The simplest way to transfer a file is through a data cable specifically made to transmit data. Nowadays, we can also transfer data wirelessly through radio frequencies like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. We can now also upload or transfer data to the internet so that other people can access it. The internet is a series of computer networks running all across the world. With the internet, we can now easily send any file to our loved ones, even if they are a thousand miles away from us, as long as they also have access to the internet.
All we need to do is upload our file to the internet. Then, to access our file, people have to download it to their devices.
Uploading and downloading data can take a while, depending on the file's size and transfer rate. Think of it like pouring water into a beaker. Pouring water from one beaker to another will only take a little amount of time.
However, if we place a funnel on one beaker, the amount of water flow will decrease due to the narrow part of the funnel. The flow rate of the water in this analogy is similar to the transfer rate of a file. We can compare a funnel's narrow tube part to what is called the internet's bandwidth. The larger the bandwidth is, the more data that can be transmitted at a time. Therefore, a file can be transferred much faster if the internet connection has a larger bandwidth. Bandwidth is also, in a way, an internet connection's maximum capacity, and we can express it in units of bits per second.
Internet bandwidth can also represent the maximum speed an internet connection can have. However, when moving a file from one computer to another, the maximum transfer speed will depend on the slowest bandwidth that the data has to go through - which can be anywhere in the route.
To better understand this, let us consider an example. Let's say that your friend wants to send you his new MB megabytes video creation over his 10 Mbps megabits per second internet connection.
On the other hand, you will be receiving the video file over your 5 Mbps home internet connection. For this example, let us assume that the upload and download speeds for both connections can use their entire bandwidths. Since the file will also be coming through the much lower 5 Mbps connection, this will be the maximum transfer speed that we can get for this data transfer.
But, to determine the upload and download speeds of your connection, you can use any third-party speed test applications that can be accessed online through your browser. Now that we know how to determine the transfer speed for our uploads and downloads, we can now calculate a file's download time or duration. Calculating download time is as simple as dividing the size of the file you wish to transfer by the transfer speed of the network that the transfer will go through.
However, we have to be careful with the units we use, since this could be quite confusing. Let us consider the example above for our sample computation. To calculate how long to download the MB video over a 5 Mbps internet download speed, we can use the equation below:. But first, let us convert the units of the file size in terms of megabits, which is equivalent to 1 million bits. To do so, we'll be using the conversion table above under the SI system.
With that said, we now have this computation:. To know your internet speed, you can use speedtest. According to your current speed, It would take you about. NOTE: Read our information on how download transfer works to get better overview. NOTE : The download time calculator is used for estimating download time for a file.
It is just an estimation. It is based on your own internet speed. In order to know exact speed of your internet connection go to speed test. After knowing the exact download speed, you can manually enter it and get estimated time for download. Also, do note that other factors also come into consideration. The calculation of the download calculator for an Mp3, a film, or other amounts of data from the Internet is relatively easy if you know the formula.
The answer for how long to download is you have to divide the file size by the internet speed downstream. The difficulty is to count everything down to hours, minutes, and seconds.
But our download calculator does the best download time estimation. Those are bits, Kilobits, Megabits, Gigabits and so on. To convert Kilobits to Megabits you have to divide them by To convert the Megabits to Gigabits you have to divide them to again and so on.
The download speed is determined by your service provider and the hardware limits of the connection. For example the highest download speed of a Base-T connection is Megabits. Of course that speed is the maximum that can be reached on such hardware and may be slower based on the Internet plan that you have signed for. You can check your download and upload speeds at SpeedTest. The download and upload speed are usually different.
In most cases the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. If the two are equal we call such connection symmetric. If the connection is not "shaped" limited by an ISP it is symmetric by default. Please note that the above test is not always correct.
IS providers usually detect where your computer connects and provide higher speeds for tests if they detect that you are trying to test your connection speed. Use the Download Time Calculator above to enter your file size and calculate the time need for the transfer. Multiple Internet connection speeds are listed and you can see the ones that are close to yours. To calculate download time you have to divide the file size by the connection speed. The more difficult part is that you have to convert the speed and time units to the desired ones.
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