why is my download speed maxing out at 150 kbps?

Question

Level 1

50 points

why is my download speed maxing out at 150 kbps?

Whenever I download something, regardless of where I am downloading from (torrent, apple.com, megaupload, etc) my download speed always stays right around 150 kbps. My ISP is ATT 3mb downstream connection. my speedtest.net says i get 1.3 mb download speed. so why won't my download speed go to these numbers?

I know it is capable of doing more because occasionally it will jump to 450 kbps for a couple seconds then shoot back down to 150 kbps. is there some setting I can change that will get its full potential?

Dell, Windows XP

Posted on Dec 28, 2009 11:58 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 28, 2009 1:16 PM in response to Mon

What are you using for a modem and router?

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

57,065 points

Dec 28, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Mon

my speedtest.net says i get 1.3 mb download speed.

Your downloads of 150kilobytes/second is consistent with getting 1.3megabits/second speeds (1.3megabits/8 == 150kilobytes)

It would seem you are not getting all the throughput you are paying AT&T for.

As has been suggested, it is possible that your connection equipment is not up to the job, which is why DaddyPaycheck asked about your modem and router.

I'll add, are you connected to your modem and router via ethernet cable, or are you using WiFi?

If using WiFi, do you have neighbors using the same WiFi channel, or 2.4GHz cordless phones (could be your neighbors), or a 2.4GHz baby monitor (again could be neighbors), microwave oven making popcorn while running speed test (OK, this is unlikely, but microwaves are a source of interference, they just don't tend to be on 24/7).

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Answer 3

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Dec 28, 2009 2:44 PM in response to Mon

Torrent software frequently doubles as server software and can significantly slow down your downloads because there is shared bandwidth restricting your access. Plus internet uploads are normally only about 10% of the download speed unless you have a fully dedicated line. Plus most data sources on torrents have questionable legality and safety. If you need software buy it from sources known to be legitimate. Your profile says you are using Windows, yet, you are posting in the Leopard forum. So the question is what operating system are you seeing issues with? Speed tests from the internet speed test sites are generally not accurate. The true accurate speed test would be to an AT&T hosted webspace in a data transfer.

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Answer 4

Mon Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 28, 2009 3:14 PM in response to Mon

my modem was given by att. its called speadstreem 5100
my router is now a time capsule. i just switched over from a dlink. not much of an improvement in speeds.
ive connected router to the modem via ethernet cable. then my imac is connected by wifi. however, even computers that are hardwired into the time capsule get the same speeds.
i checked my channels and of all the wireless networks around here I am the only one on channel 2. many of the others seem to be on either 1 or 6. i dont know about phones, baby monitors, and microwaves haha.

i am on a mac, the profile says windows because i did not own this mac at the time the profile was created. and like i said, its not just torrents that I am basing my numbers off of. Even from legitimate websites with good servers or hosts or whatever I will max out at 150 kbps.

you were saying that I may not be getting all I paid for from ATT. how would I improve the connection they are providing to my modem to get the full 3 mbs?

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Answer 5

Mon Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 28, 2009 3:15 PM in response to BobHarris

i didn't know this "divide by eight" rule. but why does my speed sometimes jump to 450 kbps?

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Answer 6

Mon Author

Level 1

50 points

Dec 28, 2009 3:17 PM in response to a brody

and my 1.3 mbs download and 0.3 mbs upload speeds from speedtest.net are accurate because they are confirmed by ATT's speedtest link. ATT just gave me more accurate numbers and gave them to me in kbps

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Answer 7

BobHarris

Level 9

57,065 points

Dec 28, 2009 4:46 PM in response to Mon

From everything you are saying, it sounds like the problem is on the ISP side of your connection.

A TimeCapsule is more than capable of delivering better speeds. I have an Airport Extreme (similar to TimeCapsule minus the hard disk) talking to a Verizon DSL 3megabit/second connection, and my DSLReports speed tests so I'm getting all of my 3megabits <http://www.dslreports.com/stests>.

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