can I tweak my system at all or am I better off not fixing it if it aint broke?
One of the XP machines, (2.4ghz, 750 DDR etc) seems to be running slower in all apps since setting up the ethernet where using it as USB modem and sharing via ICS seemed to be quicker. Online test in all instances told me connection was between 190-210k.
Should I be downloading faster than 30kbps?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.........
Cheers

 

[jimbopalmer]

256 kbits per second is 32 kbytes per second so your numbers are not far off.

http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks

can help you tune your computers, but you are not far from right. there is also a link to a message board with experts on their tool. I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[Ssshaker]

Thanks Jimbo, you must have been hatching this forum
How do you get 32k from 256kbps? I will have a look at the tool but a bit wary of tinkering especially since it took me so long to get it going after dropping the USB idea.
Ta again....

 

[jimbopalmer]

8 bits in a byte, so 256 k/8=32 k

there is usually some overhead to networking, so you never get all the bandwidth, but you are near the mark I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.