Is your ping dying before it leaves your office?  Ping the router or something to see if the issue is in the building first.  Could be wire, or a switch or something.  Sounds like you should be the IT guy.

If you're not the IT guy, what difference is it going to make to you what your internet connection is? Or are you after his job?

Curiosity and that it being shit stops me from working sometimes. If I know it's a shit connection I can possibly suggest alternatives. I hear many people moaning about this that and the other being slow....yet nothing gets done to improve things.

Not particularly after his job.

I had to replace a gige switch recently after the speed fell through the floor. Turns out the particular model (netgear gs605) is prone to having its cheap caps fried by power surges.

I had a netgear do that too, but the one I had was under a lifetime warranty so they sent me a nice new one!

Someone put together a guide on how to replace the caps. Time + materials: $100. Buy a replacement switch (this time I bought a dlink): $29.95.

Yeah, I used to like to tackle crap like that, but after repairing the last 3 iphone 4's the like has turned to loathe.  I need to get a few small managed switches for home.