Hi, Im a software developer (moved from a support/network admin role) so I understand what you are talking about.
I have tried with ping enabled to the router and disabled. I have 2 connections to the net (Zen + NTL).
Using the same router (ping enabled and disabled) uisng Zen the main www.ebay.co.uk page sometimes loads (more often not) but when it does it takes ages.
Using the same router and switching the connection over to NTL the pages are instant. Winxp Pro no software firewall.
Ive been on Zen a couple of months and never had a problem with ebay using the same kit.
Below are traceroutes for zen + ntl
Zen tracert to www.ebay.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tracing route to hp-intl-uk.ebay.com [66.135.208.96]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 3 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.100
2 2 ms 2 ms 2 ms 82-71-123-14.dsl.in-addr.zen.co.uk [82.71.123.14]
3 25 ms 22 ms 20 ms gauss-dsl.zen.net.uk [62.3.82.18]
4 19 ms 20 ms 19 ms deleuze-ge-0-1-0-1.hq.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.161]
5 22 ms 19 ms 21 ms lotze-ge-0-0-0-0.hq.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.57]
6 20 ms 20 ms 22 ms bolzano-ge-0-0-3-0.wh.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.53]
7 20 ms 20 ms 22 ms 195.16.169.89
8 20 ms 19 ms 20 ms so-6-0-0.mp2.Manchesteruk1.Level3.net [4.68.113.114]
9 177 ms 172 ms 174 ms so-3-0-0.mp1.SanFrancisco1.Level3.net [209.247.8.89]
10 171 ms 170 ms 264 ms so-2-0-0.mpls1.Sacramento1.Level3.net [209.247.8.78]
11 174 ms 172 ms 173 ms so-10-0.hsa1.Sacremento1.Level3.net [4.68.113.58]
12 * * * Request timed out.
...
30 * * * Request timed out.
Trace complete.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NTL tracert to www.ebay.co.uk
Tracing route to hp-intl-uk.ebay.com [66.135.192.58]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.200
2 * 11 ms 17 ms 10.138.231.254
3 9 ms 27 ms 11 ms nott-t2cam1-a-v137.inet.ntl.com [80.4.46.65]
4 86 ms 135 ms 18 ms nott-t2core-a-ge-wan74.inet.ntl.com [80.1.79.73]
5 13 ms 12 ms 12 ms lee-bb-a-so-300-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.33]
6 13 ms 14 ms 14 ms lee-bb-b-ae0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.187.186]
7 14 ms 14 ms 13 ms man-bb-a-so-700-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.193]
8 11 ms 22 ms 13 ms 212.187.137.1
9 14 ms 14 ms 13 ms so-6-0-0.mp2.Manchesteruk1.Level3.net [4.68.113.114]
10 174 ms 156 ms 159 ms as-0-0.bbr1.SanJose1.Level3.net [64.159.1.133]
11 157 ms 157 ms 158 ms ge-10-2.ipcolo2.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.68.123.138]
12 * * * Request timed out.
...
30 * * * Request timed out.
Trace complete.
Rimmel
"Death is like being on holiday with a group of Germans" - Arnold J Rimmer - Red Dwarf