[huw]

Is there any hope?

I have been suffered very poor download speeds on my 3Meg ntl line for the last 2 months. It's noticeable slow when downloading anything (like waiting for anti-virus updates, another update to iTunes) and when I try any of the recognised speed testers - web or client - the word "serious" problems is used.

I have tried setting an explicit proxy (currently Leeds; I live in the Thames Valley) which sometimes seems to fix downloads from some sites, but the UK sites are always poor.

Is there anything to try? A more reliable proxy? Or diagnose this problem further? I tried calling customer service, but got a script (after waiting for 5 minutes for the agent to find it) telling me that p2p applications can slow the link (gosh, that was news, I don't have any running), that anti-virus applications can slow the web (sure, if there were lots of scripts, but using download monitors show this isn't just an AV thing, I tried turning it off for a laugh).

Downloading using nntp (easynews) is still super fast 3meg, so I guess the cables and my account are fine?

Seriously considering 2Meg ADSL on the BT line....last chance saloon.

TIA