Help download speed slow!

[danewesley]

k so when im downloading things off the internet my dl speed caps out at 110kb/s and im supposed to have 8mbps connection with pipex. im on an apple emac g4, my cousin recently got the internet and has a dl speed of up to 500kb/s plus. i was wondering if there is anything i can do...change some settings, firewall etc? please help, thanks in advance.

edit: this isnt a recent thing either, it has always done it but i kinda know it should go faster, the download speed boosts right up to 150kb/s then drops down and lingers around 110 going up and down like 5kb/s each way.

[Llamatron]

Connection speed depends a lot on the qualtiy of the phone line and how far from the exchange you are.

[fo3nix]

If possible, check with someone else's computer on your line.

However, I'm betting it's the line, and not the computer.

[Mattk]

remember broadband speeds are 'up to' so the further you are away from your exchange the lower your speed.contention ratio will also play a part ie how many other households do you share the same connection with.