Broadband connection and download speed

[kags]

Could someone please explain to me (preferably in words of one syllable), the difference between my Broadband connection speed and the download speed.

[rojash]

No, it will need words that are more big than that

[kags]

Ok then, you can use longer words!

[Paulst30]

Your broadband connection speed is a marketing tool for broadband companies to snare people into thinking that eventually one day they will reach the dizzying heights of broadband Nirvana.

Your download speed is the reality, much like beer goggles, you think you got a great thing going, then you wake up in the morning to a different view.

Take Sky for example

Max package 16Mbps then they say (only in certain areas) I sign up, i get 2Mbps. Why? cause i'm a noob that should have known better, but it was cheap.

http://www.bt.com/broadband

This will tell you how much your actual line speed is, then you can get a broadband provider that is close to it.

[kags]

thanks Paulst30 - funnily enough it is BT I have the problem with! I get download speeds of around 300 kbps but BT keep telling me my connection speed is 2.2mbps so there's no problem. All I know is that my internet is much slower than when I was previously on 1mb cable, and that my next door neighbour gets download speeds of 3mbps (using the same speed tests that I use), the only difference being he lives 30 feet nearer the exchange and has a different Broadband provider.

[Paulst30]

Theres a lot more that can knock your internet for 6.

If the router is connected to an extension wire then connected to the main junction box.

If you have spyware on your pc, this uses your connection to report back to thier servers with your browsing habits.

It will tell you that your line speed is 2.2Mb although this might be what you'll get, as this figure is only the physical line speed.

Its like saying Great i have a 6 lane motorway to get to London, it will be quick, however its different when others are using the 6 lanes, its going to be slow.

If you are indeed finding that everytime you do a speed test, it is awful, i would imagine that you may have some sort of cap on your line, this can limit your connection speed for testing purposes. Sometimes done deliberately.

A simple telephone call to BT saying that you are not getting anything close to your actual lne speed and you wish for them to remove the cap should be ok.