hi i have a 1 mb adsl connection the xp's internet connection properties shows in internet gateway box that the speed is 1 mb. but my friend(has another 1mb connection) it shows speed of 2.5 mb and another friend shows 2.3 mb. so what that speed means and why it differ from connection to connection thanks none

It could many things. Your friends could have a "cleaner" phone line. Their computers might have a better NIC card. I've seen where just by using the latest drivers for a NIC will increase performance. I've seen using different OS's or more RAM can cause you to have different speeds. Some people see less performance going through a router then being connected directly to the DSL modem. Is this directly connected or wireless? Wireless is a different ball game when it comes to performance. You really never know what your going to get with these home wireless routers.

What these speeds boil down to is the distance your home has from the CO or Phone Office. The further away you are from the CO the lesser the rate you are going to get. Regards. The Network Department