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Can someone explain broadband speeds to me?!

I am on an up to 8MB connection, but because of my distance from the exchange and also the quality of the line (i think), i get speeds between 1.4mb and 1.8mb. Now, when downloading, the rate is between 140kbps and 180kbps. So why is it called 1.4mb broadband?
I have a friend in Blackpool who actually downloads at a speed between 1 and 2mb. Why cant i get such speeds?
And why is my speed listed as 1.4mb?!
 
MB = megabytes
mb = megabits

the case of the B is very important.

there are 8 bits in a byte.

your friend in Blackpool probably has 20mbit (2.5MBytes) with virgin media's cable service.

Adsl like you have depends very greatly on the length and quality of the phone line like you said. The longer the phone line, or the noisier it is, the slower your net will go.

There are also protocol overheads to be factored into speeds, so while you might connect at 1.8mbit, after overheads you're looking at 1.6mbit's worth of room for the data you're downloading.
 
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:o

the speedtester gets onto the first test, and then stops.
i left it for 10minutes and it hadnt moved!
 
Never mind explaining Broadband speeds to you .Someone needs to explain Broadband speeds to the majority of Internet Service Providers:D
 
haha yeah, my current provider's staff have real trouble with bits and bytes. I WISH the service was as fast as they told me it was on the phone... :)

I knew the difference, and what the customer service person meant, but there might be others who were very disappointed when they don't have a one megabyte upload :D
 
I am on an up to 8MB connection, but because of my distance from the exchange and also the quality of the line (i think), i get speeds between 1.4mb and 1.8mb. Now, when downloading, the rate is between 140kbps and 180kbps. So why is it called 1.4mb broadband?
I have a friend in Blackpool who actually downloads at a speed between 1 and 2mb. Why cant i get such speeds?
And why is my speed listed as 1.4mb?!

Hi J!sh - welcome to ISPr.

Lot's of people get confused with the difference between megabits and megabytes - so don't worry too much about feeling confused.

The 140-180 kbps figures you quote look as though they might be correct for around a 1.5 meg broadband service - IF they are actually 140-180 kBps. As weegie.geek indicated there's a lot of importance in the actual case of the letter "B" (or "b").

You might find that the BroadbandMax speed tester - which is personally one of my favourites for a quick line speed check, even if BT don't recognise it as valid for raising issues - will help you understand the capability of both yout line and your friends line.

I like that the summary page at the end shows both the kpbs (kilo bits per second) and kBps (kilo bytes per second) figures. The first of these is what you'd use to understand the speed of your line expressed as "an x meg broadband service (e.g. 1500 kilo BITS per second equates to a 1.5 meg broadband service).

Hope this helps you understand your service better.

TP
 
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