Thanks for that BB. It's a new system from November last year. The problem is neither fuzzy nor blurred viewing. It's just that there is a pattern of ghostly, irregular-shaped diagonal lines running in the background apparently underneath whatever window is open or under the screensaver.

I'd take it back to the dealer but for the fact that it's an intermittent problem. It's a bit like the car with a knocking sound: take it to the garage and the noise disappears. Catch 22.

Sure it's not a loose cable? Check both the monitor end and the PC end.

Also check the refresh rate. Right Click Desktop...Screen Resolution...Advanced Settings - Choose the "Monitor" tab. Refresh rate for LCD's is normally 60hz. If it's set higher like 75hz you might get odd effects (I've seen that result in a sort of moving criss-cross effect that hurts your eyes to look at).

Thanks Jon. Cables seem OK and the refresh rate is set at 60hz. I'll try the dealer.

Does anyone use antivirus software on their mobile phone? I see Avast are currently pushing their product for use on Android platform.

Yes, I've got the Avast for Android. Haven't fully installed everything yet (i.e. rooting it - need to investigate that further), but it looks to be an outstanding product, highly rated, and free!

I wonder why there isn't more publicity to encourage people to install antivirus software on their phones? No one seems that bothered!

Broadband speeds:

I've just switched broadband & phone suppliers to Plusnet from TalkTalk, and four days in, I'm struggling to get much more than 1Mb download speed. Sunday night was truly shocking, around 0.25 Mb. I've contacted them & they say there's no problem when they've tested the line. TalkTalk were around 5-6 Mb.

I've done all the correct things like plugging the router and phone in to the master socket only, with no other connections. What experience does anyone else have of these problems and how did they resolve it?

SC:

Sounds to me like a line profile problem. Back at the exchange, a profile which sets the parameters for the line, including maximum reliable download speed, is set. I've had issues where the profile was stuck on 512kbps when the line can support 3Mbps+. The supplier (Plusnet) needs to get the infrastructure provider (BT) to reset the line profile to what you had before.

It's supposed to adjust automatically, but . . .

Just to clarify, do you mean your connection speed (downstream rate) reported by the router is 1 megabit/Mbps? Or it's downloading files at 1 megabyte per second reported by the browser? What's the connection speed supposed to be?

A little over 1 megabyte per second is the best I get, with an 'up to' 12 Megabit ADSL connection (I actually get 9-10 reported normally as the exchange is a few hundred meters away).

EDIT I'm sure MM is right :)

Ah, well, MM, the previous supplier, TalkTalk, was local loop unbundled, so there probably won't be a profile on my line (at least that's the way I understand it but I am prepared to be horribly wrong). However, what you say is a great help and I'll use that to give them a shove again.

Sounds like a job for 'Openreach man person'.

Jon, Connection speed should be around 5-6 Mb/s download speed. The speed check has been done using a couple of online broadband speed tests.

Your statement about only getting 1 Mb/s and reporting 9-10 seems contradictory?

At 1 Mb/s I have a struggle watching iPlayer.

Sorry Seymour, I should have been more clear. I was kind of referring to the difference between megabits and megabytes. Internet connections (and network connections in general) are measured in kilobits or megabits per second. But software like browsers, bittorrent software etc. report file download speeds in kilobytes or megabytes per second.

8 megabit = 1 megabyte. So with an 8 megabit net connection, you'd be lucky to see as much as 1 megabyte per second reported by your browser when downloading a large file. It's just something that can cause confusion.

Ah, thanks Jon. I understand better now - I think! Anyway, I've just sent an 'irritated' email again to support. We'll see what happens.

In fact, the 8 Megabit = 1 Megabyte conversion is very optimistic, as a lot of bits get used in the protocol handling (packet headers, addressing etc). So the delivered data speed can't match the 8/1 ratio. Sorry - from an Internet engineer (of sorts).

Thanks MM. And the 'overheads' would explain why I get just over 1 megabyte peak with a 9 or 10 meg connection (and I tend to only see that through Bittorrent rather than a HTTP or FTP download) but trying not to get too complicated ;)

jonuk: that 1 Megabyte peak would be about par for the course on that speed of connection. And you're quite right, the protocol used will make a difference too.

And early this morning, I'm getting between 5 and 6 Mb/s =:-0

Wassat all about??? At least I know it can be achieved.

just to say I have found plusnet to be good on customer service - unlike talk talk. good luck.

I think it is more complicated than that. There are start and stop bits per byte plus 4 bits for crc in each packet of say 64 bytes and so on. There is a formula, but you may be lucky with an overall conversion of worse than 10 bits per bytes.

Thanks Kernow - that was the reason for choosing them, and they have been very approachable and helpful. Back to the slow speeds last night, fast again this morning, so looks like it's a contention issue.