NZB files download at super speed

Craig321 · 3 May 2008 at 01:36

Hi,

I've noticed that whenever I download a NZB file it's usually instant, I assumed this was because they're all very small (they usually are).

Today I decided to get a NZB file from a 60GB file to see how fast it downloads - the NZB file was 10.2MB.

I'm stuck with 512k internet here as we're too far away from the exchange to get anything better, the connection maxes out at 55-60kb/s.

Anyway, I managed to download this NZB file at 310kb/s - it wasn't one of those random bursts you get at the beginning of a download, this was constant 310kb/s speed (I could tell it wasn't one of those random bursts as it was changing from ~310-315kb/s throughout the download).

I know 310kb/s isn't that fast these days, but for me only ever having had ~1mb internet and then dropping back to 512k, it's fast.

I'm just wondering how on earth I'm getting these NZB files so fast when my internet maxes out at 60kb/s (we're on fixed 512k).

I don't mean the actual usenet download by the way, I mean the 'link' file that's inserted into a Usenet program to then get the file.

Craig.

Caged · 3 May 2008 at 01:41

It's a text file hence compresses very well.

Craig321 · 3 May 2008 at 01:44

How does that work then? Surely just because it's a text file doesn't mean I can download it more than 5x my max download speed?

tom_e · 3 May 2008 at 01:47

I think its something along the lines of your not actually downloading at more than 50-60kbps but because the file can effectivly be zipped up into a much smaller file its like its downloading at 300kbps if that makes any sence

Craig321 · 3 May 2008 at 01:48

So you mean it's being compressed on the fly then?

Does make sense, the 16MB NZB I've been testing with compresses to 700kb using WinRAR's 'best compression'.

Caged · 3 May 2008 at 01:56

Yes it's compressed and decompressed on the fly, and because it's text it does it very well.

helmutcheese · 3 May 2008 at 01:57

Im lost cause you talked about GB then MB then KB then Kb. lol

I now dont know what size your on about.

I guess you mean you got 300KB/Sec not 300Kb/Sec on a 512Kb/Sec line.

It does not matter if file are compressed or not, you grab a file of say 60MB, it will take X time to get at your full speed (lets say you did get full speed).

Sometimes speeds get mad high, Im on 20meg, but Ive seen 28meg during early hours for 5-10mins periods when there is scheduled work in my area.

When I was 512Kb/Sec back in 2001, I got 65KB/Sec all the time and then later on 1meg I got 130KB/Sec.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/csdlspeedcalc.html

helmutcheese · 3 May 2008 at 02:01

Caged said:
Yes it's compressed and decompressed on the fly, and because it's text it does it very well.

That must be his answer.

Craig321 · 3 May 2008 at 02:13

helmutcheese said:
Im lost cause you talked about GB then MB then KB then Kb. lol

I now dont know what size your on about.

I guess you mean you got 300KB/Sec not 300Kb/Sec on a 512Kb/Sec line.

It does not matter if file are compressed or not, you grab a file of say 60MB, it will take X time to get at your full speed (lets say you did get full speed).

Sometimes speeds get mad high, Im on 20meg, but Ive seen 28meg during early hours for 5-10mins periods when there is scheduled work in my area.

When I was 512Kb/Sec back in 2001, I got 65KB/Sec all the time and then later on 1meg I got 130KB/Sec.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/csdlspeedcalc.html

I really don't get the obsession with Kb kb MB Mb etc is these days, I'm obviously speaking in the most common way these measurements are given.

Download speeds - kb/s (or KB/s if you really want)
Internet connection 512k (or 512Kb/s if you want... which would be more like a 5mb line these days, but I'm too far away)
Filesize - 16 megabytes

Caged said:
Yes it's compressed and decompressed on the fly, and because it's text it does it very well.

Thank you.

helmutcheese said:
That must be his answer.

Yup, it is.