Internet Speed

[csxkidd]

How is internet speed measured? I'm paying for 5 "megs." I assume this means 5 megabytes. When I go and do a bandwidith test, say at Speedtest.net, I'm told that my internet download speed is 4906kb/s. Doesn that mean kilobytes per second. I guess what I'm asking is, doesn't it take 1,000 kilobytes to make a megabyte, lo.

 

[Freestone]

Internet speed is measured in bits per second. In your case, you are paying for 5 Mbps, or 5 megabit per second. Yes, a 1000 Kbps is equal to 1 Mbps, so your speed test results of 4900 Kbs is close to what you are paying for - 4.9 Mbps.

Data rates explained here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_rate_units

 

[TheLad]

Isn't it 1024 Kbps to 1 Mbps?

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[acewarlock]

Yes but 1000kbps is used for easy calculating. makes it easy for those not good in Math.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Freestone]

See the Kibibit per second and Mebibit per second entries in the Wikipedia link I gave above.

Depends on who is doing the math whether base 10 or base 2 is used. I've yet to see a hard drive manufacturer who has used 1024 * 1024 for a megabyte or 1024 * 1024 * 1024 for a gigabyte. If they did, their advertised drive size would be less. I am not sure if Internet speeds are playing the same numbers game or not.