I've been noticing...

[joule]

Hello again, in the Hardware & Software Forum.

I'm here, obviously, to ask you questions because I have problems. Problems that require solutions.

First off, I am rather new to cable internet. I just started getting Comcast High-Speed Internet about a month ago, and I have questions already. Though, some are hard to explain and some may not deliver the answer I wanted, but I would like to ask them anyway.

Downloading: When downloading files off of the internet, I have noticed a wide range in download speeds. All the way from 800 MB/s, and back down to a meager 27.7 MB/s. Is this normal and/or is there anything I can do to maintain a high and fast download speed with my cable connection?
Also, pages load at different speeds, too. Some pages may take about 15-20 seconds, while others may take 2 seconds. And again, is this normal? I know, it all depends on the location you are from the server, how many people are hitting the site, and what the site is putting up...and yada yada yada. But, overall, should this be happening on a fast internet service like I have now? Online games seem to do just fine. No lag or anything.

To conclude: Answers to my questions will be greatly appreciated, but there is more. Could I download anything off the net to "speed up" my download speed and connection? Maybe something off of download.com or something simple I can download that many of you use? What makes internet connections/speeds slow? Having too many icons or items in my system tray? How about the amount of space used in my hard drive? Or the number of icons on my desktop?
I don't want the simple answers to my questions. I want someone to answer these questions who knows. Don't say: "It depends on this, it depends on that." No. I've heard it all before. I know it depends on my distance from the server and I know it depends on how many people are hitting the site. I want real answers. (Maybe Asus or blahblahblah knows what he's talking about? :E )
Also, I am running Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware SE Personal. Is there anything new and important, rather needed, when surfing the net the best?
BTW: I don't all there is to know about internet speeds and downloading, etc. So if what I have said is wrong or confusing, it is my own fault for lack of internet intelligence.
How do I clean out my system? Do I defrag? I also clean out my cookies and history about two times a month. Is that okay or done enough?
What is the difference between cable and broadband?
Thank you. :thumbs: :cheers:

 

[switch]

Strange that the speeds are fluctuating so much, what is your internet provider?

If you are from the UK use this program and post the results: http://www.broadbandspeedtest.net/

if your not from the UK maybe try something like http://www.dslreports.com/stest

There are a few tweaks you can do to optomise your connection however they wont help you with a problem such as this. http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

 

[joule]

if your not from the UK maybe try something like http://www.dslreports.com/stest

I took the test and here are my results.
Are my results up to par?

 

[switch]

I took the test and here are my results.
Are my results up to par?

Yeh they look great if you have a 1.5Mbit connection, however that test probably wasnt as good as the UK one as it only does one test probably to a local server.

Anyway what company is your internet provider?

 

[joule]

Anyway what company is your internet provider?

Comcast

 

[The Hulk]

I have Comcast too.
It's like this - the chain is only as stronger as the weakest link... your connection to any server or website out there is only as fast as the slowest side.
Being that I have Comcast Broadband Cable too, I know it is blazing fast, it's the web sites and download site that you go to that are slowing you down. If a download server has multiple people downloading at the same time, it's going to go slow (much like Valve's right now - after CS:S went on sale). Try doing a Windows update through Microsoft right now, I bet it goes relatively fast.
Only other reason why you could be going slower is there are many other people using the internet/downloading that are using Comcast in your area (using the same switching station). If it is a particular time of day it slows down, that could be the reason. If it's slow, then fast, then slow again in a couple minutes period, more than likely, it's the server/web site you are connected to.

I'm no Asus, but I am pretty sure I am right on with this.

Hulk

 

[Asus]

It might be as simple as understanding the numbers that you see.
There are Bytes and then there are bits. 8 bits make a Byte.

Your internet connection is rated by (Mega or Klio) bits per second. That's how bandwidth is measured.

Your download speed is generally measured in Bytes, like with Internet Explorer or Firefox downloading.
So 128 KB(ytes) /sec is really 1024 Kb(its) /sec or 1Mb(it) /sec.

I believe steam reports bits per second.

 

[joule]

Thanks for the help and answers guys, even though not all of my questions were answered, but anyway.

I have two more questions.
How do I make all windows open in maximize mode?
How do I make all downloaded videos run and be viewed in one specific program? (Such as QuickTime) I want to make all the videos I download to be played in QuickTime, without having to go back to my saved files and change all of them to "Open With"...

 

[XtremesT]

I was having some of the same strange problems with the download speeds going from high to low and back again..
I know it sounds stupid, but i just moved around and kinda "slapped" the side of the cable modem, and my problems were solved! I hope this helps in any.. barbaric way.

 

[blahblahblah]

Cable internet is kinda of weird. You have a maximium bandwith (3 Mbps) for your house, but you are not guaranteed to get it. For each area that a cable internet connection is established, there is a maximum amount of bandwith that can be put out to your neighborhood. Normally, your neighborhood doesn't exceed that bandwith amount and so you cruise the internet at very fast speeds. During busy times (during the early evening hours) you may notice your internet speed actually drops. This is because your local cable connection has maxed out its bandwith output per second for your neighborhood but still needs to satisfy more people in your neighborhood. So they decrease your internet speed to make sure your entire neighborhood has enough bandwith.

For example, I have a 4 Mbps cable connection. During peak hours (early evenings) my connection effectively drops down to a 2 Mbps cable connection because of traffic congestion. That may be an explanation why your internet speed varies like that. Other forms of broadband internet connections (ie DSL) do not have this problem. From my understanding, this was a rather big problem while cable internet was expanded but has more or less been solved.

If your internet is still slow during off-peak times even while using reliable server, your computer can be at fault. I know there are numerous registry tweaks out there to improve your internet speed. I personally have never used them, I just know they exist. You may want to check them out.

Also, since you are new to broadband internet, make sure you always have a software firewall (like zone alarm - there is a free version available) and have an upto date antivirus software. It is also wise to patch windows on a regular basis. I also recommend you getting a router (if you don't have one already) because it serves as a hardware firewall (different from a software firewall) that adds another layer of protection while surfing the internet. If you get bored, check out firefox (a internet explorer browser substitute). Not only is firefox better, it is more secure than internet explorer. Doing all these things will keep your computer spyware and virus free.

 

[joule]

Thank you very much blahblahblah. You went very in-depth in answering some of my questions.
But does anyone know any suggestions or solutions to my other questions stated in this thread?

Thanks!