Slow download speeds

[gebreab]

Hello. I have windows 7 x86

i have comcast provider. My internet is working fine. I can browse normal sites.
I am suppposed to have 1.5 Mbs per seconds. And when i did a speed test at speedtest.net. it was approximately 1.5 Mbs.

I used to get these speeds as well, with a single file. Unfortunately about 4 days ago it took a drastic downturn. and now will NEVER go above 200 kb/s.

I have a netgear wirless router. I have done all the usual unplugg reset type things.

I was wondering if there was any idea of why this is happening or if you know of common solutions. Thank you guys very much!

 

[Kari]

This might sound really stupid I just want to check you know the difference:

A 1.5 MB broadband connection gives download speed max 200 kBps, a 10 MB line has download speed max 1.2 Mbps. If speedtest shows the speed as 1.5 MBps, and it's actually the speed you pay for, your download speed should be around 200 kBps. If so then you are downloading about as fast as possible using your line.

Kari

 

[gebreab]

that doesnt make sense because ive been downloading at around 1.1 to 1.5 for about over a year, and ive always had the same internet. it just started slowing down about 4 days ago? is there anything else it could be?

 

[xarden]

What Kari means is, are you basing it on the same scale?
Speedtest may report 1.5MB/s
IE will report speeds using kb/s
MB/s (megabytes) is different to Mb/s (Megabits) so will give a different reading when looked at on that scale.
Same with KB/s (kilobytes) and Kb/s (kilobits) are also different, so will give different readings.
Do several tests on speedtest.net, then change the scale and do several more.

 

[gebreab]

ok thank you, I will try it out. and get back to you guys. Thanks!

 

[gebreab]

It says download: 1.45 Mb/s

upload: 0.35 Mb/s

ping: 38 ms

as well, my brother is downloading things on his laptop downstairs. and his download speeds have been severely decreased as well. I mean to let you know that its not just my computer, its not like a specific problem to just my machine, its affecting all the machines in the house.

Does that help with the megabit things?

Thanks!

 

[gebreab]

So i did the test again. and i used Megabytes this time. and i got

0.18 MB/s download

0.05 MB/s upload

Any help in translating this information with my problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mickey megabyte]

one megabyte (MB) = 8 megabits (Mb) = 1 mickey (me)

gets a bit confusing from here as 1 Mb sometimes = 1024 kb or 1000 kb

wikipedia article on bit-rates

 

[Kari]

It says download: 1.45 Mb/s

upload: 0.35 Mb/s

ping: 38 ms

as well, my brother is downloading things on his laptop downstairs. and his download speeds have been severely decreased as well. I mean to let you know that its not just my computer, its not like a specific problem to just my machine, its affecting all the machines in the house.

Does that help with the megabit things?

Thanks!

So i did the test again. and i used Megabytes this time. and i got

0.18 MB/s download

0.05 MB/s upload

Any help in translating this information with my problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Let's assume that's what you pay for, that those results show your actual speed. A 1.5 Mbps broadband line. That is quite slow, and for instance when you are downloading a file, your browser shows dowbload speed a bit under 200 kBps. You can not download faster with a 1.5 Mbps line.

Broadband line speed 1 Mbps = download speed about 120 kBps

 

[gebreab]

so i figured out the problem. it was the fact that i got downgraded to 1.5 Megabits per second. so i had to re-up it to 12 megabits.

now im downloading at around 1 megabytes per seconds. Thanks for your help all! i learned something new!

and sorry if i sounded frustrated. you know how it is when it comes to download speeds!!

 

[Kari]

Just for your information in case you want to see if you get what you are paying for: 12 Mbps line has a top download speed about 1.4 kBps.

 

[gebreab]

its strange it was going fast earlier, when i reset. but now its back at around 150 Kb/s. but it all checks out on speednet.com so maybe there is something wrong here. Ill mess around tonight and if the problem still exists ill post back in the morning.

Thank You!

 

[xarden]

Oh yes, another thing I think is worth mentioning...
You'll notice your upstream is always slower than your downstream.
Downstream traffic at your machine has to be getting it from somewhere. That somewhere must upstream.
Therefore, your downstream can only go as fast as the host can upstream.
This is true if the host is unicasting. Most likely it is.

Websurfing is generally unicast.
Your download speed would be (hypothetical numbers here) 100kbps, as that is as fast as they can upstream data.

Torrenting, is multicast.
If you torrent something (legally) you'l have much improved download speeds.
Lets assume Host A,B and C are uploading as fast as they can, so you're downloading (more hypothetical numbers here) at 50 kbps from host A, 100 kbps from host B, 110kbps from host C.
Therefore, your download speed is a hypothetical 50+100+110=260kbps.

 

[gebreab]

ohh so torrent can actually be faster? ill defenetly give it a try.

and i think problem is solved. it had to do with my speeds i was paying for, and i upgraded to 12 megabits.

Thank you all so much for your help and advice!!

 

[gebreab]

how do i mark as solved?

 

[xarden]

It wont be 'faster', it will just utilize your available bandwidth...

 

[mickey megabyte]

how do i mark as solved?

click the red triangle at top-right and write 'solved' in the box.

the mods/admins will see it and mark it for you.

 

[gebreab]

It wont be 'faster', it will just utilize your available bandwidth...

kk thanks!