question about bandwidth speeds

Superhands

say I pay for a 3 Mb package from eircom

for whatever reason there will be times when the actual bandwidth speed I'm getting is less than 3 Mb / sec

my question is, at these times (when I'm getting only 1.7 Mb / sec for example), is the fact I'm paying for a 3 Mb package any advantage to me ?

If I was only paying for a 2 Mb package would I also be getting 1.7 Mb ?

All other things being equal, if the maximum bandwidth eircom can give me on my line at this time is 1.7 Mb, will both the 3 Mb and 2 Mb give me the same speed ? Or will the 3 Mb package still give me a better speed (1.7 Mb compared to 1.5 Mb for example) ?

Is it a waste of money paying for the 3 Mb package unless you know your line will be almost always be giving you 2 Mb + ?

Sponge Bob

You are on 2 separate tracks

1. if your line cannot take 3mbits you are correct
2. if your line can take 3mbits but if contention kicks in then at times you will notice a slowdown becuase the circuits are busy and you are sharing them with others , say 7-11pm
3. both

to resolve 1. and maybe save yourself money , can you post your line stats?

Log into the netopia modem and its on the front page thats http://192.168.1.254/

also turn off the wireless if you don't actually use it lest you didn't hear , thats in 'expert mode' as are detailed line stats in the diagnostics.

Superhands

Sponge Bob wrote:

You are on 2 separate tracks

1. if your line cannot take 3mbits you are correct
2. if your line can take 3mbits but if contention kicks in then at times you will notice a slowdown becuase the circuits are busy and you are sharing them with others , say 7-11pm
3. both

to resolve 1. and maybe save yourself money , can you post your line stats?

Log into the netopia modem and its on the front page thats http://192.168.1.254/

also turn off the wireless if you don't actually use it lest you didn't hear , thats in 'expert mode' as are detailed line stats in the diagnostics.

Sponge Bob, can you repost that link ?

Hypothetically (and assuming contention is not different), lets say my line can take take 3 Mb, my question is, at the times when it dips below say 2 Mb (say it goes down to 1.7 Mbs between 7 and 11 as you say), during those times will someone with a 3Mb package get exactly the same speed as someone who has paid for a 2 Mb package?

I currently have clearwire not eircom broadband (though I do have eircom dial up) so not sure if I can test my line

eircom tell me my line is "amber" and I only have a 50/50 chance of getting more than 0.5 Mb/s

my query relates more to my clearwire, where I think I'm only getting less than 1 Mb (according to online speed tests) despite paying for 2 Mb, so I'm wondering whether I should switch to the 1 Mb option, although I'm wondering whether this will affect my speed (even when it is usually below 1 Mb, is there any advantage in paying for the 2 Mb option ?)

Sponge Bob

huh ??

line stats tell you if its the line or the exchange thats slow . click that link you quoted !!!

Superhands

you'll have to help me out here Bob, don't know too much about these things

I clicked on your link and got "The server at 192.168.1.254 is taking too long to respond."

am I doing something wrong ?

AlmightyCushion

Sponge Bob wrote:

huh ??

line stats tell you if its the line or the exchange thats slow . click that link you quoted !!!

He's with clearwire not eircom. I don't know why he mentions eircom in his OP.

Sponge Bob

ah!