Astraweb download speed problems

[brilliant_brunette]

I have been using Astraweb, and so far it has been going fine. However, I am having some problems keeping my download speed up at times. My max speed is like 580KBS, which works fine for me.
Here is my problem. I will be downloading at my max for about a minute, then it goes at a constant 175KBS for two mins, then to the max for a min, then 175 again.
I have tried using both ports on the secure server. I have added to the address so I get the US server every time. I have even tried port forwarding like in torrents, but it is not fixing the problem.
Can someone let me know what the problem is?
Thanks

[N2k]

what is your newsreader?tried different one?it could be your firewall.I have the same problem when i use newsleecher+eset smart security

[vine_08]

I am using GrabIt right now, i have tried Alt.Binz and with it, my speed never reaches my max in the first place.
In Grabit, I can restart it and I will have my max speed just for a couple minutes, then it goes down.

[Rubber]

make sure you download with 20 connections, try to uninstall/turn off the firewall(just to see what will happen)

[Celina]

make sure you download with 20 connections, try to uninstall/turn off the firewall(just to see what will happen)

that's crazy. he doesn't need 20 connections for his bandwidth.

[mandormark]

lol yes 20 is too much i wrote it just in case.usually 5-10 is well enough

[Usernammy]

how many ppl pay month use astraweb?
i curious about newsgrps !

[Raven2099]

I am only using 3-5 connections to max out my BW, and either one does it fine. The problem is continuing maxing it out. Should I have my ports forwarded? Is my ISP throttling? I have cable.
So if anyone has any tips/ideas let me know

And TakeMS, please stop hijacking threads.

[jerald]

Should not need more than 4 connection just about ever. Any more and it just becomes advertising bullshit. Come Come I'll give you 50 connections..

Be kind to servers, leave room for others.

In fact.. Here is how you score 100% GNKSA.

GNKSA Evaluation Form 2.05

Product Name : PAN
Product Version : 0.9.3
Tested on platform : Linux (2.2.6-15apmac)
Available for platforms: *nix/GNOME
Evaluation date : 12/17/2000
Evaluated by : Adam Bailey


Conclusion
==========

PAN 0.9.3 satisfies the basic GNKSA requirements, and therefore
from now on may proudly carry the Good Net-Keeping Seal of Approval.


Summary
=======

Pass Fail Total Pass/Fail%
MUSTs 39 0 39 100%/0%
SHOULDs 27 0 27 100%/0%

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 100%M
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 100%S
[GNKSA Score-O-Meter]

Details
=======

PAN 0.9.3 offers the following nice net-keeping
features unmentioned by the GNKSA:

- Visual thread display


Additional Comments:

3b Presents a warning if a post is being crossposted to more than 5
newsgroups even with a Followup-To header set (cf. 3c). Refuses
to allow crossposting to more than 12 newsgroups.
3c Presents a warning if a post is being crossposted to more than 2
newsgroups with no Followup-To header set.
9a Requires typing the newsgroup name into the posting window from
scratch.
9b Requires typing the email address into the posting window from
scratch.
12c Upon first use of the program, presents the user with their username
at the machine's domain (and allows them to change it at that point).
While this may not be a valid email address, it is at least an
attempt.
15b Will warn if the signature is more than 80x4, but allows the user
to post anyway.


More information about PAN can be found at:


A copy of this evaluation has been sent to PAN's authors.


Checklist
========= (M)UST /
(S)HOULD
1) Displays all essential header information
Software clearly displays:
[Y] a) Article's author (From) M
[Y] b) Article's Subject M
[Y] c) List of groups posted to (Newsgroups) M
[Y] d) Where (and how) to direct followups (Followup-To) M
[Y] e) Where to reply to if not the From-address (Reply-To) M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

2) Provides clear, separate commands for new posting, followup, and
e-mail reply
[Y] a) for posting a new article M
[Y] b) for posting a followup article M
[Y] c) for replying by e-mail M
[Y] d) Uses standard terminology S
[Y] e) Avoids ambiguous terminology S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

3) Provides cross-posting functionality
[Y] a) Allows specifying multiple groups M
[Y] b) Warns about, or prevents, posting to large numbers of groups S
[Y] c) Strongly encourages setting Followup-To: on large crossposts S
(`Y' if large crosspostings are disallowed)
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

4) Allows users to change essential headers
[Y] a) Allows editing Subject at all times during composition M
[Y] b) Allows specifying new Subject of at least 70 characters M
[Y] c) Allows setting "Followup-To: poster" M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

5) Ensures followups and e-mail replies contain a correct Subject
[Y] a) Prepends "Re: " if (and only if) not already present M
[Y] b) Preserves entire original Subject (modulo minor repairs) M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

6) Directs followups to the correct newsgroups
[Y] a) Initiates e-mail reply rather than a followup posting on
"Followup-To: poster", clearly informing the user M
[Y] b) Posts to groups in Followup-To if present M
[Y] c) Posts to groups in Newsgroups otherwise M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

7) Make sure followups contain valid References
[Y] a) Creates References header with Message-ID of original article
as the last element M
[Y] b) Includes last three References from original M
[Y] c) Ensures References will fit in 998 characters M
[Y] d) Keep as many References from original as fit S
[Y] e) Does not propagate broken Message-IDs in original References S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

8) Direct e-mail replies to the correct address
[Y] a) Uses Reply-To if present M
[Y] b) Uses From address otherwise M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

9) Allow the user to change her mind about whether to post or mail (or
do both) and behave if doing both
[Y] a) Allows users to change their mind and mail rather than
post after having initiated a followup message S
[Y] b) Allows users to change their mind and post rather than
mail after having initiated a reply message S
[Y] c) Does not offer both posting and mailing as default behaviour M
[Y] d) Inserts a notification that the message was posted as well
as mailed in the e-mail copy when both posting and mailing
a followup article S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

10) Provide adequate quotation and attribution facilities
[Y] a) Allows including quoted original M
[Y] b) Clearly distinguishes quoted material M
[Y] c) Prefixes quoted material with `>'/`> ' S
[Y] d) Omits correctly delimited signatures from quoted material S
[Y] e) Provides a means of indicating which part(s) to followup to S
[Y] f) Attribution line containing original author precedes quotes M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

11) Provide a user-specified "Subject: " header
[Y] a) Requires non-empty, user-specified Subject for new articles M
[Y] b) Refuses posting articles without, or with an empty, Subject M
[Y] c) Does not provide default Subject if user did not set one M
[Y] d) Allows changing the Subject at any time while editing M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

12) Provide a valid "From: " header
[Y] a) Sets "From: " header to syntactically valid e-mail address M
[Y] b) Refuses posting articles without a syntactically valid
"From: " header M
[Y] c) Uses correct e-mail addresses (valid and belonging to the
user) only, as far as it can possibly know S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

13) Allow users to both cancel and supersede their own articles (and
_no_ others!)
[Y] a) Allows cancelling articles S
[Y] b) Allows superseding articles S
[Y] c) As far as possible, does not allow cancelling or superseding
other peoples' articles M
[Y] d) Uses standard terminology S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

14) Try to respect the 80-character line-length convention
[Y] a) Articles are posted as edited, with linebreaking intact S
[Y] b) Warns about lines over 80 characters S
[Y] c) Does not refuse to post articles containing long lines S
[Y] d) Allows rewrapping quoted text S
[Y] e) Enforces formatting requirements on article after external
editing (`Y' if there is no support for external editors) S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

15) Separate signatures correctly, and don't use excessive ones
[Y] a) Uses (and enforces) standard signature delimiter S
[Y] b) Warns against or refuses to use excessive signatures S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

16) Try to prevent obvious user errors
[Y] a) Warns when attempting to post empty articles M
[Y] b) Refuses posting empty articles S
[Y] c) Warns when post articles containing quoted material only M
[Y] d) Refuses posting quoted-text-only articles S
[Y] e) Warns against posting multiple copies (`Y' if impossible) M
[Y] f) Prevents multiple posting entirely S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

17) Post human-readable articles unless ordered otherwise
[Y] Does not (and can not) encode or encrypt articles unless
on explicit user demand M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

18) Provide self-protection
[Y] Allows filtering out annoying articles (killing) S
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M

19) Be kind to servers, leave room for others
[Y] a) Does not unnecessarily open multiple connections M
[Y] b) Does not generate excessive server load otherwise M
[Y] PASS: Satisfies all MUSTs M