slow download speeds

I recently switched from dsl to cable because in the evening hours I
was getting very slow download speeds. The dsl provider and the phone
co tried everything they could and nothing would correct the problem.
I switched to cable thinking the problem was with my phone connection.
I now have cable internet and phone service. Switched to a news
service that would allow me to use my total bandwith speed. Found that
my download speed is not any faster than when I was using the cable
newsgroups. Download speed is below 500 kbps. I am using an iMac G4
1.25 GHz running OS 10.4.3. Called the cable co and they said
everything looks good. Since this is the exact same problem I had with
dsl I am begining to suspect a computer problem. Could spyware be
possible? Any help would be appreciated, this is beginning to drive me
nuts

In article <2005122021283616807-donanthes@coxnet>,
Don Anthes <donanthes RemoveThis @cox.net> wrote:

> I recently switched from dsl to cable because in the evening hours I
> was getting very slow download speeds. The dsl provider and the phone
> co tried everything they could and nothing would correct the problem.
> I switched to cable thinking the problem was with my phone connection.
> I now have cable internet and phone service. Switched to a news
> service that would allow me to use my total bandwith speed. Found that
> my download speed is not any faster than when I was using the cable
> newsgroups. Download speed is below 500 kbps. I am using an iMac G4
> 1.25 GHz running OS 10.4.3. Called the cable co and they said
> everything looks good. Since this is the exact same problem I had with
> dsl I am begining to suspect a computer problem. Could spyware be
> possible? Any help would be appreciated, this is beginning to drive me
> nuts

Remember, downloads are only as fast as the slowest connection.

My cable connection is 'rated' at 30mbps, but do I ever get anything
approaching that? Hell, no.
I might, if everyone else on the LAN stopped using the internet and I
only downloaded from high-speed connections.

Binaries average around 500kbps, The fastest music download (via
Acquisition) was around 150kbps, but that was from 6 sites.

I remember a few years back a salesman insisting a 14.4k modem was the
'Rolls-Royce' of modems and I'd be wasting my money trying to get a
28.8k.

True high-speed broadband is always 'just around the corner' but it
usually trips up because everyone is not willing to pay the $250 a year
for it.