OK someone please explain.......

[fionab]

I have a 4mbps line - tested I get say avg 3.6mbps
So here is my question, when downloading - not torrents, I total say 400kbps avg this by my calc should give me loads of bandwidth to surf. When tested I am lucky if there is 195kbps why is this and what am I not getting!

 

[Thestealth]

You'll need to take into account the what throughput the site/server you're connecting to is capable of. It won't always be able to give you your max on your line.

 

[hoegh]

you're going to have to re-phrase your question cause it doesn't really make sense but your answer is shaping, you'll never truly get the 4mb speed when surfing(especially international sites) because telkom shapes your access.

edit: and what was said above it takes some skill and dedication to really "milk" a 4mb line so as to see the true results

 

[Scooby_Doo]

torrents and the like get multiple sources for the same download and hence the higher download however sites and some ftp only have the one source and that usually means a lower max speed.

 

[Tinuva]

Also, 3.6mbit does not mean you will download at 3.6mbyte/sec.

8 bits = 1 byte, so you can divide that 3.6mbit by 8, then remove about 2-5% for TCP/IP overhead and that is the theoretical max speed your line can do in mbyte or kbyte / sec.

 

[fionab]

OK here is my calculations see if you agree with the values.

4 Mbit/s line speed

0.5 Mbyte/s (throughput)



1440 Minutes/ Day

86400 Seconds/ Day

Downloading at 512KB / s for a whole day you should get 43200MB of data.

That totals 42.2 GB / Day

 

[evilsee]

OK here is my calculations see if you agree with the values.


That totals 42.2 GB / Day

Nope Sorry thats wrong, simply because, even though the line is rated at 4mbit/s doesn't mean the amount of usable data you receive will be 4mbits every 1 second. There are always overheads on data transmission and lost packets that need to be resent. Someone with better knowledge of the OSI model and frame/packet sizes for ADSL would be able to explain better.

 

[fionab]

I realise I will not get my full 42.2 GB/day but to only get say less than 10 is what I question.

 

[killadoob]

4 meg lines bottom out at about 415-420 kbs, so if your going at a solid 400 you do not have that much hey .