Strange ICS Problem

[ainwood]

I have two PCs networked. One connects to the internet via a braodband connection, and the other shares that connection via Internet Connection Sharing.

Bizarre thing is that the one connecting via ICS get appreciably faster download rates than the one that connects directly. In fact, the direct connected one is about as slow as dial-up.

This is the case even when I am using them independently - ie one connection at a time (not trying to use both at the same time).

Both computers are on Win XP - one on professional, the other on home edition. The main difference is that one is SP2, and the other is SP1.

Scans for Virii and trojans etc turn up negative. Any thoughts?

 

[Jeratain]

Disable ICS and buy a router?

ICS problems are normally far too complicated to diagnose over the net like this. Check out www.speedguide.net and see if they offer any advice / info.

 

[ainwood]

Thanks - I couldn't find anything.

Re Router: I could, but looks like I'd need a external cable modem as well...

 

[Jeratain]

Re Router: I could, but looks like I'd need a external cable modem as well...

I had that problem in the past with my SBC Yahoo! DSL. I called them up, explained that I wanted an external router for free, and they sent it to me and asked that I mail them back the internal one. I did that and all was well.

Cable internet companies should also provide that for free. Call and find out.

 

[ainwood]

I had that problem in the past with my SBC Yahoo! DSL. I called them up, explained that I wanted an external router for free, and they sent it to me and asked that I mail them back the internal one. I did that and all was well.

Cable internet companies should also provide that for free. Call and find out.

Unfortunately, the cable company didn't supply the modem.

 

[superslug]

I was about to recommend using OCP instead of ICS, but then I realized this isn't the III forum...

 

[ainwood]

I downloaded a TCP/IP optimiser from speedguide.net. I ran this, and noticed something strange: in the Latency tests, both computers have about the same ping times and the same time-to-live. However - on the host machine, I noticed that I am losing 1/3 to 1/2 of the packets sent - on the client machine, I lose none!!

What could possibly be causing this behaviour? In my mind, it must be something in the OS - it certainly can't be a modem / internet problem, or both PCs would be affected.

Any suggestions?