LAN slooooow internet connection- What do I check?

[MrStohler]

Web pages load very slowly over my LAN at home (cable modem feeds a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station hard wired to desktop and wireless to Linksys notebook adapter in a laptop). While pages are loading the mouse movement is very jerky (both computers).

I was having troubles with lock-ups and booting the desktop (Windows 98SE, IE 6, I frequently check for updates) so I checked hard drive for errors, re-formatted it and did a clean install. Now the desktop's lock-up and boot problems are gone but the connection to the internet seems very slow, pages that should load in a few seconds take minutes.

I would apprciate any suggestions as to what I should check. Any help you could provide this network novice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Crowley16]

are u sure someone else on your network isn't taking up all the bandwidth?

Crowley - as in like a Crow

 

[MrStohler]

Crowley16: There are 2 computers on the network. I have the problem to varying degrees on both computers. It does not matter if one of the PC's is idle or off.

Thanks for the input.

 

[teknikal]

Try a direct connection between one of the PC's and the cable modem. If the slowness is still there, then it's either the connection itself or a setting on the PC.

It would help to know what OS you have on the both PC's and how long you've been having this problem.

 

[Crowley16]

what about your isp?

also, how many people are sharing this connection? If the connection isn't capped, then one of your neighbours could be using all your bandwidth...

Crowley - as in like a Crow

 

[MrStohler]

teknikal:
I'm not at home now. I'll try the direct connection later. Both computers use Win 98SE. Problem is recent, my network administrator (read spouse not really a n.a.) thinks it happened about the same time that the router firmware was upgraded but is not sure (I don't know).

Crowley16:
When wireless network was set up, I think something called WEP (?) was put in place for security. I'll check but I doubt it, the problem was bad last night at 1 AM when neighbors were zonked.

Thanks for the info

 

[teknikal]

Just an FYI that because one of the PC's are hard-wired and having the same problem, I wouldn't blame it on WEP. Besides, the wireless connection can reach up to 11MBps, which is more than enough overhead to spare for a 1.5MBps cable broadband connection. WEP shouldn't be a problem here.

Also make sure you clean out the systems. There are quite a few good FAQ's in the Win98 forum. Also, run Spybot or Adaware.

tek

 

[MrStohler]

teknikal:
I will check the Win98 forums. Also, I was sure to run scandisk, a virus scan as well as Adaware before posting this thread.

Thanks

 

[Lemon13]

check ur mtu settings. open dos-box and type
ping

http://www.dslreports.com

-f -l 1472
if you get the normal ping response your mtu is already optimal and the problem is somewhere else.
if you already get a message like "packets have 2 be fragmented but do not fragment bit is set (or similar) your mtu is to high. then just repeat the ping with a lower number (instead 1472 take 1471) and repeat that until you get the normal ping respone. add 28 to the number and thats the optimal mtu for your connection.

if you use pppoe it´s slightly different, ask if so.

how to change mtu

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/30/

 

[teknikal]

If I'm not mistaken, MTU conflicts are typically associated with DSL connections, not cable. The reason is because the PPPoE protocol restricts packet size (the header is longer due to some type of encryption level).

The bottom line is the router. MrStohler said in an earlier post that he will try a direct connection to his cable modem. If the problem still occurs, then it shouldn't have anything to do with the MTU setting. Since it's a slowness problem that doesn't happen all the time, I'm leaning far away from MTU as the reason.

We'll just have to wait and see pat'ner...saavvvy!

 

[ANFPS26]

Is this a new development with your slow internet? Did it ever work properly? One thing that Comcast stesses is the number of splitters in the cable. They only recommend one splitter to be installed; any more than that can slow down your connection speed with each additional splitter. Just a thought.

Jim

 

[MrStohler]

Thanks for the replies.

Lemon13: Thanks for including the link in you reply.

To all replies: As I said earlier I am a network novice, much of the terms are like a foreign language to me. I appreciate the patience the experts are showing.

I tried to make a direct connection to the cable modem. The result was that the computer was unable to connect to the internet. It was suggested by my ISP that this might be due the fact that each PC has a different IP address. Does that sound reasonable? The tech at their office had me run something from a DOS prompt "pinged" something (?). The reply indicated that 1 of 4 packet were lost (is that the right term?). Somehow, the ISP was able to determine that the modem was not "dropping" anything and suggested that the router was the problem.

Last night I downloaded the latest firmware upgrade (again) and reinstalled it. Result: No change, still sloooow.

Bad router? Anyone have success which Microsoft (router mfr.) for tech support?

Thanks

 

[teknikal]

[blue]"I tried to make a direct connection to the cable modem. The result was that the computer was unable to connect to the internet"[/blue]

Well, it depends on your service provider. Some usually require software installed on the PC to make the connection. When you were going through the router, the router itself was making the connection for you (using ID and password) so that you wouldn't need any additional software.

Also, if your IP address was stuck at something like 192.168.x.x, try this:

1) Start-Run, type winipcfg and hit OK
2) Click Release All
3) After the IP resets to 0.0.0.0, then click Renew All (make sure you're connected to the cable modem for this step).

If step 3 doesn't renew the IP automatically, then you will likely need software to connect, which your ISP tech support can help you with. We need you to connect this way to rule out the router as the problem. Also it would help to know what the make & model of your router is.

tek

 

[MrStohler]

teknikal:
Before trying to connect directly via the modem (Toshiba model #?), I ran the software that was supplied with the modem to set it up. But I do not know exactly what it did.

The router is by Microsoft. They call it a "Base Station" , it is model MN-500.

I will try your suggestions when I get home tonite. Am I correct in assuming that if I get a good connection though the modem directly that the problem is with the router (either its broken or it's not configured properly)?

 

[teknikal]

[blue]"Am I correct in assuming that if I get a good connection though the modem directly that the problem is with the router"[/blue]

Yes. Since it's affecting two PC's, the router is definitely a possibility. But you'll never know until you get the direct connection going...

 

[MaxEd]

MrStohler,

Make sure you are using a crossover cable and not a straight. One is for direction connection from modem to your pc and the other works only with a router or a hub.

 

[teknikal]

MaxEd,
I've subscribed to two broadband connections (DSL and Cable) and neither modem required a crossover cable for direct connections. Maybe there are some modems out there that do, but none that I've seen or heard about.

Think about it. If a crossover cable was required, then the router itself would've needed one to connect to the modem. Unless he was using one without knowing it, I doubt that's the case here.

 

[MaxEd]

Well maybe the coax cable running into the house needs to be replaced. If that's the case call the cable company. I've had this problem before when my coax was really bad, it had kinks and old.

 

[teknikal]

MaxEd,
[blue]"Well maybe the coax cable running into the house needs to be replaced"[/blue]

Yes, there are many possibilities. That's why we need to wait until a direct connection through the modem is tested.

 

[MrStohler]

Thanks to all.

Problem solved; it was Norton's Internet Security. I removed Norton from each PC then re-installed it and we now have clear sailing.

Thanks again