I currently get my internet in Baghdad through satellite using an iDirect system.
All has been well until a few days ago when the "Hub" had an emergency shutdown which meant i lost net access for 6 hours. 3 or so of those hours were actually blamed on my providers DNS/Firewall servers.

heres where the new problems arose:
Basically what i am suffering with now is when I use MSN messenger or any IM program or even IRC. What happens is I get cut off after 5 or so minutes. the problem with IRC has lessened but with the IM programs its still ongoing.

Also, when I am downloading a file it would continue a continuous stream then drop to 0 during the download for 15 or so seconds then resume downloading and so on.

My provider keeps asking me to change my DNS settings and I keep asking how in the hell are the DNS settings related to "random disconnections" and instability in the downloads.

Just today the provider mentioned that the problem may actually be the provider. This is after two days of many customers complaining. He finally said: "I think its our DIP Pool or the DNS routing in our rack"

What do you guys think?

I think that you're right and your provider is crazy! lol

DNS is not responsible for this, that you can be sure.

Keep complaining with your provider, you dont have a lot off options!

[]'s, FMC!

thats exactly what i was saying.

what does a dns server have to do with speed issues?

i worked tech support for 8+ years and i know all the basic tricks in the book.
try to bullsh*t the customer with basic "install drivers", "reboot computer" "add dns", "change dns" ...

My options are rather limited to be honest.
When I was in the states the customer had rights darn it.

Now this company is in england and i am not sure if the same "consumer" rights apply.

I'd love to file something against them.

I live in Brazil and I have the same problem, connection falls all the time, speed stinks, traffic shaping on P2P ports and everything else, but its impossible to fight against then!

Damn it, I just want my internet access working fine, but thats just a dream! lol

If you can, do like I do... go take a beer! lol :-D

[]'s, FMC!

fmc, how much do you pay for your bandwidth?

2Mbps = R$ 90,00 (reais)
R$ 1,00 = US$ 1,90
That means that I pay US$ 171,00 for 2Mbps!

This is a cable company in São Paulo, DSL around here is the worse thing in this world.
There is another cable company that is not so expensive (R$ 80,00 for 4Mbps), but they block incoming connections, so, I cant have a web server, mail server, nothing at all, thats why I keep my actual one!

[]´s, FMC!

I thought you said you have satellite internet ?

those prices are for DSL?

Those prices are for cable connection, for DSL you can keep the price and divide the speed by 3! lol

Satellite connections are not very difused ´couse I live in the middle of the city, satellite connections is more often out of the urban area!

[]´s, FMC!