Only thing I can say is for me the results from the speed test site are
consistent with the indicated download speed when nearing the completion of
the SP3 file. So the speed number from both tests methods agree.

Just performed another download of SP3 and the slowest indicated speed was
18.7Mbps during the entire time the file was downloading.

JS

"ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O$uGh2O4IHA.2332@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the reply, JS. But I think 6 Mbps is the quoted limit for
> Comcast around here also, unless they snuck some improvement by without
> bragging about it (hah). And in those apps where the actual download
> speed is displayed, it seldom even approached that in the long run (after
> initial high rates) .. at best 6-700 kBps (6000 kbps to within a fudge
> factor), more typically 2-500. So I was wondering why the factor of 3-4
> improvement on the test site. Maybe it is a Powerboost effect.
>
> SP3 is on my to-do list, although I read enough complaints about it that I
> want to go back and revisit the threads here first. That would be handy
> to have the connection status show the actual traffic speed as well as the
> theoretical.
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:OfTib2D4IHA.2060@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>I think the slower speed I posted is local to my area's Comcast service
>>(was only 5.0Mbs about a year ago) an was also related to the slower 10Mbs
>>network card I was using at the time.
>>
>> I've just switched to Verizon FIOS and installed a faster 1Gbs Network
>> card and am now getting about 18 to 19Mbs download speeds for both the
>> speed test site and downloading the Windows SP3 which is about 316MB in
>> size.
>>
>> As for Comcast's "PowerBoost", if you download the Windows SP3 file from
>> the site listed below you should be able to see when PowerBoost drops
>> out.
>>
>> Windows XP Service Pack 3 download:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>>
>>
>> JS
>> www.pagestart.com
>>
>>
>> "ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:utbxbxC4IHA.4988@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi, JS, that's a great site that I'll use when I think the rain is
>>> messing up my cable (at least the TV gets funny). But in nice weather,
>>> I keep getting download speeds in the range of 20-25,000 kbps. Unless
>>> I'm missing something, doesn't that translate to about 20-25 Mbps? I'm
>>> using Comcast and expect ~6 as you say. Does this reflect the
>>> "PowerBoost" they brag about at the start of a file? That's supposed to
>>> be for only the first 10 MB, or 80 Mb, which should take 3-4 sec, and
>>> the test runs around 12-15 sec.
>>>
>>>
>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:ewGjTzR3IHA.2580@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> Test your internet connection speed!
>>>> http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
>>>>
>>>> If you are on Comcast you should be getting about
>>>> 6.0 Mbps download speed from the nearest server on the speed test site!
>>>>
>>>> JS
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>