Hi all, I need some advice on what is my best option to upgrade for a quicker download speed. I am using a 500mhz iMac, 56k internal Modem, OSX with a dial up connection with AOL. AOL do not do Broadband for Macs & my phone company do not do Broadband in my area. I am getting an average download speed of 4kb/s which is getting to be a drag. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Go to tools/option/searching/speed and select show only results of T3 speed or higher. 4kb/s isn't a lot less then what you can expect with a 56k connection though

Go to tools/option/searching/speed and select show only results of T3 speed or higher. 4kb/s isn't a ot less then what you can expect with a 56k connection though

Hi,
Thanx for your reply but I have allready done that. I am looking to get a quicker/better setup but do not know what to go for. None of my mates are interested in computers, so nobody to get advice from.

Hi Jack

Ouch! modem connections are tough with p2p: even with cable I often see d/l's at less than 4k/secs. Could be that even with broadband you'll not see much better.

All you can do with your current and very adequate set-up is max out your RAM. If you do decide on a bigger faster machine (unecessary for p2p right now), you should be able to put the old ram to the new machine. If you're going to spend money and broadband is not an option, that might be the cheapest way to go first.

When I was on a Mac PB 5300 running 8.6, I learned that the first files that showed up in searches usually had the fastest connection times. I'd use the browse host feature to then see what files I could get. So, that's another trick.

The best solution would be broadband. Can you contact any ISP's in your area to see what options besides AOL you have?

BTW--welcome. Your advice to others has been appreciated.

Hi Steif,
Thanx for the info provided, I have looked up different ISP's on the Internet and none of them have broadband in my area but I will try a few more. I think that broadband might not be available in my area at all which is strange as I am om the outskirts of one of the biggest citys in Scotland. I will try what you said about browsing the hosts that appear first after doing a search. When you talk about more RAM do you mean more RAM on the machine or applying more RAM to Limewire? I currently have 384 RAM. And last but not least, Thanx for your welcome it is much appreciated. I am only to willing to help anybody if I can as others have helped me. All the best Jack.

Hi Jack

I meant ram on the machine, but you have lots, and as you know, OSX handles application ram automatically. Looks like your system is more than adequate for p2p. Yep--broadband looks to be it!

I get my broadband from my cable tv provider. Might that be an alternative to the phone for you? Another suggestion would be to contact the university. The computer science dept would provide internet access to the students, and would know what's available in your area, provided you are not too far out of the city.

I was working on some of the 500MHz iMacs, and found some needed all sorts of updates (I think a firmware update was needed on one), and the System Preference Software Update hadn't been run for a long time.

btw, have you tried http://www.macmentor.org/ ? It's recommended by a fellow ("displaced") posting on the Acquisition boards (http://www.sciforums.com/) who is on GMT, and knows more about networks in the UK than either of us.

Cheers

Hi Stief,
The cable company for my area does not do Broadband, I checked it on the Internet.

There is a university in my town (trying to get city status), I'm about 4 miles from it so I will make enquires.

I am up to date with Firmware etc as I check reguarly for updates.

I bookmarked the URLs you gave me and I had a quick browse. Macmentor looks quite interesting as it deals with alot of topics that I'm intersted in.

"Displaced" has a website so I'll see if he can give me any advice.

Thanx for all the info Stief.
All the best Jack

Cheers--and good luck.

Hi Steif,
Thanx for the info provided, I have looked up different ISP's on the Internet and none of them have broadband in my area but I will try a few more. I think that broadband might not be available in my area at all which is strange as I am om the outskirts of one of the biggest citys in Scotland.

The cable company for my area does not do Broadband, I checked it on the Internet.

The above was puzzling me so I phoned the cable company & they do Broadband in my area after all. The guy said that their web site does not get updated reguarly

So I should be on cable broadband next week.

Sometimes the old fashion means of communication are the best.

Jack.