Connection Speed?

[S.P.I.]

Hey guys,

This question will definitely make me sound like a NOOB (which I kind of am )

Anyway, I was wondering about the speed at which people connect to the internet.

I have a 128 kbps connection, but I obviously don't get a 128 kbps download/upload rate. Whats the deal with the naming? Is there some way to calculate the actual download speed by looking at the 128,256,512 kbps etc titles?

[JPnyc]

The figure given is usually the max DL speed. Most of the time you don't get that. The best way to test DL or UL speed is to google modem speed tests and choose one as close to you as possible. Try several because you'll likely get different speeds from each. The highest speed is the most accurate.

[S.P.I.]

uhun, but I have never gotten a dl speed of 128. The max I got is 30 i think, I heard that some ISP's share connections among 5-6 users. Is that true?

[fourdc]

How are you connecting to the internet?

[S.P.I.]

I am not sure but I think the way i connect goes like this, first I connect to my Isp, then the ISP uses a router and connects me to some main server. Yea I know it sounds messed up, but I am in the middle east right now. They have like one main server over here and the rest of the ISP's connect to it.

I just moved so I am not really sure what the deal is, but apparently I share the i.p address as well.

[Opus00]

I think what he was refering to was, what does your computer connect to. Are you using ISDN modem or what not

[S.P.I.]

I use a broadband connection (adsl) That's what you were asking for right?

[Blunted One]

Just to clarify...128Kbps is 12.8 KBps

We have a 10Mb connection at my work so the max. bandwidth is about 1MBps.

By the way I have never seen more than 950KBps...but that is still 9.5Mbps which is close enough.

[S.P.I.]

oh ok. But what about tho 30kbps i get at times? Its usually in bursts, it lasts for like 30 seconds at its best but I do get it lol

So what you are saying is, 1 byte = 8 bits... thus 128bits = 128/8... 16 kilobytes per-second. Ok now i get it, thanks!

[fourdc]

If you are using aDSL your speeds should be consistent. The phone line leaves your home and connects to the Telco and is patched to your ISP. There is no sharing.

If you had a broadband cable attachment then your neighbors activity on the shared node would affect your speed.

If I had a 128k connection and was only getting 30K the first step would be running a log extension phone cord from my modem to the Universal service jack. If the speed improved then it would be time to troubleshoot my house's wiring.

If the speed didn't improve then I'd be calling the Telco.

There are broadband test sites where you can check your speeds. Try googling "broadband speed test"