If you get your Internet connection through a phone line and you find that your connection speed is slow or irratic (and sometimes become disconnected), check the line for static or other noise.  I plugged a spare phone into the wall jack for the line to which my computer modem is connected and heard a ton of static.  After the phone company came out and cleared the line, my connection problems cleared up, too.  My connection speed is excellent and I have far fewer disconnects.  The problem isn't always in the computer or the software program.  

Hi,You are correct. One of our basic troubleshooting steps for slow dial-up connection issue is checking the physical connection whether there might be physical deformities or static on the phoneline. Thank you for sharing that with us, we appreciate it :)Paolo M.