What factors affect your internet download speed

[AW50]

Hi!, I've recently begun to get curious about my internet download speeds. On a good day, my internet download speed is 1 mb/s avg, however it usually is 800kb/s ~ 900 kb/s. I don't know much about download speeds, as I have never really studied or read much about them. However, I would like to know the factors that can increase/improve download speeds. My mate has an avg download speed of 4-5 mb/s, and another has up to 10 mb/s. When comparing to them, my internet is very slow. As such, I would like to know the reason as to why their internet download speed is much higher than mine.

The friend that gets 4-5 mb/s uses ethernet, with his modem and router next to him, however the other friend does not.

I personally am limited to using only Wi-Fi, however once I move, I may be able to use ethernet.

Although this question may seem very stupid, I would much appreciate it if any one would tell me the factors that affect download speeds, and the average download speed one should expect.

 

[Random_tech]

the connection between the house/routor and the server, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest resons why the internet could be slow.
for example fibre can get to speeds above 100MBps, but copper can only really get about 10-25MBps. and wireless modems can get lower.

also another factor is the amount of conjestion on the internet

 

[Random_tech]

also forgot to mention that the reason why fibre can get 100MBps, is becuase there is a lot less loss in the cable its self

 

[AW50]

also forgot to mention that the reason why fibre can get 100MBps, is becuase there is a lot less loss in the cable its self

From my knowledge of light, the reason as to why Opitcal Fibre can let information travel much faster is due to most of the cable being made of very thin "glass", basically having the light carrying your information reflect and refract each time. But how could you ensure the connection between the house/router to the server to be good? In Melbourne, my friend lives in Templestowe East, and receives much faster internet than I do, when I live around Canterbury/Camberwell

 

[Random_tech]

because there is different connections every where, even if fibre passes your area, you still might not get it. also i think most newer houses/estates(well where i live) are getting the advantage of fibre, since it is much eaiser to put in first, rather that in after a few years.

 

[bill001g]

Your question has way to many variable to even come close to a answer. You get different download rates even on the same internet connection when you download files from different locations. When you start comparing different cites you add another level of complexity. Then you have different ISP involved since they all connect differently. Then you have the technology to your house and finally you have the routers in your house.

All this affects the speed.

For most people they have little to no option on the internet connection they can get. It is like you having to use wireless. Some people can only use satellite connections because they live so far away from large cities. If you have the option of living in any city in the world then you could move close to the data you are downloading that has fiber to the house options from large ISP.

So first is to figure out what option if any you even have for the local connection to the internet and then you can try to compare them.

 

[jsmithepa]

1. How much bandwidth you PAID for.

2. Say money is no object and you pay the BEST, then it depends what kind of ISP infrastructure is available to sell in your area.
So when you move, investigate if they have Google Fiber, that is THE BEST.

3. How many people you are sharing this bandwidth in your household. We've been get a lot of, "%&^# Grandpa/Brother is bringing my Internet enjoyment to a halt when they start their Netflix!"

4. Ethernet better than WIFI.