ADSL 2 Mbps getting less than 1 Mbps

[Kumagoro]

I dont have ADSL so dont know much about how it behaves. Someone I
know has 2 Mbps with tiscali but is only getting between 700 Kbps, 1 Mbps.

I downloaded from microsoft and only got 17.6 KB/s.

With tiscali there is a little program which tells you the connection to the
net which i guess is to the exchange. This says 2.2 Mbps.

Even though it shows 2.2 Mbps there could it still be the line being cack?
or is it more likely a tiscali related problem.

The computer has only just had windows reinstalled so there should be no
probs there.

[Trippledence]

Try doing a speedtest fom ADSL guide.

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp

If this shows that your getting a 1mbs conection speed contact Tiscally as somethings up. Sometimes slow downloads can be server side problems, not that with your conection. If your conected at 2.2 then chances are thats what you have, but tiscally might be limiting your line speed, this can happen when people get speed upgrades sometimes.

[StormPC]

Your connection speed is only a small portion of what determines your download rates. Sites have network traffic and when they get busy you will get much slower downloads. When your ISP gets busy this will slow you down, as will many programs running in the background. Spyware (which most people have even if they believe they do not) is the worst culprit!

[Kumagoro]

i used the adslguide connection test several times it came out out between 700 K and 1 M.

I downloaded stuff from a couple of different sites. I really dont think microsoft would
have limited it to 17 KB/s. It was a totally fresh install so should be ok spyware wise.

Apparently his contract should be up soon so i will try and get him to move provider and see what the difference is.