Gone broadband...

...having a few teething problems

[Syzygy]

Finally upgraded to broadband at home just a couple of weeks ago - superb. How could I have lived in the 'stone age' for so long...

Has been running like a dream. However, increasingly over the last few days pages sometimes are taking an age to load, if they finish loading at all. It can be even slower than my old 56k dial-up. In these instances the blue in the address bar generally makes it as far as the end of 'http://"... Clicking 'stop' gets the text on the page to show on screen, generally minus graphics.

As a broadband (and generally all-round) novice, why could this be? What should I be looking at as the possible problem - is it with the browser settings, or should I be looking at the connection, and wherein lies the solution?

I'm using OSX.2.8 with Safari 1.0.3 on an iMac G4. Clearing icons has made no difference.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Syzygy

[whoisgregg]

Try resetting your router. I've experienced some weird problems with particular routers where I have to load a page once, it has that slow load problem, but the second attempt to load the page works normally.

I've yet to track down why the router is failing, but resetting the router always fixes the problem.

[Syzygy]

Thanks for that - will give it a go and see if this fixes the problem...

Syzygy

[Syzygy]

This appears to be getting worse - have timed pages to load at just under two minutes and even then most graphic elements time out.

My isp has supplied me with a Thomson Speedtouch 330 USB modem. Looking elsewhere I'm reading that there are problems associated with this and OSX, however, other sources show it as being quite adequate for its purpose. Anyone familiar with these purported problems?

Have emailed my isp, but anticipate getting a reply towards the back end of next week...

This is very frustrating; at this moment I feel inclined to gve up on adsl and go back to dial-up!

Any help out there?

Syzygy

[DerekH]

My ISP offered me the same, but I bought an Ethernet router/modem instead.

It has several big advantages - you can switch users and it'll stay connected. It connects automatically at boot-up. It also means that it's easy to share the connection between my Mac and my son's PC...

And it works like a dream - it's worth spending the little bit of cash needed!
DerekH

[whoisgregg]

Ethernet router/modem

This is the only way to go. Dump that USB modem -- ethernet modem/routers aren't very expensive.

[Syzygy]

This is the only way to go. Dump that USB modem...

Whilst good advice, the modem comes free as part of the package I'm paying for. How to deal with that?

And, to go back to the scenario, why am I experiencing these problems in the first place? It would be good to have some ammo to throw back to my isp...

Syzygy

[oodlum]

It could be something as simple as switching browsers. I don't use Safari, but I've found that IE can suffer badly from bloat, causing pages to hang when too much info is received too quickly. Try Firefox for a while.

[Syzygy]

Try Firefox for a while.

Certainly worth a try - lets see if that actually makes any difference.

Syzygy

[whoisgregg]

This may be related to the latest software update which changed Safari's behavior when it has difficulty connecting. Not sure but trying Firefox will determine for sure if your issue is browser based or router based. :)

[Syzygy]

I downloaded Firefox last night - it wouldn't install and crashed my Mac!

Have browsed on IE & Opera, as well as Safari - still the same problems. It's Wednesday and still so squeaks from support@myisp... Reckon I might take myself down to the new Apple store in London's Regent St at the weekend - it's a good excuse to do so...

Syzygy

[Syzygy]

Fortunately, and at last, support@myisp sent me an email giving instructions to conduct a series of tests in order to determine the exact nature of the problem.

Unfortunately, they sent instructions for Windows...

Fortunately, [e-mail] pointed me in the direction of a website which covers all things adsl.

Unfortunately, in the 'Mac & adsl' forum of this website there are a series of threads which state that you should avoid the Speedtouch 330 USB modem at all costs if you are a Mac user!

Nice one support@myisp!

Syzygy

[DerekH]

I *really* think you should buy an ADSL router and enjoy it...

You've suffered enough already <grin>

DerekH

[Syzygy]

The saga continues...

Having re-emailed support@myisp, stating that the instructions for testing via Windows is of no use to me and my Mac, further information has been sent.

The new instructions are in a .bat file... can't open! Sigh...

Yes, I've suffered enough!

Syzyggy