Broadband

[KevinS]

It's unlikely that the router will be the limiting factor. Even a 'B' router (11Mbps) will be faster than anything you can get on ADSL..

As for the laptop, I seriously doubt it will cause an issue for normal browsing/streaming/downloading..

[VectraMan]

I've got a Netgear DG824M which is older than your DG834G, and mine connects at 8Mb. So no need to change the router.

As for your laptop, in computing terms the internet remains very very very slow.

[DaveB]

8mb is the absolute maximum you *could* get, it is not your guarenteed speed. The only way you're likely to get that is if you are in an urban area a couple of hundred yards from the exchange.

Run one of the online speed testers and see what your line can actually support. You may find it's cheaper to go with a 'slower' connection.

[Bluebird]

8mb is the absolute maximum you *could* get, it is not your guarenteed speed. The only way you're likely to get that is if you are in an urban area a couple of hundred yards from the exchange.

Run one of the online speed testers and see what your line can actually support. You may find it's cheaper to go with a 'slower' connection.

anyone recommended ?

[DaveB]

anyone recommended ?

Try this one

[Bluebird]

Thats tells me what speed I should be getting - what I need is one that tells me what spees I am getting.

I guess I need something that downloads a set file and times it....

[KevinS]

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html will do a speedtest on your line..

[cojak]

It will definitely be better, but exactly how much of it you will notice is up for debate. I would expect you to see most improvement in streaming media etc.

When they say 8MB, I think they actually mean that the 50 people in your contention all share the 8MB. I may be wrong though so I am happy to stand corrected. Are most connections set up with a contention ratio of 50:1?

most standard residential connections are, yes. You need to pay business rates to get 10:1 or better...

[Bluebird]

I did a test on my 2Mb BB connection last night - and at 6pm [ peakish time ] I got 1.8Mb download, upload was pants about 0.2Mb

[r0bly0ns]

the speed quoted (2MB in your case) is allways the download spead.

The upload speak is allways much slower (256K -512k is usual), unless you pay for SDSL rather than ADSL.