DSL speed - higher upload than download speed

[Jeremiah58]

Hi,
My friend has DSL connection att Yahoo. When connected, it says that a speed is 100.0 Mbps, but the upload and the download speed are almost the same at approx 35 kB/s.
Please tell me:
- what is wrong with this connection and such a low download speed?
- how to increase the download speed?

Thank you.

[gadgetguy]

Probably nothing is wrong with it, but we would need to know alot more about the service your friend is subscribing to to know for sure. The 100Mbps connection is only indicating the network connector and has nothing to do with DSL speeds. DSL comes in varied speed and service levels and the quoted speeds are burst rates, not sustained rates so you can expect performance to be somewhat lower than the stated rate. Also keep in mind that there may be restrictions from the site you're downloading from as well.

[Jeremiah58]

Please look at this speed test:

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-08-10 20:53:53 EST:
299 / 311
Your download speed : 299 kbps or 37.4 KB/sec.
That is 85.9% worse than an average user on ameritech.net

Your upload speed : 311 kbps or 38.9 KB/sec.
That is 26.1% worse than an average user on ameritech.net

PS: Welcome to dslreports.com! Run more tests! see forums

This is exactly what happens during actual download/upload from any source.
I've never seen this before, that the upload is higher than download, but I'm from Croatia, Europe and do not know how is it here with the USA providers.
I believe that something must be wrong with these numbers and the connection, or...

[redwudz]

You might have him run a speed test at a site like Broadbandreports.com: http://www.broadbandreports.com/stest
I just ran one on my cable modem: 3010kbps DOWN / 256kbps UP
That is slower than normal, especially on the UP. You want to check several times during the day to see if it changes.

Unfortunately most ISPs make no guarantee that you will have the speed quoted when you purchased the service. And, as stated, both DSL and cable have different speed packages. You might want to check around and see what others in the same area with the same package are getting. There may be a problem with the computer, or more likely the ISP. It seems like they will usually be the last ones to tell you if they are having problems.

EDIT: Just saw your last post, Jeremiah58, there's likely something amiss. DSLReports may have some suggestions on further diagnosing the problem. But the best way is to see what speed others are getting with the same setup from a similar location.

There are a lot of factors involved. Don't be too quick to blame the computer or the modem or the software. I have found the problem is more often with the ISP. Check the speed at different times of the day and see if there is any improvement. If he has another computer or even a laptop, try the setup and see if he still gets the same speed. Then you will be sure it's not his computer or setup.

Next, call the ISP and complain. They may be able to diagnose your connection remotely.

[Jeremiah58]

redwudz, thank you for the reply.
I'm with my friend in Chicago and at that computer.
I've used your link and got the same thing:

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-08-10 21:18:18 EST:
311 / 309
Your download speed : 311 kbps or 38.9 KB/sec.
That is 85.3% worse than an average user on ameritech.net

Your upload speed : 309 kbps or 38.7 KB/sec.
That is 26.6% worse than an average user on ameritech.net

I don't understand that download/upload ratio could be 1:1.
Normally I would expect 10:1 ratio.
Which problem with the computer you are refering to?
Thanks.

P.S. Just saw your update, redwudz. Thanks, I'll make him complaint with the ISP.

[edDV]

Call AT&T customer support. They can test the line from their end.

[gadgetguy]

I don't understand that download/upload ratio could be 1:1.

I thought that was normal for DSL.

[jimmalenko]

I don't understand that download/upload ratio could be 1:1.

I thought that was normal for DSL.

So did I.

The first thing I'd do is find out what plan your friend is on. If it's DSL 512/512, then those number are quite possible (they should be closer to 64KBps, but with losses and traffic ...... any number of factors here)

If the plan is for ADSL, then you'd more than likely see a ratio somewhere between 4:1 and 10:1 (256/64 through to 8192/1024 are the speeds available in Oz).

[Conquest10]

I used to have AT&T. The download speed seems right. The upload speed is what is wrong. That doesn't seem right. Its way too fast.

Calling their customer service will do nothing. You'll get an Indian trying to put the blame on you.

EDIT: Hahaha. I just re-read and saw that your friend is in Chicago. Boy, do I feel his pain. Tell him there's nothing he can do but wait until his contract is up and he can finally go with a real broadband provider.

[Jeremiah58]

I don't understand that download/upload ratio could be 1:1.

I thought that was normal for DSL.

So did I.

The first thing I'd do is find out what plan your friend is on. If it's DSL 512/512, then those number are quite possible (they should be closer to 64KBps, but with losses and traffic ...

Excuse me guys for my ignorrance, I've never had the DSL. I use ADSL at home and I thought that DSL and ADSL should be close in performance.
Thanks for your explanations, though.

Tell him there's nothing he can do but wait until his contract is up and he can finally go with a real broadband provider.

Which one?

[Conquest10]

Which one?

There's only two in Chicago, AT&T or Comcast.