Trouble-Shooting Internet Speeds [comparisons]

[Blacksheepboy]

Alright. To start this one off:

Got my slow internet upgraded from 256kbps to 1.5kbps. Any increase in speed, and I am happy. Fantastic and boring huh?

Well, my Qwest internet never really ran at 256kb. It ran at 225kb. I was always ok and content with that. I gave Qwest the benefit-of-the-doubt. But now, I should supposedly be running at 1.5kbps. Oh no, not to be mistaken! I am only running at 594kbps. (I've run multiple tests... yes, I claim to be pooter-savvy)

My questions to you folks...
1.  Is this common? Is anyone else with the "1.5mpbs Qwest High Speed Internet" getting 1/3 their advertised speed?
2.  Could it be simply the "area that I live in"?

Yes, I will call tech support etc... but before I do, hell, this problem could be common-place for people, and if it is, I guess we're being gyped. But you know, why should I complain... it's almost the same price as the 225kbps.

[a-4-year-old]

I've never gotten 100% of the advertised speed with verizon but 1/3 would indicate a problem.

[Graham]

Toss them a massive BF, if they don't do anything go higher and toss an ever bigger BF.

[Flo`]

Hah, Qwest. We were their customer for 4+ years with them promising us a speed upgrade every year but it never coming. Yeah, we also had 256Kbps and it was the slowest s**t I had ever experienced. Hence, we saw an ad for Mediacom and switched, costing us the same/month and a 80x speed upgrade.

As for your problem, I have had several problems with Qwest modems in the past. After a year or so, they really start to degrade and you start to only get a small percentage of your promised speed. Even more so in the winter, even with a pristine modem, their speeds are never to the max.

(Seriously, they made us pay like 30 dollars a month for a 256kbps connection.)

[Blacksheepboy]

As for your problem, I have had several problems with Qwest modems in the past. (1)After a year or so, they really start to degrade and you start to only get a small percentage of your promised speed. Even more so in the winter, even with a pristine modem, their speeds are never to the max.

(2)(Seriously, they made us pay like 30 dollars a month for a 256kbps connection.)

(1) And we've had our modem for ~6 years. Still works... fine enough though.
(2) Yup, that's what we were/are paying.

[Dascoo]

By Kbps do you mean kilobytes or kilobits?

Why does anyone use bits anyways?

[Blacksheepboy]

Because that is the common phrase. I suppose if you want it in other terms, it would be nice if my average internet download speed was 150kbs.

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

Why does anyone use bits anyways?

I always thought transfer speed was measured in bits because data travels in bit streams (as opposed to files, whose atomic unit is the byte).

[10th_account]

Modems? Kilobits?

Where do you people live, the 90's?!