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Simple Modem Question

johnjohn320

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Why is it that our modems download so much lower than their capacity? In other words, why can't you download files at 56k/sec on a 56k modem?

Just a curiosity question...
 
56k is the max the modem will handle, but you will never reach that for the following reasons:

1) FCC limitations placed on phone lines

2) Many areas have below average phone lines (dirty) so xfer rates are slower.

3) The server you are connecting to (your isp)

4) time of day your are connecting....major trunk lines & servers have their bandwidth sucked up by so many users on line at the same time.

You should be seeing 48k surfing speed & 5k download speed during off hours, if your not, have the phone company come out & check your line. Most phone companies do this for free. Don't be appeased when you call your phone company & they run a check from their office (this is bullshit) make sure you get a service tech at your doorstep.

Keep in mind the indicated speed on your computer is more likely than not innacurate, because the protocol your system is using to guage speed is most likely different than that of the server your connected to.

To solve the whole problem. sign up for DSL or Cable & enjoy.
 
That 56k is theoretical, as in lab settings. The chances that you will get 56k are the same as the chances that your inkjet will print its advertised 7 pages per minute, or that a patch cable will run 100m.

That and the FCC limits downloads to 53.3, so even perfect conditions wouldn't yield you 56k.
 
I'm not positive about this, but I think modems are listed as 56 kilobits/sec. There are 8 kilobits in a kilobyte, making the theoretical download actually 7 kilobytes/sec, or 7 k/sec, which is around what you see.
 


<< Why is it that our modems download so much lower than their capacity? In other words, why can't you download files at 56k/sec on a 56k modem?

Just a curiosity question... >>



that's kilobits, 8 bits = 1 byte so 56k really means 7KB... although Im not sure 8 bits is the correction conversion for modems because they have error checking bits and stuff... some clarify?
 
same goes for dsl and cable etc. some tell you 560k down/128k up or 1.5mb down and 1.5mb up. it's not megabyte but megabit. so it's really 70k/16k or 188/188 🙁
 
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