Posted by Penelope Pitstop on 02/05/07 11:10

jonnymacamara@hotmail.com <jonnymacamara@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have dialup and it says I am connected at 45,333bps.
> It often happens in Winmx that this speed is apparently exceeded.I
> think this only happens when I download the same file from separate
> sources simultaneously.
> Is this speed genuine or just theoretical and do I have a ceiling of
> 56,000bps no matter what the program actually says?

Connection speed is reported in bits per second (bps - note the small
"b") and data transfer speed is reported in bytes per second (Bps or
B/s - note the capital "B"). According to
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/3758, "To find your theoretical download
speed for your line, divide your advertised speed by 8.192." Your
theoretical maximum download speed while connected at 45,333 bps would
be 5,534 B/s or 5.534 KBps. Due to overhead, expect to download at a
maximum of around 5,000 B/s. However, packet processing does play "catch
up" now and then, so occasionally you will see your numbers exceed the
theoretical maximum.

-PP

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