[SOLVED] When I download a file, why do I get lower DL speeds than what I'm told on various broadband speed checkers?

[elliotpage]

Basically when I download files off the internet, my DL speed always hovers around 500kb/s (very slow) whilst in speedtest.net apparently my broadband DL speed is at least 2.78 Mb/s. Is this normal?

 

[jeremyj_83]

Depends on where you are downloading from for one. However, a lot of ISPs make sure that when you go to speedtest.net or something similar that you are going to get your best speed possible.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Is your download speed 500kb/s or kB/s? Bits vs bytes.

As said above, your download speed also depends on how fast the server you're downloading from is serving up that data. A lot of free file hosting sites only offer limited bandwidth unless you pay to be a premium user or something.

 

[elliotpage]

Depends on where you are downloading from for one. However, a lot of ISPs make sure that when you go to speedtest.net or something similar that you are going to get your best speed possible.

well one thing I've noticed is that regardless where I download from, the download speed is always capped at 500kb/s so I dont think this is the problem surely?

 

[TJ Hooker]

Try downloading a game from Steam. Do you still get the same speeds?

 

[elliotpage]

Try downloading a game from Steam. Do you still get the same speeds?

Yeah I use steam as my true tester tbh, always peaks at 500kb/s

 

[TJ Hooker]

I'm pretty sure steam reports download speeds in kB/s. 500 kB/s = 4000 kb/s = 4 Mb/s.

 

[elliotpage]

I'm pretty sure steam reports download speeds in kB/s. 500 kB/s = 4000 kb/s = 4 Mb/s.

Ohhh so Steam is telling me bytes and speed checker is telling me in bits?

 

[TJ Hooker]

I think so. Most speed checkers I've seen (e.g. speedtest.net) report bits, whereas Steam reports in bytes.

 

[jeremyj_83]

I'm pretty sure steam reports download speeds in kB/s. 500 kB/s = 4000 kb/s = 4 Mb/s.

Ohhh so Steam is telling me bytes and speed checker is telling me in bits?

Yes. When you see your download speed from Windows or Steam you are seeing it in KBps whereas speedtest.net and such tell you Kbps since your ISPs always tell you your connecting speed in bits/sec.

 

[elliotpage]

so basically the answer is I just have slow ass internet?

 

[jeremyj_83]

so basically the answer is I just have slow ass internet?

4 Mbps internet would have been fast in 2006, average in 2009, and painfully slow in 2019.

 

[jsmithepa]

so basically the answer is I just have slow ass internet?

The answer is, this is what it is, 500KB/S = 4mb/s

But ya, 4mb these days is 8-track, cassette. Gotta spend some more $ bro.