can anybody explain the relationship of latency and mbs

[MrHappyMonkey]

Can someone explain the exact relationship between the overall latency of a connection (lets use Microwave-based broadband) and the rated speed (1mbs). We have this setup at my dad's office. When browsing the web and downloading random files, the _speed_ seems decent (pulling 200k/sec), but when I try to tie in from home on my Cable modem via PC Anywhere, it is slow as crap becuase of the latency (~250ms). What is the exact relationship between the two? How can the downloads be fine, but latency be so high? To add another question to this post; will a VPN connection to the office still be as slow as connecting in through PC Anywhere?

 

[PsychoAndy]

I probably can't help you in technical terms. But basically, here's how it does. Latency is a measurement of how long it takes for the packets from the server to get to the end user. Speed is just the amount of data you're transferring at a given time, i think. Now, you can download as much as you want at 200k a second. But the time it takes for packets to reach each other is longer. Or something. Ehh, crap, i'm not sure, screw this.

 

[Freejack2]

I may be wrong on this but I would imagine if you are downloading pages or files it's sending packet after packet so after the initial 250ms delay the transmission keeps going at 1mbps until it's done.
With pcanywhere everytime you move the fricken mouse the damn thing sends a packet and it's not all piled on top of each other so say you move the mouse an inch, stop and move it another inch. It's two 250ms delays so while it may only have taken you 1/2 a second to do both mouse moves it takes a second to do the whole thing thanks to the latency.

Hmm I don't think I explained it very well but hopefully you get some sort of idea. :/

 

[TNTrulez]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
I may be wrong on this but I would imagine if you are downloading pages or files it's sending packet after packet so after the initial 250ms delay the transmission keeps going at 1mbps until it's done.
With pcanywhere everytime you move the fricken mouse the damn thing sends a packet and it's not all piled on top of each other so say you move the mouse an inch, stop and move it another inch. It's two 250ms delays so while it may only have taken you 1/2 a second to do both mouse moves it takes a second to do the whole thing thanks to the latency.

Hmm I don't think I explained it very well but hopefully you get some sort of idea. :/

Yea, basically that is right. For games also where your information has to be updated all the time, latency does matter. Otherwise in a download latency doesn't matter much.