The Problem - A Quick RecapBrowser-based downloading of very large files (2Gb - 5GB) from Google Drive has become almost impossible since our internet connection was switched from ADSL/modem to the new NBN service.
The NBN connection is generally 4-6 times faster than the ADSL was, and various services like Netflix are operating normally, in fact ALL internet-based activity used by the household looks to be OK, and enjoying the increased connection speed.
All except ME!
The TheoryMy particular problems seem to be due to two different causes, that when combined are fatal:
- poor-quality DMS (download management software) supplied with MS browsers (EDGE, IE). Specifically, a total failure to provide adequate error recovery, eg from connection RESET's.
- a higher incidence of RESET's with the new NBN connection. This is most probably down to the government's cost-saving "fiber-to-the-node" implementation, which means a copper-wire connection (the existing phone line) is used between our house and the nearest junction box, where the fibre-optic cable terminates.
A TestI installed a demonstration copy of IDM (
"Internet Download Manager"). This has a browser-integration feature, so it seamlessly substitutes itself for the EDGE DMS, and so I was quickly in a position to restart EDGE, and to successfully download a 2.6GB file, a download that had previously failed on no less than 4 attempts.
The IDM progress window was very instructive: 8 parallel connections, with individual status of each connection listed. And if you watched closely enough, every few minutes or so, one would change from state "Receiving" to state "Connecting", and back again. Any one such event would probably correspond to a broken download for the browser's DMS, but not for IDM.
The VerdictTo MS: Why don't you simply provide decent DMS in your browsers, cheapskates!!!
MS should simply buy the rights to include IDM in their browsers, since they clearly can't build a decent DMS themselves!
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