Why we dont get our total download speed we pay for

[xbob]

I understand that we pay for a certain amount of download speed, but we don't get it all. But what I do not get is this: my dad pays for 5Mbps download, and a speed test shows on my computer 3.5-ish Mbps, but I understand why that is for me [Im using EoP 85Mbps max, and are connected to a switch with other users]. But when I download a file using a very fast server that I know is fast, why do I only get 300Kbps max, while someone with a 8Mbps gets 900Kbps. I understand this is a N00B question also.

[beta7]

umm its cuz the isp is screwing you... thats pretty much it so heres what your gona do. 1. go to a download manager site and download the download manager... popular ones are Flashget and some other crap i recomend one called "internet download manager" i love it and i can set up to 16 lines on it but i only have 8... heres how it works... 1 server 1 file 1 download manager broken up into 8 streams and each one of them pushes the connection to the max.... so if i were to lets say download a 1 gig file from some site through firefox it would go around 200-300 KB/s so then i go to my IDM and download it through there and all of a sudden i see it pushing my connection up to 800 KB/s aka 8 mbit and the files done in notime almost... 30 min or so...

some disadvantages: none realy but some websites only alow one download per ip once every X seconds min etc...

umm and yah i agree the isp's in america and canada are ****ing ppl over and i would much rather live in japan and live off 100 mbit where its HOLYOMFG you serious! type of fast.

[_sorrow_]

I think its a matter of bad tubes somewhere on the internet. May be due to bad plumbing :p

[noonebutme]

Overhead (Slight amount) + distance from CO (If your on DSL) - limitations on how far the cables can go, or # of people on node (If your on Cable) - limitations on how much the cables can handle at once.

For instance, when i was on Verizon DSL, i got speeds of around 1.5mbit down, and 128kbit upload - but the plan was advertised for 1mbit down, 128kbit up, due to the fact that i was close enough to the datacenter to get a slight speed boost. But when i was on Optimum Online (Cable), advertised speeds were 10mbit down, 1mbit up but i didnt get past 3mbit down, 256kbit up because of the large number of people on the node. Though now that im on Verizon FiOS, i get an advertised 20mbit down, 5mbit up and get actual speeds of 21mbit down, 4.75mbit up ^_^