Internet Download/Upload Speeds...

[Franko]

I've been trying to upload all day some files to one of those online storage facilities. Trouble is it's taking forever, I get an average upload speed of 0.6mbps and at this rate the near Terabyte of data I want to upload is going to take forever.

My Sky broaband package tells me that my download speed is roughly 2.6mbps and the upload speed is 0.6mbps. Can I change the upload speed somehow or is this a limitation of some sort on the internet or with my provider.

The only reply I've had from Sky was to confirm the above figures and something about me being at the furthest point possible from the exchange.

I was hoping their would be a way to increase the upload speed as it seems strange to me that it's only a fraction of the download speed.

Anybody have any ideas about this & if it's possible to change the upload speed, or is it a limitation of the internet.

Cheers :drink:

Franko

[Franko]

It looks like you're on a ADSL connection, which indeed is "asymmetrical". If this is the highest speed they can offer you - you are indeed quite a long way from the DSL box of your provider...

If you really need to get 1TB uploaded it is going to take about 414 days - unless you decide to use your internet connection for something else as well.

Maybe you can find a local place that has high-bandwidth internet that you can use, such as a university. If you can get 50Mbps upload there, you could do it in a few days...

Im only using Sky's broadband for the moment as I got it at a bargain price, £30 for a year. I can get Virgin broadband here on a fiber optic line instead, but Im still curious to know why the upload speeds are only a fraction of the download speeds, is their a reason for this...

@karlos
yup, money's no object here, but I do like to get value for it...

[Franko]

Yes. Finite bandwidth and the fact that most users download orders of magnitude more data than they ever upload. Very few people need fast upload speeds.

So I take it then, that your stuck with the speed your provider gives you and there's no way possible a user can change this...

(mousehouse's 414 days estimate, look's a wee bit daunting even for an insomniac like me...  )

[Franko]

While I understand Karlos's point about finite bandwidths, but being new to the whole internet experience, it still doesn't make much sense to me that the upload speed is so low.

I would have thought that if your not using it for a download then surely that speed/bandwith could be used for uploading instead...

Or are their technical/hardware reasons for this not to be possible..

[Franko]

Just had a quick look at the street stats site. It shows someone else in my street using Virgins broadband @ £20 per month. Their download speed is 17.5mbps and the upload speed is only 0.4mbps.

Now Virgin here are as far as I know the fastest providers, but for that money it doesn't seem worth it, when that person is getting a slower upload speed than I am, seems crazy to me...

[Franko]

You've been told numerous times already that it's technical reasons.
Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetric_Digital_Subscriber_Line

Piru, I don't know what your problem is, but if people are quite happy to reply with their answers then why do you have reply with your short snappy comments.

If you've got a problem with me then PM me and we can discuss it...

[Franko]

While I may not agree with some of your views & opinions on certain things, you do however on occasion post some very interesting facts, figures and advice that I find most useful.

However as short as the thread may be, I had begun to ask if someone could explain why it is that you can't use the upload bandwidth as much as the download bandwidth, in the hope of a more technical explanation.

Now if your not happy with me asking such questions even when others are quite happy to reply, then I'm not going to take the same childish route you have with your 'tough' reply, I shall simply have to put you on my ignore list, which would be a shame really, as I have said you do have some quite interesting things to say.

[Franko]

Have u bothered to read the article Piru's pointed out? It explains everything just perfectly. Piru's style may be slightly irritating to some but he does have a point. Always.

Yes I have read it and found it quite interesting, as I have already said some of Pirus's post can be very informative & useful, but he doesn't have to be so snappy along with it or retort with a like it or lump it attitude.

[Franko]

There are certain frequency areas reserved for upstream and downstream. Since most traffic in residential network connections is downstream the specifications have been crafted so that the limited bandwidth is mostly reserved for download. That's the reason it's called ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line).


Had you read the link I provided you'd know the answer to your question.

@Piru

As I said I had read the link, but being new to the internet it's a bit much to comprehend all that info at once. The answer you have given here clearly explains now to me the reasons for this limitation in bandwidth usage.

Thats what I mean by you giving some very useful and informative advice to others, you are obviously good at it, just wish you had a wee bit more patience at times in particular with those of us who aren't as well informed as yourself. Thank you for answering my question for me...

[Franko]

Well from both Karlos & Piru, I now have a much clearer understanding of how the internet/bandwidths  actually work. Having spent much of today googling it and contacting Sky about it, I now have two folk who have explained in a short period of time, who have actually taken the time & bothered to explain in terms a newbie like myself can understand, thank you both...

[Franko]

Franko - you're in Livingston I see.  I work for THUS (we own Demon).  I'm pretty sure we've unbundled Livingston exchanges so we may have ADSL2+ in your area (up to 16mb down and 2mb Assured rate up).  Might be worth looking into?  I know you got a good deal with Sky but if you need more maybe you just bite the bullet and see if it's available?  If we've unbundled the exchange that you're on you would be on a THUS / C&W DSLAM with very little or no contention.  

Also - if you don't want to go down that route - the one thing that might be able to speed your connection up is an iPlate.  Ideal for folk (like me) who are at the end of the copper from the exchange.  Upped my DL from 2mb to 3.8mb and my UL from 325 to 768kb.  It's dependant on the phone socket you have but very much worth a look given it's only just over a fiver.  Since I put mine in - I've had months at a time of stability instead of the days I used to get.  http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=7256

Cheers

John

Cheers for that John, had a look at that site just now and it looks like I'll be able to use it on mine. For less than six quid it's worth having a go at anyway. I too am at the furthest point from the exchange and Sky's original tests showed I should only be get 1.5mbps instead of the 2.6mbps that I am actually achieving.

It looks well worth trying it anyway even if I can get only a slight upload speed increase, it's gota be worth six quid...

Cheers :drink:

Franko

[Franko]

Here's a youtube video that shows & explains how simple it is to install the Iplate John mentioned...

[youtube]JbHbOJIsTPw[/youtube]

@Gizmo350

What on earth is that, that's just about to go pop !!!

[Franko]

Just as It seemed this thread was headed... Kudos for grown ups!

(was just a little humor....)

BTW, Franko... I liked your other avater alot better!!!

The only thing about to go pop at the start of this thread was my head...

Just ordered one of those IPlates, £8.59 including P&P, hopefully in a few days I'll find out if this little gadget works...

Yeah, I liked my old avatar better too, only change it cos of recent comments about me trolling, think I'll go back to my old one again...

(oops, just realised the time, WWE Hell In A Cell pay per view starting shortly, Need to get my Curry on and stock up with munchies for four hours of sheer comedy, so everyone can have peace for the next few hours, well someone's gotta watch it...)

[Franko]

I've been uploading hundreds of ADF files today, between 5pm & 10pm tonight all I was managing were upload speeds of between 450 to 560kbps.

But at around 2am this morning the upload speeds suddenly averaged 680 to 820kbps...

Still don't quite understand this as after speaking to Sky today to try and confirm that the IPlate I have ordered, would be ok to use, they insisted that where I live and the distance from the exhange, shows on all their tests that I shouldn't be able to achieve anything greater than 550kbps !!!

[Franko]

Received the IPlate today, easily installed but didn't work at first, needed to bend the connection pins up a bit, as they weren't making contact in the BT wall socket.

So far the speeds are still the same, but the leaflet that came with it says it may take up to 3 days for the exchange to automatically adjust to a higher bandwidth setting.

Just have to wait and see now if it lives up to the hype I've read about it, supposedly giving up to a third extra speed increase...