Ok,so I am not the most IT-savvy lady, but I do like having a decent working internet connection for a reasonable price. Currently I have the feeling that I have neither(even against Chinese standards), so I am looking for the advice of some of the resident experts here.

Situation:

-VPN = No
-Wifi router = yes, provided by landlord. No recognizable brandname, looks very simple.
-Typical speed: 1.0 Mbps download and 0.25 mbps upload. (Speak easy speed test, San fransico server), in evenings after 20:00 on average 0.9 down, 0.14 up
-All time high in last 8 months: 1.4 Mbps down, 0.4 up
(Plugging the cable directly to the PC bypassing the wifi does not increase the speed by the way)
-Stable connection?: No, about every 15 minutes the network drops and needs to re-establish connection.
-Main use of connection: very basic needs. Used for Skype, e-mail and surving fora. No extensive torrent downloading, no Youtube/FB etc.
- Provided by: Don't know. I get it via landlord which is the HK based company that owns the complex
- Costs: 300 RMB/month

I know that it is unrealistic to expect the speeds I was used to back home (fiber optics even the last mile), but based on the info I found on the forum, 300 RMB/month should get me more than this, right?
(http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/internet-pricing-for-2011-in-shanghai-t119898.html)

So, my questiosn are:
1) Is the internetspeed I get typical for Shanghai, or is the average speed here already higher?
2) Is it normal that the connection breaks down every 15 minutes for a few seconds? (highly annoying when using Skype)
3) Am I right in assuming that I spend WAY too much for what I get?
3a) If so, what would be my options? I already complained to management, but that got me the typical Chinese shrug. I am living in this serviced appartment complex, and have a feeling that it is a "take it or leave it'- type of situation. Not sure if I can go around them and get my own conncetion directly? Any advise/experience?

Any help/insight is much appreciated, but please use layman lingo as I only speak basic to average IT, (not fluent by any means)

300rmb a month, that's steep, is the landlord showing you the bills, that seems a bit overpriced.

You are definitely overpaying but if it's a serviced apartment you may not have the option to change.

definitely overpriced. Ask your office HR or personnel to talk to your landlord that there is no such thing as 300rmb/month internet. Unless he provide you with receipt.

Know what if that can't be done, ask your Chinese colleagues to help you get your own internet. you can always stop the service when you leave the place. Just get your own..

Thanks for the feedback. Now I know that it is indeed overpriced. If it was a regular appartment I would indeed not think twice about the advice to chase the landlord for the bills, and if we could not come to sensible price go and set up my own.
Minor complication is that I am renting a serviced appartment in a tower that is fully owned by this HK based company, and it only has serviced appartments. So, I am not sure if, say China Telecom, can hook up my appartment separately. (I can imagine they would need some access to the cables?)

Now, based on the structure of my company's housing allowance, and the other perks this appartment provides me , I have no real intention to move out just because of the crappy expensive internet.
But any improvement is welcome, so:
Anybody any experience with bypassing the centrally provided internetservices in a serviced appartment? Or any suggestion how this could be done? Is it really just as simple as going to China telecom, or do I need the cooperation of the landlord to do it? Are there maybe alternatives, like somehow hooking up via the mobile phone 3G network? Or would that cause other issues (speed, data limit, etc) ?

Some buildings only allow you to connect to "their" equipment. So although you can now get cheaper Telecom connections, they won't let you terminate that in the building, so you are forced into using their premium priced facilities. (...) You say its a serviced apartment, so theres your answer.

I was already afraid this might be the case. But at least now I have confirmation.

What you can do is complain to the management about the lack of speed etc etc, and see if they can help.

Already tried that road once to no avail. It only got me polite apologies and empty promises. But indeed, it doens't really hurt to try again.

Donate some cigarettes to the "engineer" and see if he can "upgrade" you.

Hmm, where did I put that nice packet of sigarettes I got attending that Chinese wedding the other month.....