questions about my download speeds

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530
I ran a speed test and here are the results, I know they aren't the best, but WiFi is pretty bad in my area: https://gyazo.com/508bf9280da171a7d5f9fc7c0355e4af

This is usually the results each time I run a test, sometimes the ping goes up randomly. Anyway, as you see, I have about a 2mbps download speed, but when I download things, I get nowhere near that, it is a fraction of what I should be getting, here is an example downloading a game on Steam: https://gyazo.com/1cfe212a5cd5dc1dd305d74d9be50ff2 I am only getting around 200kbps which is way less than I should be getting.

I contacted Verizon about this multiple times, but they always say some bs like it might just be your PC, I even tried on a wired connection, still the same results. Anyone know what is going on and how I can fix this?
 
Solution


Ahh...you're confusing megabits vs megabytes.
Your ISP and speedtest.net talk megabits.
Whatever you're downloading from talks megabytes.

Approx 8:1 ratio
200kilobytes/sec (what the download site says) = approx 1.6 megabits/sec (what your ISP and speedtest.net says)

So....you are not missing anything. it is doing what it is supposed to be doing.

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530

The Steam download test was just an example, I get around that same speed every time I download something, no matter the site or app

 

Random_tech

Honorable
Aug 24, 2015
502
1
11,165

same with most websites, they are futher away from you, and they are likly to be more congested than speedtest.net
 

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530

First of all, I just want to say thank you for helping me on both my recent topics.

1. DSL
2. I checked their site, we are paying for 1.1-3 mbps download, 384-768 kbps upload
3. I brought my laptop in the other room and ran both tests wired
4. Link to picture of speedtest results above, here is link anyway: https://gyazo.com/508bf9280da171a7d5f9fc7c0355e4af

 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


With this: (from your link)
KtTsMyb.png


Compared to this "1.1-3 mbps download, 384-768 kbps upload"

You are getting pretty much exactly what you are paying for.
 

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530

That is what the results of the test say, yes, but when I actually try downloading something, it doesn't download at 1.8 mbps, it usually goes between 150-250 kbps.

 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Ahh...you're confusing megabits vs megabytes.
Your ISP and speedtest.net talk megabits.
Whatever you're downloading from talks megabytes.

Approx 8:1 ratio
200kilobytes/sec (what the download site says) = approx 1.6 megabits/sec (what your ISP and speedtest.net says)

So....you are not missing anything. it is doing what it is supposed to be doing.
 
Solution

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530

I had no clue there was a difference between bits and bytes, I don't know a whole lot on this kind of stuff. And I wasn't "harassing" Verizon, I was just wondering why my speeds are the way they are, but now I see why, the whole bits and bytes thing makes sense, thanks for clearing that up for me.
 

publicenemy1207

Reputable
Nov 7, 2015
33
0
4,530

Yea I just found out there was a difference between bits and bytes, that makes more sense now, damn I really gotta see if we can get better internet :p I am guessing when my parents chose that plan, they thought it was bytes not bits.