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Q1 : What can affect the results?
A1 : The bandwidth rate between our server and your computer could be affected by many factors. Some of the most common are:
Being outside of the United States or far away from the location of our server.
Performing other downloads at the same time that this test is executed.
Executing other programs that use your bandwidth to monitor resources while this test is being executed.
The quality of your line speed.In some cases users may find noise, which is caused by electromagnetic energy that degrades the quality of signals in hard-wired circuits (that is, telephone lines), thereby limiting the throughput to the computer.
56K modems are limited by FCC regulations to 53K.
Bandwidth calculation is measured against that of Minimal Codes's Internet Services. Bandwidth may be higher or lower depending on Internet congestion. Calculated tests do not reflect server reliability and speed.
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Q2 : What is Internet connection speed?
A2 : Internet connection speed refers to the data transfer rate from the Internet to your computer. Basically that means the amount of time it takes your computer to download a given amount of data. Internet connection speeds are usually measured in Kbps (kilobits per second, or thousands of bits per second) or KBps (kilobytes per second). Nowadays with the technological improvements in data transfer speeds, Internet connection speeds can also be measured in Mbps (megabits per second, or millions of bits per second) or MBps (megabytes per second). For example, if you had a 28.8K (28,800 bps) modem, then it would take at least 4 - 5 minutes to download a 1MB file. If you had digital subscriber line (DSL), the same 1MB file would take approximately 10 - 20 seconds.
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Q3 : Why do the results vary each time?
A3 : The Internet is a global network, basically a vast grouping of computers transferring data to one another. Connection speeds will vary depending on many conditions such as the time of day and the amount of congestion on the Internet in general. When you request a Web page from a server on the Internet, both the request and the resulting page travel over a series of links that help comprise the Internet. Points between links are often referred to as "hops." So depending on the number of people connecting to our servers, the number of "hops" taken to get to our site, the quality of the connections between each hop to this site and various other factors, your Internet connection speed will always vary.
Q4 : I have a 56K modem. Why is my result lower than 56.6 Kbps?
A4 : Your 56K modem has the ability to transfer up to 56.6 Kbps or 56,600 bps. But that doesn't mean that you can connect to the Internet at that speed. There are many factors involved, including the quality of your telephone line, the quality your telephone company's switches, and FCC regulations.
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