Why can't my 1MB connection utilise all its' bandwidth?

Richdog · 26 Aug 2006 at 21:09

I'm currently running one download at 104kb/s and then decide to add another one.. First download stays at 104kb/s while the next one goes to a constant 60kb/s. That equals a total 164kb/s.

With this in mind, how come my average dload speed on a good day is 111kb/s? Is there no way of using the full bandwidth other than multiple downloads? :confused:

Sumanji · 26 Aug 2006 at 21:13

Well your 1MB won't give you more than 128k/s anyway (a little lower taking into account TCP/IP overhead). No idea how you're getting 164

tolien · 26 Aug 2006 at 21:14

Because it's misreporting (or working with an average) - 164 kB/s = 1.3Mbps.

Richdog · 26 Aug 2006 at 21:16

tolien said:
Because it's misreporting (or working with an average) - 164 kB/s = 1.3Mbps.

But my reports are usually pretty accurate... can it really be 40kb/s off?

EDIT - Just started another dload and it crept back up to a total 160kb/s again.

tolien · 26 Aug 2006 at 21:27

Richdog said:
But my reports are usually pretty accurate... can it really be 40kb/s off?

It has to be if you're getting more than is possible

Depends where you're getting your values from too. Browser values are regularly random.

If you start two transfers at the same time (or the one file with multiple connections), do you get the same inflated result?

Sumanji · 26 Aug 2006 at 22:35

What do the broadband speed-testers say your max line speed is?

Richdog · 26 Aug 2006 at 22:37

Sumanji said:
What do the broadband speed-testers say your max line speed is?

1MB, so I guess the value must be wrong, it's just that usually on single downloads it's very accurate form what I can tell.

BUT regardless of whether the 160kb/s value is wrong, I still get a higher download speed with seperate downloads than I do on one. Just wondered if there was anyway of optimising it.

csmager · 27 Aug 2006 at 10:11

Not uncommon. Best thing to optimise it is to use a download manager that can create multiple connections to the same file.

Richdog · 27 Aug 2006 at 10:22

csmager said:
Not uncommon. Best thing to optimise it is to use a download manager that can create multiple connections to the same file.

I tried Star Downloader which does just that but for some reason it had trouble with some links/downloads. Not quite sure why...

Sumanji · 27 Aug 2006 at 11:36

Try GetRight, used to be uber for me in the good old days