How to Calculate Download Speed
The document you want to read or the song you want to hear is right there in front of you. All you have to do is click and wait for it to transfer to your computer. But how long is that going to take? Download speed is a finicky thing, one that depends on the strength and speed of your connection. But there are a few things you can do to estimate how long it will take before your download is complete.
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Instructions
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Know what affects download speed. The main factors include the size of the file you're trying to download and the type of connection you're using. Variables include activity on the network you're using, and the activity on your computer. In general, the more you make your computer do, the slower your computer will do it.
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Find the file size. This is commonly listed somewhere near the link. If it is not, your download progress dialog box should indicate how large the file is.
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Find your transfer rate. The easiest way to do this is to begin downloading the file and look at the current transfer rate, which should be listed in the download progress box.
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Divide the file size by the transfer rate. For example, if you're downloading a 130-megabyte file at a constant rate of two megabytes per second, your download should take little more than a minute.
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Factor in the variables. Download speed fluctuates, sometimes greatly, during the course of a download. If you're using a wireless connection and your signal becomes weak, for example, the file will take longer to load.
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