Upload -vs- download speeds (3 questions)

[slowgoing]

I know my DSL upload speed is going to be slower than download (in fact my upload is less than 1/6th that of download) but can someone give me the reason this is so.

Also, is there any software or hardware system that can increase ones upload speed for DSL or Cable?

Finally, and this may be obvious but... if I was to set up a hosting server on my DSL or Cable connection would the visitors download speed from my server be essentially the same as what I get now for uploading?

Thanks!

[spyder003]

I'm not too sure about your first question. Probably something to the effect that most residential customers don't need a fast upload speed and it's probably more expensive for the ISP to provide this.

2. No, what you pay for is what you get.

3. Yes, they will be able to download at the speed that you can upload. Provided they have an equal or greater download speed.

[mbossman2]

the reason is that most consumer grade DSL is ADSL (assymetric DSL). the reason is so that you don't run a website off the connection and the fact that upstream requests are generally much smaller in size than download requests

Before you put a server on your consumer line double check your T's & C's and make sure that they don't prohibit that...they can and will terminate your connection if it is a prohibited action