Download Speeds start high and then drop...

[jerrmz]

I have two computers networked together using a router and a cable connection.

I downloaded some XP tweaks to optimize the broadband connection, I turn the second computer off, updated router software, etc. but it seems no matter what I do the download speeds start high and then drop.

Usually, they start anywhere between 200-300 kb/s but almost instantly (depending where I'm downloading from) drop down to 100 kb/s or lower.

Is this based on my ISP? Sometimes it only drops to 100kb/s or so, other times drops down to 20kb/s at a different site. So I'm not 100% positive that it's based on my ISP.

If it's NOT my ISP then is there a way I can fix it?

Any advice is much appreciated.

[bassman]

Well, 100KB/s is a lot of speed and 300KB/s is bound to an extremely fast connection; not every host you connect to will offer that kind of speed. Even if you have the top of the line connection you'll always depend on the host speed for your download, if it can only send data @ 4KB/s (if it's heavily loaded with clients, for example) that's what you'll receive. You can test your bandwith in a slightly more accurate manner here:
http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/
http://www.pcpitstop.com/internet/Bandwidth.asp
http://www.dslreports.com/stest

[Rocketmech]

Really , the best way to measure your bandwidth is to D/L a file from your ISP. This will verify the speed your paying for. Anything else upsteam from there is subject to the terms Bassman mentioned.

The only tweaks I find useful are the TCP Receive Window size (http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/index.htm#Method2) and setting the Optimize for Throughput setting in the Network Adapter Properties in Device Manager.
The Navas Group link or one of the others should help you figure if your having latency problems.

Or try DRTCP from DSLreports (see last suggestion for settings that others here say work)
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=135533&highlight=Tweak+cable+modem

As for the start fast then slows down, its probably the buffer catching up showing your true file download speed.

[tantone]

As for the start fast then slows down, its probably the buffer catching up showing your true file download speed.
Bingo!!

Ever notice that the longer you wait to specify where you want to save the file, the faster the initial d/l speed is and the longer is takes to reduce to the actual throughput? When you click on a link to a file and you get the box asking where you want to save it, the file is downloading already to a temp location. Once you click OK on where to save it, you see the high connection speed. That's actually kind of an "average" between what the actual d/l speed is and how much of the file had already been pulled down. They will catch up and then even out.

[Rocketmech]

It may also just be packet headers he's seeing first , then the real content later. Common experience for us laymen to misconstrue .