There are several common misconceptions about dial-up connection speeds. For example, even if you are using a 56K modem, you are unfortunately not really connect at 56 kbps. Due to physical constraints and rules of the FCC, the highest possible speed on dial-up is 51-53 kbps. Most people around 24-48 kbps (kilobits per second).

When you first dial-up connection, you need a pop-up in the bottom right corner of the screen telling you the speed of your connection, eg “You are now connected at 32.4 kbps.”

If you’re not a pop-up window, you can also speed your connection while you are connected. From your Control Panel, open Network Connections and double-click the icon for your connection remotely. The statistics of your connection to show there and the speed will be listed first.

Once you determine your speed, you can determine the download time. However, you must first understand the metrics and conversion rates. When measuring the transfer rate (ie, how many bits can be downloaded per second) Internet connections, step size in 1000. Therefore, a kilobit is 1000 bits and a megabit is 1000 kilobits, etc.

The storage disk drives and mobile phones, etc., and size of files or software programs, etc. are measured in bytes. This is not to be confused with bit. A byte is 8 bits drawn together. Bytes are shown with a capital B, and pieces with a small b. Therefore, a ko “is a kilobit and a” KB “is a kilobyte. Bytes are still large tranches in 1024, because the binary number system used to store information on computer use. Therefore, a kilobyte is 1024 bytes and a megabyte is 1024 kilobytes, etc.

Because everything that you download from the Internet is measured in bytes (Web pages, files, pictures and programs), you should do a little math to understand how fast dial-up (measured in bits per second) to download. Remember, a byte is 8 bits, and 8 KB is a KB! First, multiply the size in kilobytes of the file to convert to 8 kilobits. Then divide by the number of kilobits per second, your connection will transfer.

For example, if you want to know how fast a 500 kilobyte (KB) file (perhaps a picture that you sent) will download a 40 kbps connection, first converting the file size in bits. 500 kilobytes (KB) = 4000 kilobits (kb). Then divide the bits of 40 Kbps. 4000 kilo bits / 40 bits per second = 100 seconds, nearly two minutes.

Downloads of large size are often measured in MB, which means you need KB to convert them before they can convert to Kb’s. 1 MB = 1024 KB = 8192 KB. 1 MB with a 40 kbps connection could download in 204.8 seconds, just over three minutes.

A song is usually about 3 MB, so it would take about 10 minutes. If you have downloaded a large program such as Adobe Reader, which is 35.7 MB, download time is approximately 2 hours with a connection to 40 kbps.

The download time will be close to your calculation, however, your connection speed may change while you are logged in as your modem must adapt their speed to the line for noise. Your download time may be longer if other processes on your computer through your Internet connection, such as automatic updates and Web-surfing while you wait. Minimize your activity online during the download and check with your local computer technician for ways to eliminate the process of bandwidth faster downloads.