Here I am at my place with the subject computer. I connected it directly to a cable modem and just measured 15mbps datarate download and 5mbps upload. This machine is fine! His router has to be the problem. It's a 4 months old Linksys provided by Embarq. Seems Embarq needs to come fix his network since they provided it. I have already many times powered off that network and let it re-establish. What I have not tried is a 10 minute power off as Linksys suggests in one of their online help guids. I'll give that a try then let him get his Embarq people in there. A sincere thanks to everyone who pitched in.