Speed
Internet connection speed to be more precise.
I often wonder what it must be like for these people with access to ADSL2+, sitting there in Sydney with a big smile on their face as their file downloads in a matter of seconds.
I am currently uploading some updates to the company website. Via FTP. At a blistering 22kb/s. Only 17 minutes to go. This is the work connection. Not terrible - 1.5mbps down and 256k up. Not brilliant to some of you posting from the UK.. or the US. But pretty good by Australian standards.
The situation at home however, is even worse. A 512/128 ADSL connection awaits me there and while it is completely unlimited and un-throttled regardless of how much I download, it is simply too slow for modern download (and upload) requirements.
On Saturday I began downloading a pack of photos from the 2007 F1 Bahrain GP. It finished in the wee hours of Sunday morning. On Tuesday I begun downloading a video of the race. It finished this morning.
And my uploading situation is even worse. 12-13kb/s up - if I’m lucky.
ADSL2+ isn’t available in my area. There are no plans to bring it to my area at the moment either, so the immediate future looks bleak. My only option is to upgrade to a 8000/384~ base ADSL plan - with a ‘theoretical’ 8mbps top speed and ‘circa’ 384k upload.
I just love how its all ‘well you might get that.. but you might not.. in fact, it may be no better than what you have now’. You can just imagine them selling cars the same way can’t you?
‘Well it may get you home, but we can’t guarantee it. It might be faster and more reliable than your current car, but it could be slower and less reliable too. Theoretically its a good car, but we can’t warrant that. We’ll charge you more for it, but really it might not make a difference and you could be better off sticking with what you’ve got at least for another couple years. Sign on the dotted line here. Thank you’.
Sometimes I wonder if Australia will ever catch up to other Countries’ infrastructure. If I have to read another thread about someone in America downloading their file at 868kb/s and having the next Joe come along and tell him that’s slow, his is downloading at 1,322kb/s.. I think I’ll scream. Or move.
I love the World of technology and telecommunications. Its always so full of surprises!
Kate said,
May 17, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Haha. Yet mine is even slower than yours is and I’m doing just fine
I got news. I have dyed my hair. I won’t tell you what colour it is. It’s a surprise! I bet ya can’t wait to see me now!
becca3003 said,
May 17, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Bloody hell that’s a long time for downloads!!
I couldn’t cope with a connection like that! I’m lucky to have the one we have, no idea what it is mind 
but it’s pretty quick really, unless BT are having a play 
maybe you should think about moving?! 
jimmyt said,
May 18, 2007 @ 7:33 am
My home ADSL connection is currently limited to 1024/256 with a CR of 50:1 due to distance from my exchange. I could upgrade to an ADSL-MAX connection with a max download of 3.5 meg but others using this service report they end up with a slower less stable connection so I’m still holding off.
For work I’m contemplating replacing our ADSL with wireless broadband.
ScottyB said,
May 18, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Katie, you’re not doing the sort of GB downloads I am though!
Can’t wait to see this hair.. I’m thinking a wild neon green now. Am I close?
Bec, like I said to Kate, its not so much limited to the connection rather the size of the downloads. Multiple GB for some of the pics and race files! I may have to consider moving though!
Jimmy, that’s better than what I’ve got! That said, its not one of those massive bandwidth connections I hear about hehe.. stability is the issue I have as I need the reliability - wireless broadband is available here (and generally quicker than ADSL at around 2Mbps) but its very expensive!