Connection spikes when downloading

[Naga]

So yesterday I bought a game that I had really wanted to play for the longest time. Arma II. Mainly for DayZ. Now, I don't have the best connection due to sharing bandwidth with another gamer and someone who uses the internet a lot. Basicly the connection is throttled so we each have our own bandwidth. Usually when I download games from steam I get upwards of 300 KB/s to (rarely) 1.1 MB/s. But since I bought ARMA II, my connection will go up to maybe 289 KB/s, down to 197 KB/s, down to 97 KB/s, and then to 0 KB/s. It sticks to that form. Always 289, 197, 97, 0. Then it spikes back up again. It's driving me mad. At somepoint in the near future they'll find me huddled in the corner with 289, 197, 97, 0 written all over the walls in blood.

I've been through the troubleshooting tips on steams site, which recommended uninstalling or properly configuring AVG, and switching content servers. Still nothing.

Any help would be great. Or at least let me know if anyone else is having this issue. Thanks!

[[AU] Tabris:DarkPeace]

Install http://www.netlimiter.com ‎ on all PC's that share the Internet connection.
Limit each PC to about 70% of your maximum download AND upload speeds.

E.g. If you have 8000 Kbps ADSL it might be 5600kbps down and 700kbps upstream shaping.

This will stop packets being buffered on your shared router, you can combine it with QoS on the router (if it supports it) and you'll almost never get spikes.

This is, basically, how semi-professional VoIP systems are set-up. Without the buffering of packets at your end of the network everyone gets better latency in TCP/IP or UDP/IP.

[[AU] Tabris:DarkPeace]

My bad, OK, it's probably just due to the Stream sales and you're 'locked in' to an ISP without any, or very many at all, Steam Content Delivery servers.

Change your Downloads section in Steam Settings to another ISP in your region.

[Naga]

Change the Download Region, yes?

[Naga]

Christ. Had no idea it was 2K Games Weekend. Explains a lot.

[[AU] Tabris:DarkPeace]

To another ISP or nearby region if you have faster International links.

The Internet is a packet switched network, dude, there is practically no guarantee on service level.

Are you trying to using a Steam Manager, or something that blocks Steam Content Delivery Server IP addresses in an attempt to get Steam to use unmeteted content or something weird?

During Steam sales you'll need to turn that **** off.

[Naga]

Originally posted by Tabris:DarkPeace:

To another ISP or nearby region if you have faster International links.

The Internet is a packet switched network, dude, there is practically no guarantee on service level.

Are you trying to using a Steam Manager, or something that blocks Steam Content Delivery Server IP addresses in an attempt to get Steam to use unmeteted content or something weird?

During Steam sales you'll need to turn that **** off.

No, not at all.

Edit: I mean I'm not using a steam manager.

[[AU] Tabris:DarkPeace]

Try changing your region to Japan or South Korea, then back again.
When the download starts, put your PC into Sleep mode (no joke).
Wait about 3 minutes, then take your PC out of sleep mode.

This might get you 2MB/sec downloads.... maybe....