sporadic internet speeds

[dauss]

I have a wired linksys router and a cable modem. There are 5 other computers on the network, but the traffic is minimal. it is 2 in the morning right now and I should be getting descent speeds, but I seem to be getting a lot of varying speeds. I go to bandwidthplace.com and do a speed test, and it'll take me from 3.3 seconds to get a 1 meg file up to 50 seconds plus. I also go to sonicfoundry.com and download a 20 meg + file as a speed test. I use flashget using a single thread, and I'll get varrying speeds. Its usually like 250, 150, 15, 40, 15, 40, 120, 250, 350, 200, 60, 9, 60, 1, 14, 111, 260, 240, 60, 2. Well you get the idea, each of those numbers represent kb/s and every number is about a 1/2 second interval. Its like a rollercoaster, fast slow fast slow fast slow. Where is the problem at, and is there a way to fix it?

[Siliconjunkie]

Have you checked for packet loss or latency?

Try pinging www.google.com and www.yahoo.com at different times and see what the results are like. If they vary alot, do a tracert to them and see where the problem is.

If you need help with the results post them here and we will help.