Question about broadband connection

[HamsterDemocracy]

I've got a question. I have 5 MB Comcast service (digital cable). When I first ordered this knowing nothing about broadband I figured it meant 5 MB/second speed. However when I download I usually max out around 200 KB/sec, sometimes more and sometimes less. Can someone who knows the technical side of these things explain to me why it's 5 MB cable if the speed you get isn't even a MB per second?

I'm also working with a wireless router. I have DC++ and had to forward the ports for it to work. I can usually get around 300 kb/sec on there because of that.

[Bandita]

I am not an expert but I can tell you cable speed is never constant-

Here is an online test you can use to determine your current speed-

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

[Skeba]

Well, the connection is most propably a 5 megabit connection, which is nowhere near a 5 megabyte connection. It's actually 5/8 megabytes, which is what you see when you're downloading. The overall downloading speed has also other factors besides your connectionspeed so it could be about that as well.

[HamsterDemocracy]

Well, the connection is most propably a 5 megabit connection, which is nowhere near a 5 megabyte connection. It's actually 5/8 megabytes, which is what you see when you're downloading. The overall downloading speed has also other factors besides your connectionspeed so it could be about that as well.

Thanks guys. That explains it! 

[Mr. Dick Purple]

I am not an expert but I can tell you cable speed is never constant-

Here is an online test you can use to determine your current speed-

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Exactly that page i was going to post 

Remember that everytime you download you are not downloading in Mbps but in MBps that means that your throughput has to be divided by 8 from you 5Mbps

[loretian]

Well, the connection is most propably a 5 megabit connection, which is nowhere near a 5 megabyte connection. It's actually 5/8 megabytes, which is what you see when you're downloading. The overall downloading speed has also other factors besides your connectionspeed so it could be about that as well.

Thanks guys. That explains it!?

In addition to this, to explain the "other factors", you have to remember that every server you connect to on the Internet is also connected at it's own speed as well.  Often times, smaller sites are connected on Frame Relays (T1's), which have a max burstable speed of 1.5 Mb (Megabits), which means between you and all the other people currently accessing the site, you'll never get more than 1.5 Mb total.

[pasnow]

I'm getting 21078kbps (yes 5 digits, I had to take it twice to make sure it was accurate) on my download, 323kbps upload.

RR how old is your computer, I know Comcast is pretty consistant with their speeds. Also, I think going wireless may slow it down a little, but not that much.

[HamsterDemocracy]

I'm getting 21078kbps (yes 5 digits, I had to take it twice to make sure it was accurate) on my download, 323kbps upload.

RR how old is your computer, I know Comcast is pretty consistant with their speeds. Also, I think going wireless may slow it down a little, but not that much.

I'm getting 5100 d/l speed when I do that test posted above, and about 300 upload.

My computer's brand new and fully loaded - it wouldn't be a problem on the hardware end.

It's possible my house has a weak connection, they had to put a wire underground for it to work because my house's pre-existing wiring was from the 1930s. They ran it out the back of my house underground but it's possible it still isn't the strongest it would be in an urban setting.