Hi there,

I don't know much about broadband/cable/adsl or whatever, but I just signed up for it and got everything working (with only one call to the help line!) and was wondering what a good speed is supposed to be? The lady on the phone said that she would set it to be on the highest setting for the free trial (first 3 months free as part of a promo) and I said heck yes, gimmie the best! Its free for the 3 months and after then I choose which plan to go on... anyway enough about that.

I just want to know... most of the time when I go to whatever-site and download whatever-file it picks a speed between 25 and 27 kb/s and hovers around there. Is that good or average or could-be-better or about right for an ADSL thing?

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like she's put you on the slow speed.

Here's some typically listed download speeds I found with three-tier service:

256/64 line speed - between 180-230 kbps (22½ - 28¾ kBps)
512/128 line speed - between 380-440 kbps (47½ - 55 kBps)
1500/256 line speed - between 1000-1350 kbps (125 - 168¾ kBps)

(The second figure - 256/64 - is the upload speed. kbps = 1000 bits per second, kBps = 1000 Bytes per second. 8 bits = 1 Byte)

1500 appears to be the max for ADSL. HERE'S an interesting article on the subject.

BTW- Here's the speed I get with RoadRunner....

Click to view attachment

Yep Jim... this is what I have here in Brazil: 15 to 27 kbps using a 256 broadband connection with 3 computers hooked on... It's better than when I had 5 computers sharing the same band.

Chris

I found the brocure they mailed me and it says there's three options...

256kbps/64kbps
1500kbps/256kbps
High Speed ADSL

Do you still think she put me on the slow plan?

If so, I'm ticked off and I'll be calling first thing monday. When she asked if I wanted to be on the delux-o plan I said "Is that any more difficult to do, or anything?" and she said "No." so if its not, I'm wondering why she didn't do it... I want my turn of the fast-o brilliant plan while its still free!

Do you still think she put me on the slow plan?

According to the figures you stated.... yes.

I called them and they fixed it. Yay. Now I download at 160kbs. Double yay!

Thanks to you folks.