DSL faster or slower than dialup?

clearz

Hi

I read that there is a contention ratio of 48:1 on DSL in Ireland does this mean that the stated 512K download speed is been shared between 48 people. If this is the case then the 10 fold increase from a 56k dialup connection is potentially been divided by 48 giving a net 5 fold decrease. Please tell me im wrong.

Regards
Clearz.

K!LL!@N

You're wrong.

Killian

kensutz

how about speak english!!!

Moriarty

Technically you're almost right, but in practice it doesnt work the way you think it would. Have a search for 'contention' on this forum, theres been a number of threads dealing with it. Also remember that your modem connection is also contended.

muffen

how about speak english!!!

I understood what he meant, even though it was wrong

Just as an FYI, your comment isn't written very well, so maybe you shouldn't complain about his comment.

Anyways, 512 / 48 = 10,67.
Hence, if one ADSL line (512) was shared between 48 people, everyone would get 10.67Kb. This is assuming that everyone is using it, and the bandwidth is shared perfectly. This would give you a five fold DECREASE in speed compared to a 56Kbit modem.

Now, the 48:1 contention ratio isn't done per 48 users, but done for everyone using the service combined. For Eircom, I don't think its noticable at all right now, they need wayyy more customers before you can notice it at all.
Furthermore, everyone using ADSL and being online at the same time maxing their line is highely unlikely, especially with a 4gig DL cap in place. Therefore, I don't think you should worry about it at all (unless you have netsource, cause they blame all their problems on the contention ration).

Boston

afaik esat and the like but contention of every 2mb pipe. its all worked out on probability, what the changes your using 100% of your banwidth at 100% of the time, pretty slim, unless your a complete bandwidth whore;.

SkepticOne

Originally posted by clearz
I read that there is a contention ratio of 48:1 on DSL in Ireland does this mean that the stated 512K download speed is been shared between 48 people. If this is the case then the 10 fold increase from a 56k dialup connection is potentially been divided by 48 giving a net 5 fold decrease. Please tell me im wrong.

This will only happen if all the users are downloading at the same time.

crawler

On a fully loadaed ( max users of 192 with average usage patterns ) RADSL pipe you should find the service about the same as 2 channel IDSN , i.e about 128k on, average.