Question:
Is my internet provider scamming me?
2016-01-25 14:57:20 UTC
Ok so we have been with our provider for a little over two years now and we have a 15mb package. If i run a speed test it will say our download speed is roughly between 6/7mb and upload speed between 0/0.30mb however when im downloading something like a game (currently downloading GTA V) the download speed is on average 600kb but today i am peaking at 200kb and we are fed up with it because it is so bloody slow, however when we ring up they always drop their safe word "your download speed is expected to be between 5/8mb so we can't do anything to help" but quite clearly our download speed is absolutely shocking and they refuse to do anything about it. is this acceptable? should we just pack our bags and change providers?is there something they could do but are refusing to? does my download speed sound about right? i need some advice from someone who knows more than i do about it all.
Three answers:
Tracy L
2016-01-25 15:36:58 UTC
Use a real speedtest like http://speedtest.net and use a wired machine to the modem.

Wifi will drop speeds by 20-30%. Also realize that when you are downloading something the speed is shown in BYTES per second not bits per second. Companies always advertise in bits. There are eight bits in one Byte. So 200kBs is 1600kbs. 600kBs is 4800kbs (or 4.8mbs)



When downloading from a server you will get only the amount of speed the SERVER can deliver which may or may not be anywhere near what your service is capable of delivering. Using different servers will usually return different speeds depending on how loaded the particular server happens to be at the time of the download.



6/7 mbs is SLOW service in most areas at the present time but a few years ago was fast. In the first quarter of 2015, Akamai said, the average U.S. Internet connection speed was 11.9Mbps. Which is nearly twice your ISP's speed. You may want to see if they have a faster package. If you are some distance from the "connection point" you may not be able to get faster service. Our cable service is near 60Mbs/5Mbs upload.

DSL is not near that fast, Fiber may be faster in some locations.

Don't assume you are getting scammed, you probably aren't. Most dsl uploads are still between .5 and 1.5mbs so .3 is slow unless you are on wifi which would convert to that speed in most situations.
Metalplanttag
2016-01-25 15:04:34 UTC
Scamming...no likely, it is just crappy - if you can move to a new one I would do that.
?
2016-01-25 17:37:35 UTC
You must get what you pay foy for.Otherwise get another ISP


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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