It is possible to increase cable download speed by tweaking your connection settings.
cable modem image by IKO from Fotolia.com
As broadband connections such as cable and DSL have become more common, it has become useful for people to tweak their cable connections to increase cable download speed. Although cable and DSL are already much faster than dial-up connections, there are many things you can do to increase their speed.
Step 1
Determine your cable download speed by running an online speed test. The online speed test at Cable-modem.net can provide a benchmark for what your speed is compared with other types of connections. If you are already near the maximum speed for a cable connection, tweaking your network settings will not increase your speed as much as if you are well below the maximum download speed.
Step 2
Optimize your TCP settings. TCP is one half of the TCP/IP protocol suite that is used for cable downloads from the Internet. You can change settings like Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) and Time to Live (TTL) manually in the Windows system registry if you are an advanced user. If you don't have any background in modifying the system registry, it is easier and safer to use a tool such as TCP Optimizer from SpeedGuide.net to automatically adjust these parameters and increase your download speed.
Step 3
Download large files when the network is less active. When there are fewer people using the bandwidth available on the network, your downloads will have more bandwidth available and you will notice an increased download speed. Early in the morning and late at night are great times to download files, as there will be significantly more bandwidth available than during the day when most people use the Internet.
Step 4
Install a download accelerator. These programs allow you to make multiple connections to a source. This can help you to use your bandwidth to its maximum capability even if the source server does not permit a single connection to use the amount of bandwidth you have available. For instance, according to CNET.com, the freeware program Download Accelerator Plus is capable of "speeding up downloads by almost 200 percent in most cases and occasionally as high as 400 percent."
Tip
- If you are not subscribed to the fastest possible cable Internet, you may be able to upgrade your connection with your service provider to allow for more bandwidth and increase your download speed without modifying any settings.
Warning
- Some network tweaks can cause your connection to become unstable, so always make sure to back up files and write down settings before you make changes to your cable Internet connection.
References
Photo Credits
- cable modem image by IKO from Fotolia.com
