Please help me understand these cable modem speeds....

[KillerQ]

Hey all,

I have a question -- At my parent's house, I have always had Comcast cable modem service and it was always blazing fast.... Now, i am going to order my own cable modem service, and i have some speed options. Comcast only ever offered one speed -- and i am not sure what that is (i cannot do a speed check at the moment, either). Here are the choices for the new service that i can get:

With four levels of speed to choose from,
WOW! Internet is sure to meet your online needs.

"Value 112 kbps
Perfect for checking e-mail and routine Internet use.
Upload Speed 112 kbps

Basic 500 kbps
Need more speed for surfing the World Wide Web or listening to music? This one’s perfect.
Upload Speed 300 kbps

Advanced 2.0 Mbps
Optimal choice for heavy users that want to download pictures or swap large files.
Upload Speed 300 kbps
Ultra 4.0 Mbps

The ultimate! Get that edge for online gaming. Stream video in minutes, not hours. Up to 70 times faster than dial up.
Upload Speed 500 kbps "


Now, i know that there are descriptions above, but i am looking for a more realistic opinion -- with each of these, does anyone know what the AVERAGE download speed would be? 10kps? 30 kps? Also, is a constant cable modem connection of 112kbps real slow? or is it just not super blazing fast.... I like to download stuff -- so this is important....

Thanks for your help...

Matt

[Tweaker]

Hello KillerQ

First thing to remember it is a shared connection, meaning you share the "pipeline" with your neighbors. So the advertised speed is not always what you going to get, in other words if you receive 80 percent of the advertised speed your doing good. Upload Speed 112 kbps is not bad, not great either, depends what you want your broadband for. You stated you like downloading stuff, so I would get the package that gave me a better download speed, most game demos today are huge megs and would take forever with a small speed connection. Again, it all come down to what you really use your connection for, no use purchasing something you don't need. My connection with Adelphia is 3000 down/ and 256 up, typically I get around 2300 to 2500 on a good day download and around 230 to 240 up. Which is enough for what I use my connection for.

[KillerQ]

Tweaker and All,

Hey all,

Ok, the 500 kbps is $5.00 more than the 112. The 2Mb. is $10 more than the 112. The 4Mb is $20 more a month than the 112. Although i have constantly used a cable modem connection for years, Lately (in my new house) I have been using my cell phone as a modem for my computer -- and have been "surviving" off ot a 46kb (just did a speed test) average connection. So anything here will be compared to that connection...... Also, with the 46kb connection - i download at a suprising 3-6kps.... so, with the 112, i assumming it will be at least doubled (all factors considered, of course)....

I never download game demos -- but i like to download music anf program demos..... So, if i can download a 40 meg file in a few minutes, i would be more than pleased....


thanks in advance for anymore info you have...

Matt

[renegade600]

as the previous reply stated, your speed will not be as advertise. Your speed is also determine by your neighbors, if they are doing alot of downloading at the same time, then your speed will be very slow.

It is really upto you what to get. If you feel you do not need the faster service go ahead and start with a slower package because you can always change it later. However if you start with the fastest, you will get spoiled.

[rockboy]

Here's a calculator so you can try some examples.
http://www.ispmenu.com/calculator.html

I have DSL that consistently tests above 1,000kbps download speed but I rarely find an ftp site that downloads faster than 160kbps. That's fast. Many are more like 15-40kbps. Realistically, your download time will depend more on the bandwidth you are given from the download source than what your line can do.

[KillerQ]

Hey all,

Yea, i know neighbors and the speed of the site's server comes into play -- but i am just looking at face value... I was spoiled with 4 mbps for a while -- but, now, the source i am using is 50kbps, so the 500kbps service i ordered should be more than fine....

This reminds me -- i remember about 8 years ago or so when cable modems first started gaining popularity, i would sit at home, and use the "check your zip code to see if we serve your area with broadband" feature on the local cable website several times everyday to see if our neighborhood was covered.....haha

Thanks for your help....

Matt

[Tweaker]

LOL, I also remember those days, seems like yesterday when they first introduced ISDN....

[Steven.Bentley]

Originally Posted by Tweaker

ISDN

It Still Does Nothing?

[Tweaker]

Originally Posted by Steven.Bentley

It Still Does Nothing?

Compared to today's high speed standards...