what download speeds should i be getting?

herman2811

I'm on AOL silver, was recently "upgraded" for free to their 2MB package.... i check my download speeds from time to time, and I'm getting about 980 kbps. Is this normal for a 2MB connection?

I'll phoned AOL twice, buy they seem to think this speed is ok. I would have thought I should get twice this?? (I am very close to the exchange by the way).

Any opinions would be much appreciated

JayTee99_2

no thats not right
it looks like you could still be on 1MB
you should be getting up to around 1900 kbps if on 2MB

what is your downstream connection or sync speed in your modem/router?

is it 1152 or 2272

that will tell you which type of connection you are on

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/speeds2.htm

herman2811

Yeah i thought i should be getting twice the speed too, but when i called them, they seemed to think my download speeds were fine.

Oh, and they're adamant that I HAVE been upgraded to 2MB, and couldn't find any faults anywhere.

JayTee99 wrote: »

what is your downstream connection or sync speed in your modem/router?

is it 1152 or 2272

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/speeds2.htm

Sorry i don't understand what that means and how i can find out if it's 1152 or 2272?! (i have a router)

herman2811

I do the speed test at different times and days, and it's generally always the same.

AOL say my speed is acceptable, saying that anything between 400 and 2000kbps is normal.

My issue is that i was getting the same speed when i was on 1MB. If I am upgraded to 2MB, i dont think it's unreasonable to expect my download speed to double as well!

(oh, and i have checked that i AM able to get 2MB on my line)

JayTee99_2

login to your router then look at the adsl status page. You should see there what you are connected at, whether its 1mb or 2mb connection by those sync speeds, which will be either 1152 kbps for a 1mb connection or 2272 kbps for a 2mb connection.
You cant download faster than the sync speed, so if you are connected at 1152 kbps then you cannot get 2mb download speeds.

its nothing to do with speedtesters, if you aren't connected at 2272 kbps then you cannot get 2mb speeds.

herman2811

JayTee99 wrote: »

login to your router then look at the adsl status page. You should see there what you are connected at, whether its 1mb or 2mb connection by those sync speeds, which will be either 1152 kbps for a 1mb connection or 2272 kbps for a 2mb connection.
You cant download faster than the sync speed, so if you are connected at 1152 kbps then you cannot get 2mb download speeds.

its nothing to do with speedtesters, if you aren't connected at 2272 kbps then you cannot get 2mb speeds.

Just checked it as you described, and i am indeed connected at 2272 kbps.... so what now?!

wonderfullife_2

herman2811 wrote: »

Just checked it as you described, and i am indeed connected at 2272 kbps.... so what now?!

Its looks like a stuck 1mb profile to me, phone AOL and get them to check.

steveowen100

Hi... See my post AOL beware

Ive was getting the same speeds as you just under 1mb... Turns out i was getting capped by AOl due to the fact i was only paying £9.99 instead of £14.99, they admitted doing it, admitted they should'nt be doing it and lifted the cap straight away and hey presto i 'm getting 2mb download speeds..

JayTee99_2

herman2811 wrote: »

Just checked it as you described, and i am indeed connected at 2272 kbps.... so what now?!

Great, now you know for sure you had the 2mb upgrade.
But it isnt working of course. The stuck profile possibility should only really apply if on Max (up to 8mb). i think these are fixed speed products?

Much more likely is that AOL are throttling, as suggested. It appears they have a track record.

I would phone their support, keep it friendly and gently let them know their little game is up. That you now know for sure you are connected at 2mb and that you are aware of other users in a similar situation that have been throttled by AOL, which effectively limits the connection to 1mb speeds. Then ask them to do the decent thing.

Hopefully they will sort it for you. If not give it 10 mins and ring again, speak to someone else at support. It seems you get varying results depending on who you speak to at AOL.

herman2811

Well got a few agents to check, and they all tell me i'm not being throttled/capped.

Also did all their tests, and they say everything is ok, and that anything over 400kbps is fine!

They also got me to download a large a file to check my transfer rate, which is 120kbps, which they say is normal too.

In fact, called them quite a few times in the last few weeks, and they all say everything is as it should be!

So guess i'm stuck with it then!

Saeed

Herman,

Your results seem to show a 1MB line if your max download is at 120KB, unless you did it at a very busy time or you're living far from an exchange! For a 2MB connection it should be 250KB! See my results below. You may want to try and test the connection at off-peak times and see if you still get the same results. Also do the test 3 times to make sure as each time can be different depending on lots of factors.

try this speed test site http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

These are my results on 2MB with Virgin http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/results.php?t=1178381026&v=1267955

As you can see I get over 2000kbps!!! :j But I don't know for how long as Virgin are going to start throttling http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=443856