slow dial up

[Dom Tuk]

My dial up connection is very slow these days even though the pop up box that tells you the speed of connection states that it is 52 kb. anyreason why it has suddenly become so slow.

[dcullum]

have you checked for spyware/adware on your computer (try a2/spybot or adaware for free). These programs although not generally destructive, can really sap the performance of your internet connection.

[fly258]

Try asking BT if they have fitted a DACS (digital audio carrier system) to your line. Its a bit of kit which allows 2 telephone lines to use one pair of copper wires. BT use them as a supposed temporary solution when they are short of line plant in a particular area. Unfortunately it slows a 56K dial up by half but does not affect a normal voice call.

 If you do have a DACS fitted, then apply for broadband, even if you cancell it at a later date, they have to remove the DACS before broadband will work.

BT are supposed to check that a line is not used for the internet before they fit a DACS, so I would doubt that you do have one fitted but its worth asking, just in case.