Broadband speeds

[wolf63]

I have just completed a broadband survey on-line with PC Advisor - I love entering competitions - and have some 'results'. Of course they mean dos all to me so can anybody tell me it they are good figures or not.


Download speed 8323.33 Kbps (8.13 Mbps)
Upload speed 474.95 Kbps (0.46 Mbps)

I use Virgin media on a "L" package - up to 10 Mbps.

Is there any point in getting faster Broadband?

Susan

[Buenchico]

Many people would be delighted to get that download speed. To give some meaning to your figures, use the test here:
http://www.speedtest.net/
When the test is complete you'll see your upload and download speeds in the central box. They'll probably be similar to the results you've already got, so they won't tell you much. But take a look at the other box, at the top left of the screen. That will tell you how long it will take to download typical MP3 and video files (which, to most people, is far more meaningful). Then click, at the top of that box, on 'View Upload Speed'. You'll be shown how long it will take, for example, to send an email with a 1Mb attachment. Then click on 'Your Summary', at the top right of the screen to see how your figures compare with the averages achieved by other users of the site.

I can see no real reason why you'd need a higher broadband speed for normal domestic use. At least you should be able to beat a carrier pigeon anyway!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11325452

Chris

[wolf63]

It says that it would take 13 minutes to download a movie/film which makes it easier to translate the figures into the 'real' world.

Thanks for that - I think that I will wander over to CB for a laugh now 'coz I am bored.

[VHG]

Basically you are paying for 10Mbps and getting 8 Mbps, which is not bad.

The speed test number can vary depending on what time of the day you do it, or what day you do it on.

Run it another day and you may get 6 or 7 or even 9 or 10.

The upload speed is always far less.

[galeck1947]

If you are not happy with your broadband speeds then download NameBench from www.namebench.com and run it . This free program tests your DNS servers and finds the fastest for you so you can set your computer to get the fastest available. The test takes a little while but the end results will amaze you. Those speeds are slow but are you on cable or adsl . The speeds I get on cable are 93305 KBPS (11663 KB/S) download and 1534 KBPS (191.8 KB/S) upload on the DOCSIS 3.0 System from my ISP

[ChuckFickens]

To suggest that changing DNS servers will increase the throughput on a internet connection is not correct in the slightest and if anything could make it worse as all DNS requests would have to be sent out over the internet connection rather than using the cached copy on your router.

(also KBps and KB/s are the same thing, both of which would be incorrect for measuring Internet speeds as it would be Kb/s (note small b))

[wolf63]

Thanks everybody - even the last two that were in another language totally.

I am on a cable connection - I have no trouble with the speed, especially as my brain doesn't work very fast anyway, and was just curious.

Have a nice day y'all.