help-bits bytes and speeds

[XxOO7xX]

i know that there are 8 kilobits in a kilobyte. my dsl provider (zoom-dsl.com) says i get 256K down and 128K up. i dont know if this means 256kilobits or kilobytes. in my other post i say that i can only download at 30 Kilobytes/second (speed tests too), but ive had dsl and cable both before with other service providers, and i normally downloaded stuff at 80-100 kilobytes/second, and these services were the same price as this one. this makes me think that the 256K they say i get should mean up to 256 kilobytes/second (minus overhead), but it acts like it means 256 kilobits cause 256/8 is 32, which is the download speed in kilobytes/second that ive been getting. if this is true that they only offer me 32 kilobytes/second than it is a rip off because it costs $46/month, the same as the cox cable and verizon dsl i used to have that i got speeds of over 100 kilobytes/second on. anyone get what im asking? if so can anyone help me out? i called zoom dsl to ask what i should be able to download at, but the guy didnt know what he was talking about.
thanks very much, i am getting really pissed off over such slow speeds. thanks,
ian
PS see my other post about tweaking my connection

[UOD]

Originally posted by XxOO7xX
i know that there are 8 kilobits in a kilobyte. my dsl provider (zoom-dsl.com) says i get 256K down and 128K up. i dont know if this means 256kilobits or kilobytes. in my other post i say that i can only download at 30 Kilobytes/second (speed tests too), but ive had dsl and cable both before with other service providers, and i normally downloaded stuff at 80-100 kilobytes/second, and these services were the same price as this one. this makes me think that the 256K they say i get should mean up to 256 kilobytes/second (minus overhead), but it acts like it means 256 kilobits cause 256/8 is 32, which is the download speed in kilobytes/second that ive been getting. if this is true that they only offer me 32 kilobytes/second than it is a rip off because it costs $46/month, the same as the cox cable and verizon dsl i used to have that i got speeds of over 100 kilobytes/second on. anyone get what im asking? if so can anyone help me out? i called zoom dsl to ask what i should be able to download at, but the guy didnt know what he was talking about.
thanks very much, i am getting really pissed off over such slow speeds. thanks,
ian
PS see my other post about tweaking my connection

I answered in your other thread...YES...it is a ripoff. A 256K connection is Kilobits per second...or roughly 30KB's.
In America, I don't think that even qualifies as broadband lol.

[mccoffee]

i hate to say it you are getting hosed with that deal

[XxOO7xX]

thanx for the info, that really sucks though. i need some more help though, please read my third post entitled "what are the advertised speeds of roadrunner, verizon dsl and cox cable? "
thanks!

[mccoffee]

road runner is 200/256 up version depending on package 768-1.5 an 128 up don't queite me on that one. Cox is 3000/256 I say go with cox :D