For all the talk of the National Broadband Network, the reality is that most Australian homes will be at the mercy of the copper DSL network for at least a few years yet. ADSL2+ has a theoretical maximum download speed of 20 megabits per second (Mbps), which is not too shabby, but you'll only see those speeds if you live next door to your telephone exchange. Many homes would be lucky to sustain a third of those speeds, and it's easy to forget that some people would give their right arm for a solid and reliable 1 or 2 Mbps at home. Don't be afraid to talk to your ISP about tweaking your DSL settings. Also check out the settings on your modem. It requires patience to find the right balance, but if it all goes pear-shaped you can always go back to your old settings. Of course the copper network is a fickle beast, so what is stable one day might not be the next.

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/dsl-woes--is-your-broadband-up-to-speed-20140429-zr12s.html