what is faster-MB's or Mbps's

[ClaJill]

I just bought a wireless internet connection from Verizon. I'm in a zone that should get good reception but sometimes it goes dormant or runs slower than my dial-up did. I looking into Hughes.net with a dish. Their website says that the speed is 1.0 Mbp's/ 128 Kbp's. How does that compare with the wireless that was running 2.3MB's/170.8 Kp's. I want the faster one but also one that is reliable.

[PoonDoggy]

I assume that you are in an area where you cannot get cable internet or dsl?

Mbps stands for millions of bits per second or megabits per second

MB stands for megabytes.

Data rate units - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ol'Tunzafun]

If it really was 2.3MB/s it would be 20 times as fast, but it is obviously a "typo" (to be polite). It should read 2.3mbps. This is a very common error in discussions or claims about bandwidth. You are unlikely to find speeds like 2.3MB/s (20mbps) anywhere outside Japan or Korea.
That looks like a typical rate for Satellite (1 mbps) and is about half of what the wireless should be if it was working right.
The satellite should be 25 times as fast as dialup and the wireless should be about 50 times as fast if it were working right. I would complain to Verizon.
Do a speedtest at speedtest.net and report your findings to Verizon support.

[ClaJill]

If it really was 2.3MB/s it would be 20 times as fast, but it is obviously a "typo" (to be polite). It should read 2.3mbps. This is a very common error in discussions or claims about bandwidth. You are unlikely to find speeds like 2.3MB/s (20mbps) anywhere outside Japan or Korea.
That looks like a typical rate for Satellite (1 mbps) and is about half of what the wireless should be if it was working right.
The satellite should be 25 times as fast as dialup and the wireless should be about 50 times as fast if it were working right. I would complain to Verizon.
Do a speedtest at speedtest.net and report your findings to Verizon support.

Do I understand you right? The wireless is faster if it is working well and my reception is good. Right now, the Verizon window is telling me-sent 1.7 MB and receiving 7.2 MB. If this is true, I'll cancel the order for a satellite and keep the wireless. Please let me know. Thanks

[Ol'Tunzafun]

Speedtest.net reports results in Megabits (Mb/s), not MegaBytes (MB/s). One Byte = 8 bits (disregarding stop and parity bits). So, it makes a big difference whether the "B" is upper case or lower case. If you are getting 7.2 mb/s down, I would indeed cancel the satellite service. Though it still seems odd that they would advertise 2.3 mb/s and give you 7.2 mb/s.
There are examples on the left side of the Speedtest.net page indicating how long it would typically take to download an mp3, a Video clip and a movie. How many minutes does it indicate that it would it take to download the 800MB movie?

[ClaJill]

The only problem that I am having with the wireless is that when it is being used by a lot of people, the sending and receiving goes down to KB's. Then it is as slow as the dial-up. It varies. Now I am getting sending 829.8 KB and receiveing 1.9 MB's Sometimes it is super fast but a few times, I have just gotten off. Do all wireless vary like this one?

[Ol'Tunzafun]

Do all wireless vary like this one?

Yes, that is typical of wireless, satellite and cable. Satellite usually places some onerous limits on the amount of bandwidth you can use before up-charges kick in, so you might want to check with Hughes about that. There is usually not that much variation in speed, but unless you are using DSL, there is always a certain amount of it. I don't think you will be better off with Hughes.

[ClaJill]

I have learned more about my computer and it's workings in the last few days then I have in years. This web site and you have been extremely helpful.

[Ol'Tunzafun]

Welcome to TechIMO ClaJill.