[twobjshelbys]

My DSL is a 7mbit link, so my link from the house to the central office is 7168kbit download. The maximum upload rate for DSL is 896kbit. Out of that Speedtest.net tells me I deliver:

5.69Mbit/sec download
740kbit/sec upload

Efficiency = 5.69/7.168 = 79% download
740/896 = 82.6

There is a new fiber-optic dependent (note, not based) DSL that Qwest is saying can deliver 20Mbit/sec or higher. They use fiber optics to your neighborhood "pedestal" and then copper to your home. Since the copper is a much shorter haul they can get more speed from it.

Also, virtually all DSL modems will have a maintenance interface that you can examine to see what the modem negotiated from your home to the central office. If they are not what you are paying for then you should complain to the telephone company. It could be that the connection's connections have degraded.

One of the biggest problems with DSL links get the filters stacked up. I managed to get a DSL filter that fits in the outside box and then wired a Cat5 cable directly from the modem to the box (e.g., "Line 3").