120 mb/s download conundrum.

[Len]

I recently got awesome internet, from 20 mb/s (2 mb/s on Steam) to 120 mb/s (2 mb/s on Steam). Why is my download the same rate on Steam, when I have 100mb/s more! I did select different regions for the servers, all the same, some (obviously) worse.

[KyleSesh]

Basically its a ploy used by internet providers to get you to buy a faster internet subscription... it will normally say on the ads, "Upto 75MBS internet" when its the "UPTO" which covers the companies... loads of people have complained about not getting the advertised speeds, but it depends entirely on where you are, i live in the country and i get 4mps.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Because downloading files (or within a browser or client) is a reflection of MB per second. Where as your ISP rated speed (or what is shown in an online speed test) is a reflection of Mbit per second.

Plus u will not always get full download speeds, as that is based on not only your network/internet shared load, but the load of the server you are connected to and trying to download from. There are also other factors. If you have Cable for example, then u share a certain amount of bandwidth from the main line coming into your neighborhood and is shared among anyone within your neighborhood who happens to have the same ISP provider as you. With DSL, this works more/less based on how far away your home is to the DSL/Phone Companie's central office, where your phone line actually goes, and then connects up to the central hub to the outside world.

Here are some examples...

http://www.ronstauffer.com/blog/your-internet-speed-megabits-vs-megabytes/

http://www.google.com/#q=120+megabit+%3D+megabyte

[Len]

Oh, okay, thanks then!

[Silicon Vampire]

Frontier sold my neighbor an upgrade that is not possible to get in our area.

If you go to their speedtest page, it shows he is getting the package they sold him.

If you monitor real world usage or use broadbandreports speedtests, he is getting exactly what I'm getting and I haven't bought into there "better package" at all... I know better. We are too far away from the junction.

[Satoru]

Yeah I've noticed a lot of ISPs are 'front loading' the speedtest.net page to give very bogus results that don't reflect real-world performance.