What Causes a Slow DSL Connection?
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.
Other People Are Reading
-
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.
-
