What Causes a Slow DSL Connection?

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By Amanda Morin
eHow Contributing Writer

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You switched to DSL because it's faster than dial-up, but your connection is still slow! Causes of a slow DSL connection vary and include outside influences in addition to what's running on your computer. Some factors can be changed to speed things up, though.

Interlopers

Viruses, spyware or other malware slow down your DSL connection. Use your computer's security software or a free program like AVG to detect and remove suspicious programs (see "Resources").

Hitchhikers

Sharing a DSL connection amongst computers, knowingly or not, causes things to slow down. Encrypt your network to avoid unauthorized piggybackers.

Memory Issues

Too many programs running at the same slows things down, especially if your computer doesn't have a lot of RAM. Uninstall unnecessary applications and close programs you aren't using.

Multiple Downloads

Multiple or large file downloads can slow your DSL to a crawl, as it reduces the amount of available bandwidth.

Browser Compatibility

Not all Web pages load well on all browsers. Pay attention to "This pages works best on" recommendations and experiment with different Internet browsers.

Phone Line Concerns

Excess noise on the phone line, distance from the hub and poor filtering also cause slow DSL connections. Replace filters and, one by one, make sure all your phone line-dependent electronics are working correctly.