
Originally Posted by
StoneChucker
This will be obvious to some here, but maybe a few folk will find it useful...
It is true what they say, once you go broadband - you never go back (mostly anyway...) I'm on the ihug broadband, and was very happy with my full speed plan (they all are full speed at ihug). I was downloading files at up to 310 kb/s actual speed, that's about 1 MB every 3.3 seconds, what would take between 4 to 6 minutes on dial-up.
What ISP's don't tell you, is that your upload speed also affects your download speed. Only the top 2 plans at ihug have the "full speed" upload rate. I was on Broadband Lite at $59.99 (3584k download, 128k upload, the 3584 doesn't mean that amout per sec, it's a theoretical value). Upgrading to one of the more expensive top 2 plans increases your upload speed from 128k to 512k. Whether you are on the top, or second from top plan, there is absolutely no difference in any speed whatsoever, the top plan gives you a slightly bigger data alowance. Now that I'm on Broadband Power (3584k download, 512k upload), my download speed has shot up from at the most 310kb/s, to 425kb/s true d/l speed, that's 1 MB every 2.4 seconds!!!
The reason for that is, all information or data, is sent over the internet using a protocol called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). From dusting out the cobwebs, I know (and it's on ihug's site somewhere deep in the info pages) that all information sent over the internet is done so by sending what they call "packets" of information. Your computer receives this information in the form of packets, after requesting those said packets (of whatever you were downloading, music, etc...). That is the first point of your pc SENDING data to request the data. Then, while the remote computer is sending the data (packets), after every few packets your pc SENDS a confirmation packet of data to confirm the receipt of the previous data (packets). So you can see that you actually send (upload) alot of data while downloading files and surfing the net. The faster your pc sends confirmations of the successful receipt of data packets, the faster the remote pc sends the next lot of data packets.
So, open your coin bags a little wider and enjoy true full speed broadband!
Hope that was readable, it's late and I often ramble on over explaining things.
Dave.
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