cheers for the info - the firefox for linux file from that mirror was coming down at about 17-18kbp/s and spiked at 47 kbps - hardly 6-800!
have changed router / all cables / all in BT mastersocket.
the 200kbps is from pipex's very own speed test page -

http://betatest.pipex.net/headers/stest1.htm

- and that 200 was an absolute maximum - usually its around 40 or so.

let us know how you get on with that, as a comparison...

anyway, have reported the fault to them as an official complaint (as told to do by ofcom) and then you have to wait 12 weeks.
nice

still, they say they will get a BT engineer out, but who knows when...

cheers for the advice