unexplained slow speed

My network based on netgear router( ADSL 2meg) with orange(been with since freeserve-long time), is ok speedwise( 1.8 meg downstream and 0.25 meg upstream on average). However after 6 pm and for 3 to 5 hours the downstream speed drops dramatically to under 0.5 meg!!.I know this period is the time of heavy traffic, but is there any explanation for this. Apart from this the connection is rock solid (never drops), and that is why I am reluctant to install Livebox which remains unopened since I received it.

This is almost certainly exchange congestion.

Check your exchange on www.samknows.com

Thanks, but what am I supposed to check on this site?

I too was having this trouble, only worse! My 2Mb connection was chugging along at 0.154Mb most weeknights after 19:00 for a few hours. With 2 of us trying to share it, and me online gaming, it was a complete nightmare.

I moved ISP and so far have not experinced any more problems like this. Early days but will test monday, as that was oddly one of the worst evenings for it. And my exchange is listed as congested with updates due 22/11/06.

http://www.nildram.net/support/tools/congestion_checker/

Edited by nikoliath (Mon 20-Nov-06 02:48:00)