Comments on: Go, Man, Go!

By: Jim Bass

Jim Bass — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 03:44:11 +0000

Roger,

If you’re using Firefox, get the free bandwidth extension. My Adelphia cable modem in Thousand Oaks reports 2.6 megabits. The CNET test was half that. But I know from experience downloading large files that the faster speed is true.

Verizon is busy installing fiber to the premises in parts of LA and Ventura counties. They offer 5 megabits down and 3 megabits up for $34.95. I can’t wait.

By: Jeff Harrell

Jeff Harrell — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 03:02:59 +0000

Roberts, I got that bizarre result on my first attempt. I’d never been to that Web site before.

I’m pretty confident that their site is, in some way, broken. It might affect other folks, it might just affect me.

By: Roberts

Roberts — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 01:20:51 +0000

Jim, that’s because the downloaded file was cached.

By: Jim C.

Jim C. — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 01:13:38 +0000

Yes, try broadbandreports as suggested by mcg. That one jibes with the speed I get from Usenet downloads. McAfee was a bit high, and CNet showed less than half of that. You can have a bit of fun with the CNet test. When it's done, go back just one page. I got INFINITY as my speed! (Yes, I know that's invalid because I've circumvented something.)

By: Athos

Athos — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:06:09 +0000

Time Warner Cable / Road Runner just announced a service upgrade for Stevenson Ranch, CA – my test – 4571.6 kbs.

Prior to the upgrade – 2000 – 2400kbs was the normal speed seen. 2 years ago, before Time Warner bought the local system, 1100kbs was the norm.

The test was run on 1 of 4 computers connected via a Linksys WRT54G Wired / Wireless Router and the cable modem provided by TW. The wired connection from the PC to the Router is at 100mbs.

I’ve no complaints with the speed or the value.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 22:06:28 +0000

Roger,

Using the test you linked, the speed for my Comcast cable modem (in Venice, CA) was 5803.7 kbps.

Using the test at http://www.broadbandreports.com/stest, I clocked in at 2966 kbps down and 220 kbps up.

By: BigFire

BigFire — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 21:29:56 +0000

Roger, try DSL Report’s test, which is a bit more comprehensive than CNET’s test.

FYI: I’m typing this via Adelphia’s cable modem, and my speed is 2869.2. Prior to cable modem, my speed was iDSL which is extremely slow.

By: Macker

Macker — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 21:21:00 +0000

I live in Central Phoenix and I clocked in at 839.9, about 40 times as fast as my old dialup connection. You better believe I’m happy with that!

By: Jackson

Jackson — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 20:37:12 +0000

Here in Australia we’ve been restricted to a max speed of 1500kbps (about 1360kbps in real terms) by our main telco (Isp’s could only re-sell the telco’s dsl product). Recently the local go getter Isp has installed dslams into many exchanges across Australia which has allowed it to bypass Telstra’s product and offer it own choice of speeds. What they’ve done is to just say whatever speed your line can handle, thats what you get. Adsl 1 has a maximum speed of 8000kbps (dependant on proximity to the exchange) and many people are reporting speeds close to that. Most seem to be getting around 5000 to 7000kbps. (naturally this is only to sites that can produce that much bandwidth)

I’m stuck with the 1500kbps product so I’m still envious of Rogers speeds.

(I suppose “stuck” isn’t the right word, I, like Mark, remember only to well the days of dial-up and getting excited about a download speed of 45kbps instead of my normal 35kbps!)

By: Mark Poling

Mark Poling — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 20:04:58 +0000

Deep in the heart of Brooklyn, I’m getting a little better than 4000 kbps on the machine directly connected to the cable modem, and 1257 kbps on the laptop using my wireless waypoint.

I do remember the bad old days of dial-up….