Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Woo hoo, higher speed Internet

I haven't been around for a week or more since my home phone line stopped working one day. Turned out that yet another wire pair had died, a victim of chronic insulation nibbling by the local squirrels.

So... for the third or fourth time I was switched to a new pair and had to wait 1/2 day while my phone # was associated with the new pair.

Now the good news -- fired up the browser, dial-up connection engaged automatically, and... wait for it... 45.2 Kbps !!

This may sound pathetic to some (all) of you but the best I have ever been able to pry out of these old, rodent-chewed, "four miles to the central office" phone lines was 26.6 Kbps.

I'm trying to find a suitable analogy but the best I can think of for the "rush of speed and power" is "it's like taking the potato out of the exhaust pipe on a 1952 VW Beetle".

Vroom. Look out all of you

I just did a test of my bandwidth, and it's running slow today.

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3699 Kbps about 3.7 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 452 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sun May 15 14:59:58 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 66X faster than 56K 1MB download in 2.27 sec
Diagnosis: Looks Great : 18.98 % faster than the average for host (cox.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-4TWL7UY23

I love the analogy. If only wireless high speed was ready...

Ha! Reminds of the time I stayed at my inlaws betwteen houses 2 years ago.

1) No DSL, so we had only dial up at mayb 40Kbps.
2) No DirecTV, only cable.
3) No Tivo, only what we had already recorded on our DirecTivo.

Man, that was like camping in the wilderness.

You need cable!!!!

It will BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF!!!!

The Rat.

I can get cable in my current house but I'm moving out into the woods (literally) in a few months with no cable and no DSL so I don't want to get used to it. I set my parents up with cable internet anyways so I stop in there if I need to view anything more complex than text

I'm told the local phone company now has decent satellite Internet so I'm going to look into that. The downlink is via satellite, uplink via phone line apparently... anyone using satellite internet this far north ?

what in the heck you got under the hood in that rocket?

I have DSL and here's my results.

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 199 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 97 kB)
Download Speed is:: 24 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sun May 15 16:29:12 UTC-0800 2005
Bottom Line:: 4X faster than 56K 1MB download in 42.67 sec
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 77.13 % of your hosts average (cvinternet.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-S10MXKQRV

Or Verizon DSL. They give out free usenet, so I can 'steal' a movie in under 40 minutes!


3000/768 here, $30/month, no transfer caps. I loves it.

Thanks, John:

You reminded me of being beaten by a 52 Beetle while driving my 58 Renault Dauphine. I almost got by, but he blocked me with his turn signal. It was ok though, cause the two of us driving side by side gave almost enough light on the road to be able to see!

Ok, back to your thread.
Sorry, Rich.

Interesting... I've never tested mine.

Here we go:
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 2445 Kbps about 2.4 Mbps (tested with 1013 kB)
Download Speed is:: 299 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sun May 15 21:36:37 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 44X faster than 56K 1MB download in 3.42 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 32.74 % faster than the average for host (sympatico.ca)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-3AQJF82HZ

This is not terribly fast this evening, but this is what it says:

Your Internet Connection
Speed Results




File Size: 1.4648 MB
Time Elapsed: 3.25 seconds

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.606 Mbps
(461.54 KBps)


For What It Is Worth.

The Rat.

>>It was ok though, cause the two of us driving side by side gave almost enough light on the road to be able to see!

Ah yes, those were the days...

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 4963 Kbps about 5 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 606 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sun May 15 20:24:17 PDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 89X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.69 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 63.47 % faster than the average for host (adelphia.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-6RGCLFJUA

Do I win?
The internet connection is the only thing my cable company is good for!

So far, Curtis. Gee, this is exciting!

I've never tested mine either. Silly question, but how do you do it?

Paul

Looks like your speed is still the fastest. This morning mine is a little faster, but.........

Your connection rating is: [Test Home | Re-Test]
See our forum for speed tips




Your connection is: 4182 Kbps (about 4.2 Mbps)
You downloaded at: 511 kB/s
Your TRuSPEED: ^info^ 4475 Kbps :: 547 kB/s (7% overhead factored)
Bottom Line: You are running: 75 times faster than 56K and can download 1 megabyte in 2 second(s)
Diagnosis: Looks Great : 16.78 % faster than the average for host (comcast.net)

For What It is Worth.

The Rat.

Your connection is: 4245 Kbps (about 4.2 Mbps)
You downloaded at: 518 kB/s
Your TRuSPEED: ^info^ 4542 Kbps :: 554 kB/s (7% overhead factored)
Bottom Line: You are running: 76 times faster than 56K and can download 1 megabyte in 1.98 second(s)
Diagnosis: Looks Great : 18.54 % faster than the average for host (comcast.net)

Bah. At least these are real Canadian bits :

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 38 Kbps about 0 Mbps (tested with 579 kB)
Download Speed is:: 5 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 08:20:35 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 1X faster than 56K 1MB download in 204.8 sec
Diagnosis: 90% + Okay : running at 100 % of your hosts average (wcom.ca)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-M6H4NGWXV

I feel your pain, for now

I used to live in town and had a Cable modem, talk about fast. Then my wife and I got this crazy idea we wanted to get away from having neighbors a stones throw away. So, we built a house about 3 years ago on 2.5 acres. Ok, so we still have neighbors, but 400-500ft away is still better than 20ft.

Anyway, back to the internet stuff, I now only get 24kbs connection at the best, really sucks. Fast forward to May, since everyone in our development hates dial up, I called Qwest DSL, and talked to the regional mgr for the area. Not sure how I did it, but they are currently installing a remote station near us that will extend DSL service to our area. May 23rd is the date they gave us, dang I'm excited now.

They have two options available, 256K up/down or 1.5MB/768K up/down for about $30 and $40 bucks/mth respectivley.

I'm going to try to talk the wife into the faster plan, but the slower one will be like light speed, compared to my current pathetic dial up.

Paul, here is the web site where we've been performing the test.

http://www.testmy.net/.

You want the "Download Test." And, pick a file size that is consistent with the speed of your connection.

There are other sites, and doggone if I don't get a different reading from each one.

CNET Bandwidth Test

McAfee Internet Connection Speedometer

The local utility company, in the community I live in, has decided to take on the cable company. We will have city wide high speed wireless by summertime at a out of pocket cost of $25.00/month. Groovy.

Where I live 256K DSL is $50 a month with Sprint, 2 miles away it is $19.99 with SBC. I dont know what Sprint's problem is but nobody will buy it where we live, cable is actually cheaper.

Hey Bridgman;

I used the Bell one-way dish for a couple of years. The speeds are 'optimistic' and the support is honestly terrible. I finally got to the point where I would only call Saturday at 9 am because that's when the guy who could actually help was working.

That being said, Anikast has just launched a two-way service that looks like it is going to be great. I've put my wee deposit down and I'm waiting for the software to arrive. Bell went out of the business - I'm not sure who you're looking at?

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 2701 Kbps about 2.7 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 330 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 15:00:30 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 48X faster than 56K 1MB download in 3.1 sec
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 70.05 % of your hosts average (rr.com)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-BD9KAVW18


from the office

Ajax - thanks a lot

Work is:
Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 1499 Kbps about 1.5 Mbps (tested with 579 kB)
Download Speed is:: 183 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 13:12:14 MDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 27X faster than 56K 1MB download in 5.6 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 117.25 % faster than the average for host (30.206)

I'm curious to see what I get with DSL at home through our phone company.

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 4148 Kbps about 4.1 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 506 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon, 16 May 2005 17:01:12 GMT-0400
Bottom Line:: 74X faster than 56K 1MB download in 2.02 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 88.03 % faster than the average for host (rogers.com)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-FEBV1IZ2M


This is with the Rogers "extreme". Anyone have regular or "lite" for comparison?

One thing to consider with these speed tests is that ISPs with very high speeds often implement transfer caps so people cannot use it too much. This isn't something that they all do, yet many have taken it up lately. So if your speed isn't the highest and you see someone providing the same in your area, check it out before you switch or you may find yourself getting "abuse" letters after a week of downloading. a 60 gig cap would make anything over 300-400 kbps virtually useless.

No, Curtis, I win...

Connection is:: 6833 Kbps about 6.8 Mbps (tested with 5983 kB)
Download Speed is:: 834 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 16:20:49 PDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 122X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.23 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 96.07 % faster than the average for host

okay, I cheated - that's from work I'll test from home later

Geez...what kind of connection do you have at work?

People must not be home yet and on their PCs....

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 5282 Kbps about 5.3 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 645 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 17:30:27 PDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 94X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.59 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 74.04 % faster than the average for host (adelphia.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-KBOJESIYX

>>Bell went out of the business - I'm not sure who you're looking at?

I was told that Bell had the satellite service. I guess others had the same experience with Bell that you did...

Anikast rings a bell. I might know someone who works there. Will look them up -- thanks !!

oh yeah, suckers? check this out!
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 45 Kbps about 0 Mbps (tested with 97 kB)
Download Speed is:: 5 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 21:37:34 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 1X faster than 56K 1MB download in 204.8 sec
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 3.41 % of your hosts average (Level3.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-5XIM20D7E


that'll make you wanna put a gun barrel in your mouth...
man, i hope they run DSL to my house soon!

25% faster than mine and YOU'RE suicidal ?

Mine was 38 Kbps, and the whole point of this thread was that 38K was WAY better than I had before.

Well Ash I got you beat. Here are my stats:

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 39 Kbps about 0 Mbps (tested with 97 kB)
Download Speed is:: 5 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Mon May 16 2005 19:48:53 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Bottom Line:: 1X faster than 56K 1MB download in 204.8 sec
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 15.06 % of your hosts average (o1.com)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-SCTLG9IJ5

It says I MAY NEED HELP! Aint that the truth.

Connection is:: 4278 Kbps about 4.3 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 522 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Tue May 17 13:36:07 CDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 76X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.96 sec

christ, you guys make feel bad! should i send flowers to y'all? when i was living in virginia beach the fastest i could get was about 26K on average, so now i'm burning it up. (relatively speaking)

To bad that is my works bandwidth, I only get 24kps at home, so I feel your pain. Will be getting DSL soon.

Randy

Connection is:: 3968 Kbps about 4.3 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 485 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: 2 Minutes before this post!
Bottom Line:: 66 times faster than 56K and can download 1 megabyte in 2.26 second(s)
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 101.74 % faster than the average for host

good luck with getting it soon, i know how aggravating it is dealing with that slow a connection. luckily my work has a T-1 connection so i just save all the big stuff i need to d/l there and just burn it to a disc later. though recently i got a nasty-gram from the IT dept for taking up too much space on the server with all the stuff i was collecting to burn.

Try going to dslreports.com and read up on speed tweaks. I had DSL on Windows 98 3-4 years ago and was getting like 110kb/s. It was better than dial up so I was happy. Then one day somebody turned me on to dslreports.com. I did some reading and a few tweaks and then downloaded DRTCP. DRTCP is a simple tool that goes directly into the registry and tweaks Windows for broadband. If you have Windows 98; it will definately make a huge difference. If you have Windows XP (designed for broadband) it may make a slight difference.

I used it when I had DSL and it nearly tripled my download speed. Nowadays, I am loving my cable.

Connection is:: 4799 Kbps about 4.8 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 586 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Bottom Line:: 86X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.75 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 24.26 % faster than the average for host (rr.com)

I want to thank you guys for making me aware of the testmy.net site. It prompted me to poke around at my home connection, which was allegedly 1.5M (Qwerst). After several technical calls, I found out a couple things.

1. Qwest sucks. Still.
2. My dsl provider is cool
3. I have to have dsl filters on all the phone outlets in my house, whether there is a phone connected to them or not. Go figure. Anyway, I fixed my connection and went from ~578 to 1.2. Yippee.

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 1241 Kbps about 1.2 Mbps (tested with 1013 kB)
Download Speed is:: 152 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sat May 21 2005 16:20:46 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Bottom Line:: 22X faster than 56K 1MB download in 6.74 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 95.43 % faster than the average for host (dslnorthwest.net)

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 1413 Kbps about 1.4 Mbps (tested with 1013 kB)
Download Speed is:: 173 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sat May 21 2005 16:48:48 GMT-0700 (PDT)
Bottom Line:: 25X faster than 56K 1MB download in 5.92 sec
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 88.98 % of your hosts average (pacbell.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-MNQ97R56T


Well, given that I was still probably checking email, had chat open, etc, not bad! 1.5-3.0 DSL. Faster than it was before i upgraded. Thank god for that, I was just able to d/l Knoppix 3.8.2 (750 MB, or thereabouts) in about an hour, average speed 190kb/sec. Much better than I hoped or expected. Now returning to Tivo recovery... Wow, 16 GB copied already!

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 4394 Kbps about 4.4 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 536 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (main)
Test Time:: Sat May 21 20:37:45 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 78X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.91 sec
Diagnosis: Looks Great : 13.16 % faster than the average for host (rr.com)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-706ZOU8YQ
home connection

All you durn cable users! *shakes fist*

In reply to:

---

I have to have dsl filters on all the phone outlets in my house, whether there is a phone connected to them or not. Go figure.

---

What? Uh... they're just a low pass filter... that's odd... anyone have a reason for this?

Bren R.

No reason, but it just doesn't work if they're not there. I've spent enough time troubleshooting at various clients to know that one...

Your connection is: 1167 Kbps (about 1.2 Mbps)
You downloaded at: 142 kB/s
Your TRuSPEED: 1249 Kbps :: 152 kB/s (7% overhead factored)
Bottom Line: You are running: 21 times faster than 56K and can download 1 megabyte in 7.21 second(s)

Not too shabby. I hate using the internet at my parents. Average connection speed around 30k. Oy!

Ken, I only need to put a filter on the lines that have a phone in them. But just for fun, I'll locate and filter the one or two unused jacks and see if that improves things any.

It varies wildly. When I first got my DSL, I didn't have to use filters at all. Then I did...

Guys, I know. It did not make sense to me either. But that change made an immediate and noticable difference according the the testmy.net measurements and my observations.

Well, that's the first thing I'll do when I get home. My max speed is theoretically 3 megabit, but I'm only getting half that right now. We shall see.

You're not just getting half that, you're getting less than your minimum, judging by Adam's numbers.

SWEET! Just got my Verizon FIOS internet connection hooked up.

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 26227 Kbps about 26.2 Mbps (tested with 12160 kB)
Download Speed is:: 3202 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (server2)
Test Time:: Wed Dec 14 2005 12:52:50 GMT-0500 (EST)
Bottom Line:: 468X faster than 56K 1MB download in 0.32 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 289.47 % faster than the average for host (49.182)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-K9OV4DT2S

What is the FIOS costing you Peter?
I have Verizon DSL currently, but Verizon sure is trying to push the FIOS on me.

It's costing me $0, but it's costing my company about $50/mo. After a year, the price goes up to a whopping $180/mo, at which time I'll drop down from the 30Mbit plan to the 15Mbit plan, which will cost $50.

26.2 Mbps? Holy...I should have you bit torrent for me...

Does their FIOS also do HDTV?

Verizon does do HD over fiber in other areas, but it hasn't made it here yet. It's coming, though.