Troubling question

Vincent Gagnon · 07-21-2008, 06:35 AM

I've read an answer from one of your tech, and I would like to know why he is multiplying by 8 to know the correct answer? Here is a copy/paste from what he wrote...

"Now on to your 582 kbps download speeds. This may or may not be an issue depending on what exactly what you are refering to. If you are refering to the download task bar during a file transfer, this may be normal. Your download task bar should be expressed as 582 kB/sec, which is 582 kiloBytes per second, not kilobits per second. Multiply 582 kB by 8 to get 4656 kbps (kilo bit per second), which is actually 4.656 Mpbs (Megabits per second) which would be considered good cable modem performance."

Is it because a 1 bit is equivalent to 8 octet? I would need to understand perfectly this math operation. And why would transfer rate no be expressed in term os real file size?

Please help me,

Sincerely

johnwill · 07-21-2008, 10:03 AM

Broadband speeds are expressed in bits, however files are transferred in bytes.

One byte had 8 bits, hence the times 8 you are talking about.

**peterhuang913** · 07-21-2008, 08:54 PM

1 byte = 8 bits

Download and transfer rates are measured in Mbps (megabits per second)
Internet speeds are measured in MBps (megabytes per second)

If you buy a 5mbit service, you can download at 625MB/s maximum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_...e_than_one_bit

07-21-2008, 06:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Vincent Gagnon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP	Troubling question I've read an answer from one of your tech, and I would like to know why he is multiplying by 8 to know the correct answer? Here is a copy/paste from what he wrote... "Now on to your 582 kbps download speeds. This may or may not be an issue depending on what exactly what you are refering to. If you are refering to the download task bar during a file transfer, this may be normal. Your download task bar should be expressed as 582 kB/sec, which is 582 kiloBytes per second, not kilobits per second. Multiply 582 kB by 8 to get 4656 kbps (kilo bit per second), which is actually 4.656 Mpbs (Megabits per second) which would be considered good cable modem performance." Is it because a 1 bit is equivalent to 8 octet? I would need to understand perfectly this math operation. And why would transfer rate no be expressed in term os real file size? Please help me, Sincerely

07-21-2008, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Troubling question Broadband speeds are expressed in bits, however files are transferred in bytes. One byte had 8 bits, hence the times 8 you are talking about. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-21-2008, 08:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
peterhuang913 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 819 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Troubling question 1 byte = 8 bits Download and transfer rates are measured in Mbps (megabits per second) Internet speeds are measured in MBps (megabytes per second) If you buy a 5mbit service, you can download at 625MB/s maximum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_...e_than_one_bit