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Understanding speed

I have a Netgear modem/router that is currently stating download speeds of 5984 Kbps.

Why, therefore do the ISP speedchecks from
BT, Zen & O2 suggest I should get a high of 0.5 Mbps !

Even broadbandspeedchecker.com only gives around 0.5 Mbps..
(these have increased 100% since yesterday when BT finally admitted (after 5 years) there was a fault in our external line).

Only Tiscali can give me 5 Mbps ...

Question 1 would be; what is the router giving me? [theoretical max?] (tried to get an answer out of the Netgear forums but that was too technical to provide and explanation).

Question 2 would be; if Tiscali have a llu in our local exchange, then why does BT not offer a similar speed.?

confused

Comments

  • penrhyn
    penrhyn Posts: 15,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Could you post your router statistics so we can see the actual speed you are synchronising with the exchange.

    http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php
    That gum you like is coming back in style.
  • Your sync rate is largely determined by your line with fairly minor variations between routers (often depending which happens to pair up best with the particular kit in your exchange). Every ISP will deliver their ADSL over exactly the same line so by and large you'll get the same sync with any (other than the ADSL/ADSL2+ difference and if you can onl;y get in the region of 5Mbps that won't be huge either).

    After that comes the speed you can actually download at and there can be huge differences between ISPs and even between types of download if the ISP employs shaping technology.

    Just about all the estimates you get will be based on the BT database and that may be accurate or wildly incorrect.
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