How do I increase my download speed?

I use a 256 Kbps (100 Mbps Modem) connection and my default Web browser is Mozilla Firefox 2. The download speed used to be HOPELESS - around 15 Kbps for all-sized downloads. But then I downloaded the DownThemAll! extension for my Firefox which was supposed to increase my download speed by 400%. And it kinda did, mostly for files sized at around 20 Megabytes. Most of the time, the higher the size of the download was, the higher the download speed used to be. Once, it even reached 196 kbps!!! Yes, that's right, 196 kbps on a 256 kbps connection! But then, I tried to download files with a size larger than 50 MB, in fact larger than 300 MB(games!). But, instead of increasing, the download speed decreases to an extremely low level!!! It becomes about 5 kbps ONLY!!! Compare THAT to 196 kbps!!! And the DownThemAll! Manager says its gonna take 10 HOURS to download that file!!!


So, what should I do to increase the download speed? DownThemAll! DECREASES my downlaoad speed by 400%!!!

How do I increase my download speed?
try FDM with flashgot plugin to firefox
Reply:I tried Free Download Manager and downloaded the 383 MB file in 4 hrs. Thanx Report It

Reply:You can change your bandwitth speed, most computers have been setup at 80%, so change it to 100% and there you go..





Also how long have you had your computer, if you have had it for other 2 years, i would advise you to get a new one, also again, what OS have you got?





I would advise to get Windows XP (NOT WINDOWS VISTA)
Reply:you need a faster cpu and more ram
Reply:Most likely, the file you were trying to downlaod had only 1 source. Where download managers like "Flashget" grab different sections of the same file from multiple sources on the internet causeing speeds to increase.





You really cant do much in that case b/c basically your downlaod speeds are affected by how fast your modem can download, and how fast the server can output that file to you over the internet.





If you downlaod speed is saying it is donwlaoding a file faster than your modem supports, chances are that it is a fast download-but is reporting an incorrect downlaod speed.





I can make a 56k modem say it is downloading at 114kbps just by tinkering with settings...but it is a lie.





Hope this helped guy :)