Slow connection

Slow or Dropped Connections

In some cases you may find that your broadband connection is not working or running slowly.

*Note: Not all of the following steps may be necessary. Try connecting after each step to see if the issue is resolved.
Have you tested your download speed?

* Try eircom net's Speed Test.

*Note: Maximum download speeds cannot be guaranteed, as eircom broadband is Rate Adaptive, i.e. a distance dependant* technology. (*The distance between the modem and the exchange it is connected to.) However, if there is a large difference between the speed of your broadband package and the speed test result, here are a few suggestions.

*Note: Upload speeds are not the equal to download speeds. For example, on a broadband connection of 1MBps, the maximum download speed could be approximately 1MB (1024kbps), but the upload speed will be 128kbps. This is the very nature of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - asymmetric meaning unequal).

If you can only connect to the internet while you are on the phone, or your connection drops when you pick up your phone, you may have:

* Incorrectly connected a single-port filter to the purple phone cable (the single port filter can not be used to connect the modem). Unplug the single-port filter from the purple phone cable.
* or Connected the purple phone cable to the wrong side of the splitter. Try switching the phone and modem cables in the splitter.
* or Been supplied a faulty splitter, in which case you can request a replacement from our Technical Support Department.
* Try resetting the modem.

* Try resetting TCP/IP.

* Try checking your computer's TCP/IP settings.

* Try manually entering TCP/IP settings.

* Check the suggestions in the No Sync troubleshooter.

Are you connecting wirelessly?

* Check out the Wireless troubleshooter.

Have you scanned your computer for Spyware?

Spyware can interfere with Internet connections, making them slow and/or unreliable. Click here for more information on Spyware and how to remove it.
Are you using streaming, file-sharing or Peer-to-Peer (P2P) software?

These programs download content in the background, even when minimised. Exit the software completely to ensure it does not affect the speed of browsing.
Are you using a firewall

...such as Norton Internet Security, McAfee Personal Firewall, ZoneAlarm or other such security package?

* These packages are designed to block a certain amount of access to and from the internet. In some cases, however, they can completely block access inadvertantly. Try disabling the firewall, making sure to re-enable it afterwards.
In some cases, you may need to completely uninstall the firewall, reboot the computer and try again. If you are not sure how to do this, you will need to consult the documentation or contact the appropriate vendor. eircom net does not support firewall issues. If the firewall is found to be the problem, it is recommended that you try a different one. Every broadband-connected computer should be protected by a firewall.

Refer to the documentation for your security software or visit http://www.netfaqs.com/windows/Browsers/Firewalls/ * to determine how to configure it correctly. If this is a firewall configuration problem, our Technical Support department will not be able to assist you.

*Note: eircom net cannot be held responsible for the content or advice given by external websites, nor the result of misconfiguration arising from such advice.