What Download Speed Should I Get From 512kbps?

[Globetrot]

I was wondering about others users experience with the 512K service from Swiftel.

I get on average 53Kilobytes per second downloads speed. The theoretical maximum is 64K per second, so I was wondering if this is a good speed and also what other users speeds were.

Thanks
BT

[ibishop]

Originally posted by Globetrot
I was wondering about others users experience with the 512K service from Swiftel.

I get on average 53Kilobytes per second downloads speed. The theoretical maximum is 64K per second, so I was wondering if this is a good speed and also what other users speeds were.

Thanks
BT

Although there is a theoretical maximum of 64Kilobytes/second, this is impossible to attain - in simple terms because of protocol overheads, and other factors like cable length & signal quality.

I tend to max out at about 54 - and am quite happy with that.

Ian

[forumadmin]

As an ex Bigpond user and now a Swiftel user my 512k line, on both services, averages in the low to mid 50kBps most days.

The theoretical maximum speed is never obtainable because of the encapsulation and 'handshaking overheads'.

ATM and PPPoE between them reduce the theoretical maximum by around 15% giving a maximum obtainable of around 54.4 kBps.

[ibishop]

Originally posted by forumadmin
ATM and PPPoE between them reduce the theoretical maximum by around 15% giving a maximum obtainable of around 54.4 mBps.

If I can get 54.4 megabits per second out of my DSL, then I might go home today and download the whole internet before dinner :D

(I think it's a typo!)

Ian

[forumadmin]

oops! Thank you. I corrected it.

[Alex Foot]

According to DSL reports, I'm only getting mid-low200Kbps down on a 512/128 connection (having confirmed connection on Netcomm modem config pg ). What am I to do?

[forumadmin]

If I remember correctly you are using a Mac with OS9?

I have emailed some people to see if they can suggest something.

Several (Mac and PC) users have initially not got 'full speed' from their ADSL service when they initially connected.

There are a number of things that can be checked and settings to be changed.

Perhaps other Swiftel/Mac users can help?

[Alex Foot]

Good memory forumadmin but am also connected via Ethernet to Windows98SE - any suggestions there? Am not yet even online with Mac but any suggestions for both would be greatgratefully received!

[Alex Foot]

Crank the old FlashGet or other d/l prog coz I've averaged 57kbps there when on line tests/dsl reports I only get 20-30kbps. Still hoping for enlightenment on how to maximise d/l speed for regular browsing/emails on Win98SE and/orMacOS9 if there are any suggestions.

[thesnowman]

Alex

Can't help with the e-mail, but for web browsing I'd suggest installing a caching proxy server and dns cache also. Don't know if either of these available for MacOS9 or Win9x, but if you find an old 486 try installing linux on it with squid and bind. Works a treat.

Squid + AdZapper = fast browsing with no more (well, a lot less) ads.

[forumadmin]

"Squid + AdZapper = fast browsing with no more (well, a lot less) ads."

Can you expand on this?

What advantages do you get and where do you get the products?

[thesnowman]

Squid web proxy cache can be downloaded from http://www1.au.squid-cache.org/.

Adzapper is a redirector for squid and can be got from http://adzapper.sourceforge.net/.

Squid will cache web pages and graphics, and I suspect is probably the same software most ISPs use for their proxy servers.

Adzapper will replace ads on webpages with a graphic saying 'this ad zapped'. The actual files it uses can be found here:
http://adzapper.sourceforge.net/zaps/
Rather than downloading a hefty animated GIF or flash file advertisement, you download the above files, thus saving bandwidth.

[forumadmin]

Thank you for that.

It would be useful to have this fully checked out to quantify the advantages.

[Alex Foot]

Thanks Snowman I do have an old 486 lying around - will try that thanks. As for Squid and Adzapper on Win98/OS9, no. Will report results after my exams!