Download Speed
 

Can anyone tell me what would be considered a "good" download speed from the Internet, using Broadband. I'm with Pipex, and am getting an average of 11-13kbs. Is this OK- or slow?

Thanks in advance?

I would say that it is quite slow. I am using 512 ADSL with BT Broadband.

Try the speed test at ADSL Guide which can be found here

I have just tried it and got the following results which may be useful for you to compare against.

Downstream 458 Kbps (57.3 KB/sec) 494 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 244 Kbps (30.5 KB/sec) 263 Kbps (inc. overheads

Tosh McCaber,

Broadband companies like to talk about speeds in Bits, IE and other programs download in Bytes. There are 8 Bits to a Byte. So, if you have a:

512k Cable/DSL then you download at 64kps (512/8=64)

1.5M Cable/DSL then you download at 192kps (1,536/8=192)

For uploads:

128k is 16kps

256k is 32kps

384k is 48kps

Take Care,

Richard

Acording to the speed test above, my connection is capable of 35kb/sec downstream, 30kb/sec upstream- very low, according to the test criteria.

Sorry to be a bit thick, Richard, but where does that leave my download rate (see above). I was downloading a little add-on for a programme, from a manufacturer.

I've been told by a colleague that I should disable my Start up Menu Items. He said to click on start > run and then type in the box ‘msconfig’ and press Enter, to access these programmes. It doesn't work for Win 2K for me anyway. Any thoughts anyone?

Haven't cared to worry about it for a couple of years since using both satellite & ADSL. In the dim distant past we a had a general rule of thumb, a good connection would be BPS (Bits) divided by 10 for Bytes per sec.

8 Bits for the byte, 1 for the stop bit, & 1 K is a little over 1000. Not real accurate but you needed a bloody good line to get that ratio at or above 300bps.

Still use it as a general today. With 400KBPS if I get close to 40K (bytes) per second I am happy.

Look Ma 1200 Baud, it goes fatser than I can type, mistookes dan all (-:

TT

<rant ON>
Why can't "we" be sensible and use the term octet instead of byte? Then there wouldn't be the question about whether b was bit or byte. Far too late to change, I fear. The French are right about this one.
<rant OFF>

Tosh McCaber,

Download:

280k Cable/DSL then you download at 35kps (280/8=35)

Upload:

256k is 32kps

I am wondering if you have more than one computer using your internet connection? (If you do, is the Cable/DSL going into one computer and then going to your computer though a network card from the other computer?)

Take Care,

Richard