🚀 go-pugleaf

I have a problem lately with my modem on my PC at home.  When connected to my 
local ISP and started downloading mail or files via ftp (Cute FTP to be 
specific), my modem will iinitially transfer at a rate of 28.8k.  Then 
it slows down to 26.8 k, to 14.4k, to
0.84k to 0.6k to.... until it dies and quit downloading.  Does anyone know
what's going on ?  It was working fine at one point without any problem.  At
first I thought it was my ISP that is slow but using the exact same phone
line calling the exact same number with my laptop does not have any problem.

My system is a Dell Dimension XPS P133 with a USR Sportster 28.8 internal
modem.  I don't think the modem belongs to one of the buggy USR because 
it does not have the same "symptoms" as described.

Any suggestions ?  How should I go about diagnostic the modem ?

Please email me directly as I am not a frequent reader of this newsgroup.

Thanks in advance.

Kenny