Hi Everyone

I have a very simple Computer system with a 56 Kb modem that I've used with
no problems for months now.
BT are installing ASDL to the village but because I am a carer and on a
fixed income I find the cost to be too high, so have to stay on Pay As You
Go and use the Internet sparingly during the evenings and weekends..

But I've noticed recently that the download speeds fluctuate between 4.87
Kb/per sec, even down to 3.47 Kb. Is this reasonable? As it seems
everything is slowing down and downloads take ages? Perhaps it's a way of BT
forcing everyone to take ASDL

I had an astronimical phone bill last quarter and I am positive that I
didn't use the Internet any more than the previous. I have Virus and
Firewall control installed but I wondered if a Dialler might be installed
without my knowledge as no-one else uses my computer.
Is there any way that I can check for diallers? Are they 'hidden' in the
system or something?

Many thanks for any advice or help
Warfy

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 06:47:12 +0000 (UTC), "Warfyzz"
<Warfy22@btinternet.com> wrote:

Download, then update (after install) and use *all* of the following:

Spybot Search & Destroy
http://spybot.eon.net.au/
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://spybot.safer-networking.de/
SpyBot S&D guide
http://www.chem.wisc.edu/~network/spybot/

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.nu/

Spyware Blaster
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.net-integration.net/tools...reblaster.html

CWShredder (CoolWebSearch remover)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip

Pest Patrol
http://pestpatrol.com/

and possibly:

Stinger Virus Removal Tool
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/



--
Avenger©
webweaver@CATihug.com.au
"Put the CAT out to reply"
*I DETEST Spam - A Spam Hater since 1951*

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 06:47:12 +0000 (UTC), Warfyzz wrote:

The 56k modem speed is in theory a 1 way max if both ends are talking
the same command set, the modems / drivers have been upgraded to support
56k, although old try http://www.56k.com/

<snip>

Watch your units here, you are using Kb for the 56 and your 4-3 download
speed. The modem 56 is in bits ( www.webopedia.com ) the d/l speed is
most likely shown in bytes.

So an in theory 56Kbits / 8 (bits per byte) = 7KBytes compared to your
4.8. Sometimes dividing by 10 is used as there are control bits in the
data, which would give 5.6KBytes so your 4.87 is quite good.

Itemised phone bill?

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 06:47:12 +0000, Warfyzz wrote:

If there's any such thing as isolated in the UK (I live in Oz and you know
the meaning of isolated here), check yout ISP's charge plan. Pay As You Go
is a dead give away. You could be on a timed plan, or excess download
charge plan, or you could be being charged STD rates each time you dial
up. Your dial up download speeds are perfectly normal within the given
range. ISPs often use 56 Kilo Bits, as opposed to 5.6 Kilo bytes to upsell
their service. Do run the recommended system checks to be safe. Save any
logs that are generated and print them. Have at hand past and present
bills and any written communication you may have received from your ISP,
this includes hard mail and prints of emails. Then ring your ISP and speak
to a real person. Knowing as much as, or more than, the dill at the other
end of the line gives you something rare in the world of the ISP. *Power*

I did a quick Google of your headers and you might find the following
links useful.

http://btopenworld.com/internet
http://btopenworld.com/welcome/0,8492,,00.html
http://hercules.btinternet.com/
An error occurred while loading http://hercules.btinternet.com/:
Timeout on server
Connection was to hercules.btinternet.com at port 80

If there's no reference to Yahoo! in recent communication from your ISP
you can merrily screw them to the sticking post.

--
Parko
Registered Linux User #339345
"Know your product". Only one of the best rock/punk songs. Ever.
http://www.thesaints.live.com.au/

Watch your units here, you are using Kb for the 56 and your 4-3 download
confused.com?




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cheap as chips
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