broadband speed

[patkins]

Does any know what an average good download speed for broadband is. Am currently downloading iTunes and the reading is between 4 and 6 kb per sec? Is this pathetic or what?

[unadkat]

Does any know what an average good download speed for broadband is. Am currently downloading iTunes and the reading is between 4 and 6 kb per sec? Is this pathetic or what?

is all down to your connection that your on currently

whats your downstream speed reported as in your router GUI..

So for example if your router is reporting your downstream speed as 3MBPS

then your downloads should be hitting at least 300 kbps

I would run a speed test and see and also download from another site to see that its not your connection.

All in All 6kbps is really really bad

Unles Itunes got issues



regards

[patkins]

Thanks unadkat. I`m new to cp. I`m with 3 broadband with the dongle in usb port, am trying to download itunes player exe.Have seen abroadband speed test some posts back I think by devilfish. Can I run this test while downld is continueing( 4 hours or more to go) or should I stop do/load to do this? Was on int explor where speed was slower changed to firefox and speed increased to the present. Im on wind.xp.Check on stats shows current d/l speed all over the place Average speed 42kb/ps.

[steppenwolf]

Hi Pat, you can test your speed here

Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test

Something is wrong obviously cause your download is poor.

[ianmac]

That speed is very bad, depends on what BB package you have with 3 & how far away from their transmitter, but the minimum BB package that I saw for 3 is 3.6mb in speed.

Here is a coverage checker for them.

3 - Mobile Broadband - Coverage & speed

Try the postcode checker with your postcode & see what it says, there's also tips on how to improve your signal strength, which if you do that will also increase your speed.

With the info on what your BB speed package should be with them & the info from the coverage checker you should have an idea on what you should be getting into your 3 dongle, so you can then contact 3, they state this on their website Pat:

"How fast is it?
The speed of Mobile Broadband access is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). When other mobile operators talk about the speed of their Mobile Broadband they talk about theoretical maximum speeds, not the speeds you actually experience. At 3 we talk about actual speeds. So even though our network has a maximum speed of 3.6Mbps, we say ?up to 2.8 Mbps?.

As a guide, an average speed of 1Mbps or 1.5Mbps lets you download a 3-4 minute music track in 30 seconds or less. In techie terms, our Mobile Broadband network uses HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) to get you onto the internet really fast"

But there could poss be another complication, like: if you are using a USB2 port connection or if you have just a standard USB port connection, you could try & move the laptop in another room, upstairs, front or back of the house to see if the speed changes, if it does you can get an idea where in a straight line their transmitter is so you can use as less of your house walls to go through as possible.

If you know the direction of their transmitter from your house, you can also increase the signal from you 3 dongle in one direction like the way a satelite dish or tv arial works, by blanking the signal from behind the dongle it will increase the signal infront of it.

I.E. instead of the signal from the dongle going in a "circle", by blanking out the back where you do not want the signal to go, you will force the signal to make an "oval" shape which will increase the strength in one direction, so you can point it towards their transmitter like you would a tv arial/satelite dish.
You will have to experiment with what to use though I.E: selotape the dongle in the middle of a metal kitchen collender or half a bake been tin or something so it will look & work like a satelite dish does.

--- Ian ---

[patkins]

Thanks stephenwolf for the link. Tried it and like all other links and downloads it only loaded so far. Took 6 mins to 3/4 load and seem to go no further. Have to go offline now but will be back tomorrow, Any chance I could borrow that axe on your avatar. I have a good use for it. Once again Thank You.

[patkins]

That speed is very bad, depends on what BB package you have with 3 & how far away from their transmitter, but the minimum BB package that I saw for 3 is 3.6mb in speed.

Here is a coverage checker for them.

3 - Mobile Broadband - Coverage & speed

Try the postcode checker with your postcode & see what it says, there's also tips on how to improve your signal strength, which if you do that will also increase your speed.

With the info on what your BB speed package should be with them & the info from the coverage checker you should have an idea on what you should be getting into your 3 dongle, so you can then contact 3, they state this on their website Pat:

"How fast is it?
The speed of Mobile Broadband access is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). When other mobile operators talk about the speed of their Mobile Broadband they talk about theoretical maximum speeds, not the speeds you actually experience. At 3 we talk about actual speeds. So even though our network has a maximum speed of 3.6Mbps, we say ?up to 2.8 Mbps?.

As a guide, an average speed of 1Mbps or 1.5Mbps lets you download a 3-4 minute music track in 30 seconds or less. In techie terms, our Mobile Broadband network uses HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) to get you onto the internet really fast"

But there could poss be another complication, like: if you are using a USB2 port connection or if you have just a standard USB port connection, you could try & move the laptop in another room, upstairs, front or back of the house to see if the speed changes, if it does you can get an idea where in a straight line their transmitter is so you can use as less of your house walls to go through as possible.

If you know the direction of their transmitter from your house, you can also increase the signal from you 3 dongle in one direction like the way a satelite dish or tv arial works, by blanking the signal from behind the dongle it will increase the signal infront of it.

I.E. instead of the signal from the dongle going in a "circle", by blanking out the back where you do not want the signal to go, you will force the signal to make an "oval" shape which will increase the strength in one direction, so you can point it towards their transmitter like you would a tv arial/satelite dish.
You will have to experiment with what to use though I.E: selotape the dongle in the middle of a metal kitchen collender or half a bake been tin or something so it will look & work like a satelite dish does.

--- Ian ---

Thanks Ian. Will have to try tomorrow. Will get back to you,

[ianmac]

Ok Pat,

These are the sort of ideas that I mentioned, some of them show as WiFi boosters but it will work the same with your 3 dongle instead.



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_12BekpP1c]YouTube - The Gadget Show: Dallas' Vlog- Boosting your WiFi signal[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94B8P2EkcZ0]YouTube - Boost your wifi signal by 150%![/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnV9D7p4Fyo]YouTube - Increase your wireless signal strength with a soda can[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnHz75dmQY&feature=fvw]YouTube - How To Boost Wi-Fi Range With A Homemade Parabolic Reflector[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynRqtJucwHg&NR=1]YouTube - Parabolic Reflector Antenna[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksh1rHuO9x0]YouTube - boost wifi signal usb reflector[/ame]


Just depends if you need it & how you want it to look in your house,
but it does icrease the signal if you point the open end of the dish shape around the room slowly until the signal increases & that would be the direction of the 3 transmitter from your house..

--- Ian ---

[patkins]

is all down to your connection that your on currently

whats your downstream speed reported as in your router GUI..

So for example if your router is reporting your downstream speed as 3MBPS

then your downloads should be hitting at least 300 kbps

I would run a speed test and see and also download from another site to see that its not your connection.

All in All 6kbps is really really bad

Unles Itunes got issues



regards

Thank you unadkat for taking the time to answer. Vast improvement in my speed now.

[patkins]

Hi Pat, you can test your speed here

Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test

Something is wrong obviously cause your download is poor.

Thank you stephenwolf for the speed test which I have bookmarked. I used it as a template when I positioned the dongle on the usb cable. I have had a remarkable improvement in d/l speed.

[patkins]

Thank you ianmac for the interesting and heloful videos all of which loaded quickly instead of the used to be stop/start way.Thanks to the dish type in the first one. Cheers M8.

[ianmac]

Thank you ianmac for the interesting and heloful videos all of which loaded quickly instead of the used to be stop/start way.Thanks to the dish type in the first one. Cheers M8.

No Probs Pat... Just hope you get it sorted, coz that speed is well bad.

--- Ian ---