[lug] Home Broadband Download Speeds

[Maxwell Spangler]

On Tue, 2011-10-04 at 11:43 -0600, Lori Reed wrote:
> I'm wondering, of what use is 20 Mbps download speed for home use?
> 
> The 9 Mbps we get from Comcast is 50% more than is necessary to stream 
> DVD quality from Netflix, and on weekend nights Netflix often stalls at 
> that, and I doubt it's a "last mile" issue.
> 
> Nothing I've downloaded has *ever* come close to that speed so I have to 
> assume it's either slow servers on the far end, or clogged tubes in the 
> middle.

I've just turned on a CenturyLink/Qwest 5.1 Mbps DSL in my apartment
tonight.  I've had some rough experiences with them in the past but so
far I'm able to saturate a 5.1Mbps connection with anything demanding:
yum downloading, Netflix, etc.

My goal with this line is to be able to stream Netflix while using a VPN
to work and doing a yum update at the same time.  Right now I could use
a 12-20Mbps line for that.

For any lurkers: I got a deal from an online chat with qwest: $14.99 for
6 months before it goes up to $45.  $15 sounds great, and $45 sound way
too high for 5.1 given what comcast is offering.  But the apartment
complex I'm in is in bed with dish so no comcast :(

-- 
Maxwell Spangler
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