Maybe one of you computer geniuses can help.

Tried the bandwidth check just now. In a few tests I got 400-500kbps. No hel_l, but not bad for my purposes. Almost what I pay for

But wait times during actual use have been dead slow the past week. Pages open slower than dial-up and Skype is useless.

Anyone know what the problem might be.

Did you run the thaivisa.com test? I think the thaivisa.com bandwidth test checks your bandwidth to Singapore. Try a different bandwidth test like http://www.speedtest.net/ to check your US bandwidth.

The good news is however that if your connection to thaivisa.com is as fast as your connection is rated for, then your computer, modem/router, line etc are all probably OK.

True seems to be having problems with their proxy server. This is a fairly frequent, if not maddening occurrence--why can't they just make their service work? There are so many weak links in their chain. Whenever web pages on more than one site don't load and just sit their hung I know their server is on the fritz and simply switch to a VPN (virtual private network) to bypass their proxy servers and I can access everything normally. I have a computer setup in another country that I connect to that allows me to do this. The side effect is a VPN bypasses their censoring so I try to use VPN as little as possible, heaven forbid I might accidentally visit a banned web site and become suicidal

Did you run the thaivisa.com test? I think the thaivisa.com bandwidth test checks your bandwidth to Singapore. Try a different bandwidth test like http://www.speedtest.net/ to check your US bandwidth.

The good news is however that if your connection to thaivisa.com is as fast as your connection is rated for, then your computer, modem/router, line etc are all probably OK.

Thanks for that. Did try speedtest.net to Europe and US and everything seems fine. If the bandwidth is ok, but everything is slow (including opening this page just now) maybe the problem is my computer, something about how it is running Firefox. Admit though that that is hardly an educated guess.

True seems to be having problems with their proxy server. This is a fairly frequent, if not maddening occurrence--why can't they just make their service work? There are so many weak links in their chain. Whenever web pages on more than one site don't load and just sit their hung I know their server is on the fritz and simply switch to a VPN (virtual private network) to bypass their proxy servers and I can access everything normally. I have a computer setup in another country that I connect to that allows me to do this. The side effect is a VPN bypasses their censoring so I try to use VPN as little as possible, heaven forbid I might accidentally visit a banned web site and become suicidal

Got to get me one of those VPN things .... So if the proxy server is on the fritz, can I still get reasonable bandwidth reports while experiencing huge wait times?

It could be your ISP's proxy, or possibly browser/spyware related. You might try:

- Open an HTTPS secured page (lock in browser) and see if there is any speed difference - if so, then it could well be ISP filter/proxy related as secured connections probably bypass it.

- A different browser, just to see if it makes any difference, if so, then you need to check for spyware/adware installs in your browser

- If nothing else helps, try running hijackthis and examine or post the logfile to see if there is anything unwanted running on your machine.

In BKK I am with True (the building made a deal with them, no choice).

Bandwidth test showed: 400Kb downloand and 30 Kbps (thirty) upload!

Upload is slower than over dial up.