[gyrgrls]

I think I'm getting gypped where I live.
I'm only guaranteed "up to" 10/768, but
here's what I get for $50/mo
(it would be $60/mo if it wasn't bundled with CATV service)...
.
.
.

[JohnWill]

Mine is boringly consistent, I pretty must always get the same thing within a couple of percent.

[ACA529]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

Mine is boringly consistent, I pretty must always get the same thing within a couple of percent.

I gots faster internetz.

[JohnWill]

Yep, but your uploads are slower.

[clavinova]

I have wireless connection for PC running Vista - ISP = TalkTalk that I am very happy with after battles with BT. I leave in semi-rural area unfortunatelly with copper wires.
Test results from talktalk test gives me only down = 1529 and up = 374 while on the laptop running XP and wired connected to the belkin 54G modem I get : down= 3959 / up= 355
Is there any explanation to that ? Is there any problem with the wireless connection, although the up stream is higher ? or because Belkin "hates", as I've heard, Vista or ????

[ferrija1]

My down speed is 1/3 of yours John, but my upload is almost the same.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by clavinova

Test results from talktalk test gives me only down = 1529 and up = 374 while on the laptop running XP and wired connected to the belkin 54G modem I get : down= 3959 / up= 355
Is there any explanation to that ? Is there any problem with the wireless connection, although the up stream is higher ? or because Belkin "hates", as I've heard, Vista or ????

It could be a number of factors. I have an HP laptop and a Toshiba laptop. The HP gets around 8.5mbit/sec download and the Toshiba gets the full 15mbit download speed, both connected through the same router 802.11g sitting only a few feet from it. Obviously, a difference in the wireless adapter and/or driver support for the two machines.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by ferrija1

My down speed is 1/3 of yours John, but my upload is almost the same.

You probably have 5mbit/2mbit service, right? Mine is 15mbit/2mbit service.

[moreproblems]

Hi Jason

I have an adsl line 384 speed. I just tried your suggestion,and got 325 download & 95 upload. You get what u pay fr LOL. Broadband is slow and expensive here in South Africa.

Have you tried the speedtest at speakeasy? It's not as quick as speedtest.net, but very good. www.speakeasy.net

Take care

moreproblems

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

You probably have 5mbit/2mbit service, right? Mine is 15mbit/2mbit service.

Yes, I have the 5/2 plan. I thought the other plan was 15/5, not 15/2.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by ferrija1

Yes, I have the 5/2 plan. I thought the other plan was 15/5, not 15/2.

It's highly dependent on the area in the country you live in. I would love 5mbit upload capability, maybe they'll upgrade us someday.

[CDATech]

[gollum456]

well.....here in the good old united kingdom i'm lucky to get just under 2 meg DOWNLOAD! and even then if i download too much they throttle my connection down to less thajn 1 meg. (by too much i mean about 2 gig or so in a day, even though i'm supposedly on "unlimited").

they say they are not throttling me, but TWICE this has happened to me:-

i have slow speeds for two or three days non-stop. i go online to "live help". as i'm talking to the tech, i say...."are you throttling me". they say no.... i swear this is true...within MINUTES i'm back up to full speed!! (2mb).
ah well, i'll just have to manage with what i got until my country can catch up with the big hitters...like.....korea!!

[clavinova]

Yes, I share your concerns gollum456. They are lot to be done in the UK about the broadband speed. The old BT doesn't want to invest and copper was for nothing more than voice. The ISP battle is only on price and not service. The Ofcom is trying to find a solution but certainly, keep complaining might also help. I did it recently and they've said they've upgraded my speed from less than 2 to 5,4Mps. Do you leave in big town or rural area ? I have to say the price is cheap and so far, I've been much happpier with talktalk after my nightmares with BT and its non existing assistance. Good luck!!
From wireless connected desktop + Belkin 54g :
Talktalk speed test results : down = 3875 up = 344
speedtest for London down = 3520 up = 319

[clavinova]

The internet is headed for 'gridlock' as demand for online video and music grows
By PAUL REVOIR - More by this author »

Last updated at 23:37pm on 29th April 2008

Comments (4)

The internet is facing 'gridlock' as a result of the huge demand for online video and music, new figures have warned.


As a result of the spiralling visitor numbers to sites like YouTube, many of us are not getting the broadband speeds we are paying for.

Such is the scale of the slowdown some internet service providers are supplying as little as 26 per cent of advertised download speeds.

Research for Channel 4 News by company Broadband Expert, which checked speeds of 18 providers, came up with shocking findings.

Scroll down for more...


Connection crisis: more users on sites like YouTube means broadband providers are struggling to deliver advertised download speeds

It discovered on average customers who think they are getting 'up to' 8 mega-bits per second, are only getting 41 per cent of expected download speeds.

Speaking to C4 the British Chambers of Commerce has called for the existing broadband system in the UK to be "upgraded".

It is calling on the government and providers like Virgin and BT to fund an overhaul or risk "substantial" harm to the British economy.

The programme's research show 02 was the best performer with an average download speed of almost six megabits (5.89Mbs, or 74 per cent of the expected speed).

BT customers got less than half the expected speed (43 per cent, or 3.44Mbs).

This was just ahead of Orange at 41 per cent or 3.26Mbs.

Toucan was the slowest of all with an average download speed of just over two megabits per second.

This was hardly more than a quarter - 26 per cent - of the advertised speed.

New services like the BBC's recently launched iPlayer service, which lets you watch its shows online, have added to the problem, it is claimed.

David Frost, director general of the BCC told the programme: “It is clear that the internet is currently slowing down because of increased demand.”

He added: “The system needs to be upgraded; whether that is by the service providers or government, to ensure economic growth.”

Mr Frost went on to say: “The money has got to be found for improvements, if not the harm to the economy will be very substantial indeed.”

Dr Ian Waldon, professor of Information and Communications Law at Queen Mary, University of London, said "net neutrality" – the idea the internet is equal to all users – will become a thing of the past as customers are forced to pay extra for the web capacity they take up.

He told the programme: "We get onto the internet through access networks – and there's a possibility that the capacity of those networks will be exceeded soon."

Dr Waldon added: “Certain applications won't work, and certain services won't be functioning as their providers initially intended them to."

There are now a growing number of companies that offer online speed checks to test your connection speed.

These typically provide an upload and a download connection speed result.

The biggest threat of a meltdown comes from copper wires which link customers and businesses to the main networks, experts say.

These wires were only ever intended for voice calls, and provide the key link to the main exchange.