Line Speed

[Paul]

I have had my interwebs back up and running for a week now, I applied for 384 just like my old place but I noticed that is is considerably slow or am I just imagining things?

I did a speed test at www.speedtest.com, using a server in Durban (I think it said Vodacom). I am getting 0.34 Mb download and 0.15 Upload. Does that sound right? I thought minimum for a 384 like would be 128kpbs or 2Mb?

I want to upgrade to 4mb or at least 512 but I am afraid that the line is so bad that it will be a waste

[Megageth]

The speedtest looks right to me. "There are 1024 kilobits in a megabit, so 384 kbps divided by 1024 equals .375 mbps. "

Its fairly easy to change line speed, both ways. You call them, ask to change, convince them its really you and then restart your router. Aside from waiting on the telephone for 42mins for an operator, its relatively painless. Test out a higher speed for a while and if you have problems, ask them to change back again.

Theres a good chance that upgrading to a 4mb will get you 10, but you'll have to check if your exchange has been upgraded.

[Paul]

I was wondering if I was getting my math wrong. It just does seem slow though. Previously I could have a youtube vid buffer, be on the grrr forum and be typing up a gmail.

With the new line I can only do one of those things at a time

[Stu]

Paul if you get a 4MB line just make sure you have a 4MB account with a ISP or the line speed is completely wasted!

[Paul]

My ISP is also telkom but thanks, I will make sure of that

[SlipperyDuck]

512k should work very well for you.... 4Mb might be an overkill in terms of the cost. Sure it's nice to get 460Kb/s downloads when yo do, but how often will you be doing that?

Anyway - food for thought

[Paul]

512k should work very well for you.... 4Mb might be an overkill in terms of the cost. Sure it's nice to get 460Kb/s downloads when yo do, but how often will you be doing that?

Anyway - food for thought

Definitely, I was thinking when(if) I do upgrade, it would be to 512, check that out, if still not sufficient, then 4mb.

I don't download, movies or anything like that and 384 has always served me well but now that there or 2 people sharing a line 512 might be neccessary. Although Jackie doesn't spend nearly as much time on the web as me

[Megageth]

Ya 512 is good for gaming. I have been thinking of reducing my 4mb to a 512 seeing as I am away most of the time.

[J_Th4ng]

Dunno what the price increase is between 512 and 4096, but I can't imagine that it's a huge leap. Last I checked, 512 was kinda useless in the mix, because you can get 8x the speed with a 4Mb, for a very small price premium.

Even if you don't do a lot of downloading Paul, it's nice when the bits that you do do happen nice and sharpish.

[Stu]

Would love to have a 4mb line... may just justify this with the bosses in the overseas mountain lands! hmmmm