Internet speed help

[Jackofalltrades]

Good afternoon fellas!

 

Quick question. We recently changed our internet from TWC to Windstream since we just moved from BFE to the metropolis of Kannapolis. So, for the sake of curiosity I went to speedtest.net to see how fast the connection was since we paid for the fastest option they offer.

 

I have the "Flash" version with speeds up to 12 mb, but when I went to the speed site it said I'm running 3.11 mbps download, .55 mbps upload and 602 ms ping.

 

Can anyone tell me what this means? My computer ignorant interpretation is that I'm wasting money, by not getting what I'm paying for.

 

Am I right?

 

Thanks for any help.

[stankowalski]

That ping absolutely stinks is this satellite service or something?  And you never get what they say you can get as far as bandwidth at any given moment.  That's a number they throw out there as the absolute best you could ever hope to get.

 

 

[SCMunnerlyn1]

I pay for 50 mb down load 5 upload and i get

 

 

So I dunno

 

[Jackofalltrades]

Mine is thru Windsream, that's really all I know.

[Inimicus]

Residential service will almost always be quoted as your download speed.  If you're paying for a 12mb service then your 3.11 number is woefully low.  The up number is going to suck when you try to upload pictures or try to play games but your deal may limit you to 1mb or 2mb upstream.  They do that because most people only want to pull the net to them and not serve content to others.

 

 

Id call them with the 3.11 number.

 

You should always be close to or exceed the 12mb down if that's what you're paying for.

[Zaximus]

Yeah that's terribad, you may not get 12mb but you should be around there, at least 7+.  The ping is terrible too you usually want that under 100ms at minimum.  I'll call and complain for sure.

[Toolbox]

Yeah thats really bad.. I used to have windstream and it always seem to go down or have terrible pings.. Should stick with cable internet if you can.

[Zaximus]

I have never heard good things about Windstream but from the way op is talking this is probably his only choice?

 

People hate on TWC and a lot of that is warranted but I've had very few issues in the 7-8 years I've used them. and I'm downloading somewhere from 175-225gb a month (that I can calculate, this doesn't count netflix/streaming/gaming either).

 

 

[Jackofalltrades]

We constantly had problems with TWC. The connection slow when we had one at all. Constant billing issues were a norm, just couldn't put up with them anymore.

[Chimera]

Windstream = DSL

DSL runs through phone lines

Kannapolis = nothing new has been built since 1932, except a Dale Earnhardt statue

most likely scenario: Not only are the phone lines ancient, but also the copper wiring in your house

[cookinwithgas]

Mr. Belding is correct.

 

I have ATT DSL and it's been working pretty great the past year or so but they had to replace some equipment downstream as well as clean up some iffy wiring at the house junction. I also have to restart the DSL modem occasionally so it reconnects and renegotiates the connection; seen it go from 300k to 5M after a modem restart.

[SmootsDaddy89]

lol holy poo 602 ping

[d-dave]

Wow!  I'd call Windstream to get them to check out the connection. With any ISP there are a lot of moving parts so that could be the issue.  I will re-itterate what others have said, DSL = not too great.  My parents got suckered into one when they were bundling their telephone for a rental property they bought and it's really terrible when we stay there.  

 

The main problem will be that you are moving through a telephone system, which many parts weren't designed for high speed internet.  It's really that simple.  Sometimes, you can get a great connection when you in an updated area, but you can't beat the fiber of cable.  I hate TWC with a passion, but I'd never quit the internet.  It doesn't hurt that the splitter is in my front yard so I do get the best speed from it...

 

And regarding Kannapolis, it's a poor town with different priorities.  There is a lot of charm in parts of it, and others....well...yeah...  As far as how that effects your internet speeds, its going to depend on the telecom in charge.  TWC is expensive, but usually gives the best internet service by a mile.

 

But that's just my opinion.  I do not work in that industry, I'm just a geek.

[Jackofalltrades]

Now that I'm not playing COD online I don't really need "high speed" internet, but I don't want to get a fraction of what I'm paying for either.