Can you explain bandwidth to me using an anaolgy that is probably innacurate?

(Bazongaloid, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 10:49, 3 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

It's a relatively simple concept but comes with a fuckton of variables that complicate matters.
If you've got a 1mbps connection and you're sending a 1mb email, it shoudl take 1 second to send. If you're sending a 2mb email over a 1mb connection, it'll take two seconds. If you're sending 0.5mb, it'll take half a second.

If you've got two people sending 1mb emails over a 1mbps connection, it'll take 2 seconds because the bandwidth gets split between the two things.

The old electrical analogy of a garden hosepipe could still be used, only the more water you put into it does not come with a subsequent increase in pressure, it just takes longer.
( Kroney, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 10:58, Reply)

Now can you explain to me where babies come from?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:01, Reply)

Oh it's ok, I think Himjim has done that below

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:02, Reply)

imagine fibre optic broadband is as wide as TGB vagina
dial up is as tight and The Luggage's, I hope this helps
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 10:59, Reply)

Imagine a hosepipe that runs through a pump (the router)
The pump can only go at a certain speed. If someone increases the pressure of the water in the hosepipe, the rate of flow coming out of the pump will be the same because it can only go at a certain speed.

Getting a bigger pump is the only way to deal with the increased pressure.
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:01, Reply)

Okay, I think I sort of understand.

(Bazongaloid, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:06, Reply)

The other thing worth explaining is that the hosepipe itself is owned by Thames Water
and so it fucking leaks. That's why they tell you you won't get that maximum bandwidth if you're any distance from the nearest exchange.
( Kroney, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:11, Reply)