Macintosh

[Scott-G]

Does anyone use "Broadband Optimizer" or "IPNetTunerX" to adjust your network settings for Comcast using OS X? Do you see a difference?

[Joel]

I tried once to see what would happen, and it actually made it worse.

[mactek]

I tried it, didn't make a difference.
Change the setting sin Terminal that Broadband Optimizer changes, to both higher and lower, no difference. Starting playing with it because MY PC gets double the speed that the Mac was getting, around 3970kbps.

I'm using Panther. Change the network settings in the Network PreferencePane to Full Duplex - 100baseTX, now the Mac gets the same speed as the PC.

[geodon]

Actually, I have had good success with Broadband Optimizer. I tried the Network Preference Pane settings suggested by Bob and it dropped my speed to around 2900-3200 kbps; with Broadband Optimizer, I get a consistent 3800-3900 kbps speed.

[Anon1031681]

Were do I find Broadband optimizer?

[Annonomous5525…]

I tried tosee settings you talked abt. I don't have any duplex setting as perscribed. My comcast w/mac osx10.3.7 Panther takes 7 seconds to cahnge the page...I have internet explorer with no updates,avail.. any feedback wld be appreaciated.anitalenor@cc.nt

[Joel]

IE is the slowest, most outdated browser available for OSX. I would suggest using Safari, since you already have it, or try Camino or Firefox from Mozilla.

If you still have slowness issues, then we can start troubleshooting your connection.

AS for the settings Bob talked about above, go to System Preferences/Network, under Show click Built-in Ethernet. In the bar with the 5 tabs, click Ethernet. At Configue, click Manually. You'll then see the Speed and Duplex settings. DON'T TOUCH MTU unless you know what you're doing. 1500 is a good setting anyway.

[Anon1203653]

I too have been having speed upgrade problems. After I first received the email bragging about our new 4mbps speeds I did indeed get amost 4mbps download. A few days ago I ran another speed test and was dissapointed to see that I was back under 3mbps.

I narrowed the problem down to my Linksys BEFSR41 etherfast cable/dsl router. With the router removed from my comm chain, I'm back at close to 4mbps speeds.

I new that Comcast was hostile to routers, but it seems a little underhanded to tweek things so that we can't use them.

[Joel]

Actually, Comcast really has no idea you have a router. Comcast is responsible for everything up to your modem. Everything on the other side of that modem is your responsibility. I would check the Linksys site for possible firmware upgrades, I know there's been a slew of them for a bunch of their routers over the past few months. I'd also make sure your ethernet cable is in good shape.

Also, it's bad forum etiquette to cross-post to multiple fora.

[Scott-G]

> Were do I find Broadband optimizer?

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6727

[KrayZ]

Comcast can tell whether you have a router (if you have Java enabled, and visit their pages) -- but AFAIK they make no effort to discover this. It's certainly not something they can determine passively.

[Joel]

Yeah, bad choice of words...should have said "don't care".

[Anon1203653]

So I replaced my 'outdated' BEFSR41 with a nice wireless WRT54GS, flashed with the latest firmware, and I can verify that it hasn't helped much. I still get much better speeds with the router removed than with it in place.

Maybe it's my SB4200?

[Anon1203653]

I used another program that optimizes your network settings for various types of networks. It's called "Panther Cache Cleaner", and it does many more things than just optimize your network connections. It improved my speeds.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16494
Message was edited by: Anon1203653

[DrDUH]

Yes, I like PCC
(I let it repair disk permissions daily)

The thing with these network optimizers is that they seem to work on the link between the CPU and the router (My G4 already knows how to talk to the Airport most efficiently) -- and none of them work on the link between the router and the cable modem.

Not knocking Panther Cache Cleaner, it has other "swell" uses, but I don't think the network stuff is effective if you've got a router in the loop.

[al2teach]

I'm using Panther. Change the network settings in the Network PreferencePane to Full Duplex - 100baseTX, now the Mac gets the same speed as the PC.
bob
what's the difference between the auto setting and the one you mentioned?
Message was edited by: al417765