Is my connection slow ?

[kwunder]

I have an ongoing issue with BT (UK). I was on a 2mb connection, but was upgraded to an "up to 8MB" connection. I was told that I would get in the region of 5MB in reality. (BT have tested the line and say it is good for 5MB.)
Problem is, each time I do a speedtest on a number of "free" connection speed testing sites, I get a reading of anywhere between 800 kbits/sec to 1500 kbit/sec. (Should I be getting around 5000kbits/sec ??) I have tried this at all hours of the day & night, yet it hardly varies. Here's the thing.
If I try to download a sizable file, such as Windows Media Player from M$, I get a d/l speed reading of nearly 300 kb/sec which seems to fly.
Am I wrong in assuming that this 300 kb/sec is near enough a 3MB connection ?
I use a Netgear wireless ADSL Firewall Router (DG834Gv2) and when I go to its internal settings, it says "Connected - Downstream Connection Speed = 5120kbps"
Does that mean I am getting a 5MB connection ?

Sorry if its a bit over complex, but don't know how else to get it down in words !

Cheers

 

[krusifix]

if your provider tells you your line is reaching that it maybe true, but understand that hitting a speed test site, your jumping through other servers and nodes to hit that site, if there is a clogged node with traffic or a slower connection in your route, you will always see much slower speeds.

 

[G0AOZ]

I get here about 125Kbps download for my 1Mb connection, so that equates roughly to your "300 kb/sec is near enough a 3MB connection", bearing in mind the route and what krusifix has stated.

Your router is correctly reporting what your line is capable of, i.e. 5120kbps, which equals 5Mb.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[kwunder]

I d/l a copy of Download Accelerator Plus, and then tried to d/l a sizeable file (35MB)
Download Accelerator showed I was getting nearly 500kbps and it seemed FAST.

 

[k3n85]

You have to remember your fastest download speed is capped at what the upload speed is of the server or client your downloading from. You may have a 8 MB pipe, but your server may only be capable of 512kbps up aka like 30/k up. Just keep that in mind.