I'm trying to upload a 21Mb AVI file to my webspace so I can share it with a few mates. Despite having 2mb broadband it is taking ages.

Why does it take so long to upload compared to download?

Because you're line won't be syncronous...hence the download speed is not the same as the upload speed, and it slower.

The usual reason for the bias towards faster downloading is that most people on domestic accounts tend to download more than they upload...

Rob.

Indeed - home broadband or ADSL as it's officially known - the key is the 'A' - Asymmetric. It's a version of a Digital Subsriber Line that enables the download speed to be significantly larger than the upload (I won't go into how it goes about it here!!). While we've seen 'download' speeds increase (getting upto 8mbit in some areas), the upload speed has generally remained the same. I would expect yours to be 256k.

To increase that you would be looking at a SDSL (symmetrical line where both up and down speeds are the same, or more closely matched) or a more traditional DSL line where upload speed can be more easily increased.

As you would expect, both of the above options bring with them much higher costs, and are more suited to businesses.

Wherenever I'm uploading larger files to webspace etc I just tend to leave it running, while my PC is unattended or overnight etc.

Hope this helps explain.

Steve

Its also to prevent any tomdickorharry running their own webserver at home on the cheap taking up valuable bandwidth.

21Mb Avi file?! You've not been racing more Scoobies again have you?

Chris