Talk:Download speed

We need a conversion factor from (A) advertised download speed in bits per second; and (B) what users will get, in bytes per second. I've heard of two different factors: 10 bits per byte, with the extra two bits used for parity or check; and 8 bits per byte. I don't know which are used, by the various Internet service providers.

I just got off the phone with Verizon in New York City, and two different reps described their highest DSL download speed as "7 megabits per second" and "7 megabytes per second". I assume the company does not make much effort to clarify the difference between a byte and a bit. In fact, it seems like all they want is to get you excited about upgrading your service - with no interest in describing their speed in terms which allow you to compare their service with that of other providers.

Wikipedia should enable its readers to understand how fast their information will come to them via Internet. Anyone care to help me with this? --Uncle Ed (talk) 15:33, 17 September 2009 (UTC)