Recommended Tests

Which Windows are you running?
What type of system are you running (hardware)?
What is your advertised upload?
Are you using a router?

I think many people have to learn that when you ask for help regarding a problem just answer each question honestly and don’t assume that “it cannot be…”
I did not mean that you didn’t answer each question honestly but I wanted to make this clear to everyone.
I wasn’t asking the “brand” of your system (I was looking for specs), but I shall move on.

Speed-guides tweaks are not the “holy grail” to super internet speed, they are made to make sure Windows is open for high-speed internet.
I am only posting this just to make sure (doesn’t hurt to check things twice, or three)

Only apply the patches that are for your operating system.
http://www.[this.site.has.been.blocked.for.spamming]/downloads.php
This is for the Windows XP SP2 fix.
http://www.[this.site.has.been.blocked.for.spamming]/read_articles.php?id=1497

Cable-nut is a good problem to help further tweak your operating system.
http://www.testmy.net/topic-1013

I would always test your connection without the router (straight to your system) and also remember to reboot.

You should also look into tweaking your operating system’s performance but you can deal with that later. (If your hardware isn’t fast enough for Windows XP)

If Sprint is having the problem on their end at least your system is ready to go.

That should be enough for now.

Good to know we have an English major in our midst.  Thou art the fungus among us.   j/k.  I didn't even notice his typo!

OK, SysSpecs, that I can think of:
*Windows XP Service Pack 2, updated
*512MB RAM (brand KByte, two 256 chips)
*1,1 GHz Intel Processor
*10/100 OnBoard Network Card with updated Intel driver
*(don't laugh) Kittyhawk 1.5 main board running (ahem, cough, ashamed to admit) 100 MHz Bus Speed (front/back side IDUNNO), for which i cannot find BIOS upgrade but would be nice to have.
*Sound/Video cards both PCI, omitted specs due to apparent lack of relevance.
*Nice speaker system
*6 partition 250GB HD
*Seasoned PC user, weilding in-depth Windows (R) knowledge in many areas, hobby programmer of the past, however an apprentice to Broadband.

I have run the speed test with and without the router, and get exactly the same results.  I'm going to give the speed issue a rest until such things as (1) new modem, and (2) possible line errors can be tested and/or repaired.

I was wonder which brand MainBoard everyone here prefers.  I'm looking to get my processor up to 3.0 GHz AMD because people say it does best with gaming and everything else, with hopefully 4 Gigs RAM.  Upgrading these obviously means new case.  Just these last components and I will have myself a brand new computer.  Yay!