About bits and bytes of email packets governs by TCP

Why can't I get Internet max-speed?
because Internet traffic travel in bursts of
segments (packets) and governs by TCP protocol

BITS and Bytes

The speed of downloading a Web page--is the time a single bit takes to get from a website to your PCs--is limited by the speed of light and not just a simple matter of getting from point A to B

Many Internet users commonly called "speed" actually refers to "bandwidth"--or volume of bits per seconds (throughput), the number of bits that can be transmitted in a second called "latency"--the amount of time, in milliseconds, that it takes a given "packet" of "bits" to travel from one PCs to another.

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High bandwidth is necessary but there's an equal important factor in how long it takes a Web page to download--the time a single bit takes to get from a website to your PCs. The "bit's" is limited by the speed of light and congestion on the Internet or servers. It is not just a simple matter of getting from point A to B --See: Router

Assuming that a web page containing 18Kb which is equals to 18,000 bytes or 144,000 bits (1 byte equals 8 bits). Therefore, with a 28.8 Kilobits per second (Kbps) modem that transfer 28,800 bits per seconds (bps) you would expect the web page to appear in five seconds (144,000 divided by 28,800) it will not. See: UART

That's because transmission control protocol (TCP) the protocol that governs the download, you don't receive the page in one go. Internet traffic travel in bursts of segments (packets or datagram) of around 536 bytes (4,288 bits). TCP first ask for one segment and checks that it receives it....

Then it asks for two segments, check it, asks for four and so on until it is using all the bandwidth it can. This careful checking and doubling helps to stop a program from hogging the Internet. But each check requires a back and forth message and that, delays the communication by twice the time.

DSL, ADSL, ISDN or whatever higher bandwidth premium gadgets may not help much, although they guarantees a consistent line connection and do move "bits & bytes" faster, they are still governs by all the usual network congestions, slow servers, etc. and can be checked by using PING As well as whether you are using ISDN single line 64kbps or dual line 128kbps, DSL 256/512kbps or ADSL 12/480 Mbps running on USB 1.I or USB 2.0 support by the motherboard.

Throughput? The outgoing & incoming datagram Bits.Bytes between your computer, ISP connection and the Internet network. PING your ISP servers to determine connection throughput.

Note: Different ISP provide different up-load and download speed--meaning that having a 256/512Kbps DSL or 480Mbps USB 2.0 High Speed or Full Speed 12 Mbps 2.0 USB ADSL download does not mean that you can up-load at the same speed, check it up with your ISPs.

If the network is congested or lost packets, the doubling process is slowed, adding additional messages called ACK (acknowledgments) across the internet. When the "time" is large--perhaps the Web-server is far away or the Internet is congested, there will be some delay before you get to see the web page.

ISP Bandwidth is the bandwidth that your Internet Service Provider offers and it can affect your modem speed. Your ISP may have a T1 (1.544Mbps) or E1 (2.048Mbps) to the back-bone of the Internet, but this is of little use if they only feed your POP (Point-of-Presence) with a 64Kbps data line and also that you may not be the only user being on-line at the same time....

....Therefore, when you are connected to your POP (Point-of-Presence) you ultimately share bandwidth with all other users that are also connected to it at the same time. So, if two users' modems connect to their ISP modems at 56Kbps and if the POP (Point-of-Presence) is served by a 64Kbps data line, then, they both share this 64K bandwidth.

Port speed is the speed between your computer serial port and your modem. The port speed can be set to 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 and 230400 and above for some PCs

Line speed is the speed between your modem and the modem at the other end (your ISP) of the telephone line. Depending on the modem, the line speed can be 2400, 4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400, 16800, 19200, 21400, 24000, 28800, 31200, 33600 bps and 56600 bps.

Line speed is normally determined automatically for each connection between your PCs modem and your ISP modem. If line conditions allow, the modems connect at the highest compatible speed.

Determining the Port speed

Click the My Computer icon on the Desktop.
Double-click the Dial-Up Networking icon.
Right click the icon for your Internet connection and then choose properties.
In the General tab click Configure.
The Maximum speed list box indicates the current port speed setting

Changing the Port speed

Click the My Computer icon on the Desktop.
Click the Dial-Up Networking icon.
Right click the icon for your Internet connection and then choose properties.
In the General tab click Configure.
Change the speed in the Maximum speed list box

Notes:
Most internal modem have poor "noise" suppression with host signal processor (HSP) powered by the PCs CPUs, can slow down your Internet speed or if the PCs have insufficient RAM and doing multi-tasking or too many program being opened at the same time. 56Kbps modem which is V92 compliance (if it is supported by your ISP) allows you to have maximum upload speed (V90 upload 33kbps) More info about modem at: www.56k.com

Poor phone line pick up your phone hand set and listen carefully or call a friend--do you hear any hissing sound or crackle static noise--if yes, what you have is a bad line connection which may be solved if you call your phone company to re-wire it.

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