When you come across websites that load slowly, your first reaction might be to think that your connection is slow, this, however, is not necessarily the case.

MHO DirectWave™ does not connect you directly to individual web sites; it connects you to an intermediary, the Internet Backbone. All MHO Networks can do is see that the transmission from (and to) our network is as fast as possible. Unfortunately, we can't do anything about problems in other parts of the Internet or your computer; these can include:

Bogged-down web sites - When a web site experiences a very high number of visitors, it may become unable to respond. You may receive the message: "The page cannot be displayed," or the web site will respond, but slowly. You may be able to get to and from the web site very quickly, but once at the site, processing is delayed, resulting in what appears to be slow Internet speeds; this is similar to waiting in a slow line at the store.

Heavy backbone traffic - You may have a network in your residence or business. When you connect with your ISP, you become part of a larger network. When your ISP connects you to the Internet, you become part of the largest network available: the Internet, or the information superhighway. You share the same routes, routers, and backbones with other Internet users. Sometimes these backbones (the "main lines" through which packets of data flow over the Internet) get overloaded with traffic, resulting in slower speeds when getting to and returning from web sites; this is similar to being stuck in rush hour traffic in a large city. MHO Networks is not responsible for the maintenance or performance of Internet backbones.

Faulty or broken routers - Any component on the Internet is liable to fail. If routers fail, your transmission will be redirected to another router, but that adds time to the trip, for you have been forced to take a detour. MHO Networks is not responsible for the maintenance or performance of routers that don’t reside in our network.

Your computer and networking peripherals - If you have an older computer, the components may not be up-to-date. The speeds on the MHO DirectWave™ network may be fine, however, your computer's ability to receive and process information may happen at a slower rate. If you are running several different applications simultaneously, your computer's ability to process rapidly may be compromised. Also, if your computer is part of a Local Area Network (LAN), the hubs and routers required by the LAN can also take a bite out of the MHO Networks delivery speeds.
The operating system you are running will also affect the speed. Windows 95, for example, has slower networking software then Windows 2000.

Here's a quick rule of thumb: if you can connect quickly to certain web sites, but notice that it takes much longer to connect to others, then it's likely that the slowdown is due to factors that are out of the control of your MHO DirectWave™ connection and MHO Networks.

Help yourself to faster speeds.
If you are experiencing across-the-board slow download speeds, you might think your only recourse is to call or write MHO Networks technical support right away. In fact, there are actions you can take on your own that could resolve, or at least clarify, the problem... and no, you don't need an advanced degree in information technology to follow them. Below, we'll outline the procedures, most of which are similar to what an MHO Networks technical support representative would take you through.

Testing Speeds

Here's an easy way to see whether your download speeds are up to par.
MHO Networks has provided a speed gauge that will tell you what your current download speed is. Using it is as simple as looking at the speedometer on your car.

Go to the MHO Network's Speed Test.

Within seconds you'll see a speed gauge in the form of a bar graph, with your connection speed to MHO Network’s website on the bottom of the grid. If you think that your connection is faulty after conducting our Speed Test, then please read further to help determine the problem.

Troubleshooting Slow Speeds

Firewalls/Proxy Servers
Your firewall protects you against hackers. It may also protect you against maximum speeds.
Don't get us wrong - we're big fans of firewalls; especially with an "always on" connection like MHO DirectWave™, it's wise to have a firewall for security. Unfortunately, there is a tradeoff, because firewalls can degrade speeds. If you are part of a network that uses proxy servers or shares bandwidth by using proxy software, this can also apply some drag. If one computer is assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address and acts as a proxy server, it will take the bandwidth of that single IP and distribute it among other computers using the same Local Area Network (LAN), and can cause severe degradation and latency - both of which amount to slow downloads. You can test whether this is happening. Disable the firewall or proxy server (if you need assistance, consult the firewall or server instruction manuals or contact the manufacturer) and open the MHO Networks speed gauge again. If speeds have picked up significantly, the firewall is a likely suspect. If not, go on to the next step.

Requirements
For your Internet connection to be up to speed, your computer must be up to speed.
To get the most out of your MHO DirectWave™ connection, your computer must meet certain specifications. See requirements.

Registry Enhancements
To see better, open your window.
On a computer running Microsoft Windows, there is something called a TCP receive window. This basically determines how much data your computer can receive in a given period of time before it chokes. If the receive window is too small, broadband-transmitted data can overwhelm it. Not to worry: we have a fix for this using RegEdit and a Registry Patch. It expands the receive window from the default setting of 8,192 bytes to 49,152 bytes. To download the Registry Patch, click here. You will find different Registry Patches that are suited for your particular operating system. When the download is complete, run the file and reboot your computer. Then run our speed test using the speed gauge again. If speeds have picked up considerably, your problem may be behind you. If not, go on to the next step.

Bypassing the Network
Shut off the computer and disconnect any hubs, firewalls, and/or routers in the network.
(As noted earlier, firewalls and networking equipment can reduce the overall performance of your MHO DirectWave™ connection.) Then, using a crossover cable (the connectors have a different sequence of colored wires at either end), connect the MHO DirectWave™ router directly to the Network Interface Card (NIC) of your computer. After powering the computer, launch your Internet connection and check the MHO Networks speed test once more. Has eliminating the networking brought the download up to broadband speeds? If so, consult with your company's networking manager or the manufacturer or installer of the networking equipment.

Power Cycling
Off again, on again.
The next potential fix is to power cycle the MHO DirectWave router, the device connected to the coaxial cable from the wall outlet and to your computer, and the transceiver, the dish on the roof. "Power cycle" is just the technical way of saying to turn something off and back on; sometimes that's all it takes. To power cycle the MHO DirectWave™ router:

• Shut off the computer, as well as any hubs, firewalls, or routers in the network
• Disconnect the power cable for the MHO DirectWave™ router. (All lights on the router will go off.)
• Wait 30 seconds. (Electricity needs to drain from the circuitry.)
• Reconnect the power cable for the router.
• Restart the computer and other hardware that you shut off.
  

Check the speed gauge provided by MHO Networks once more. If the bar is at the speed you desire, congratulations, you’ve fixed the problem. If not, congratulations are still in order because you have successfully completed the same steps we would have taken you through during a technical support service call. But it appears that the problem will not yield to a standard solution, and it's time to contact MHO Networks technical support. Send us an e-mail to support@mho.com describing the problem and mentioning the specific troubleshooting steps you have taken; our staff will respond to you right away.

Current MHO Networks wireless Internet users: Please see the MHO Networks Directwave™ user handbook for more info.

Requirements