Internet Speed

[manfredini]

If my Modem is 56Kbps then why is the typical download speed on my computer about 4kbps? This seems to be the same with them all.

[cupra]

Download speeds are normally expressed in kBytes per second, not Kbits (as is the modem - 56kbits/sec). If you have got a real connection of 56kbps through a normal analogue line then well done (although I would have to see it to believe it!).

A 'good' connection is around 50-52kbps - dividing this into bytes gives 6.5kB/s. Taking into account server speeds, latency, handshaking and contention etc., you'll probably only get 6KB/s max.

[requiem]

Yes whatever you connect at (44000, 41200 etc) divide by 8 then subtract 13% and you get your absolute maximum throughput for your modem.