512 kbps on unlimted plan

[cbPM51]

With the "unlimited" data plans, ramping is to 512kbps.   What can you do at that speed?

Email and what else.?

[hTideGnow]

HI @cbPM51 

you can bookmark his post, and award him the solution to your question 🙂

[cbPM51]

So i am hoping to put your reply on my files to keep.!🌶🌶🌶

[Korth_]

"3G speed" = 3Mbps
"4G speed" = 100Mbps
"5G speed" = 250Mbps
"Unlimited Data" = 0.5Mbps (512Kbps) ... it's throttled (slowed down), it's not ramped (sped up)

What can you do with 512Kbps?

Video
An uncompressed FHD 1920x1080p 30fps video stream requires a throughput rate of 385kbps, only three-quarters of 512kbps, smooth and steady. An uncompressed WQHD 2560x1440p 24fps video stream requires a throughput rate of 531kbps, slightly more than 512kbps, it would pause or skip or stutter too frequently to be watchable. But Netflix, Youtube, Twitch, and all the other online video streaming platforms use compression. And the Telus network uses the Enea/Openwave Wireless Video Optimization system to compress and transcode video. So in practice you might be able to watch FHD 1080p 60fps or 4K 2160p 30fps with a 512kbps data rate, depending on the content quirks and the compression efficiency.

Audio
CD-quality stereo = 1411.2kbps (uncompressed AIFF), 560kbps-710kbps (lossless compression), 43kbps-153kbps (typical MP3 compression), 320kbps (maximum-resolution MP3 compression), iTunes 128kbps (standard), iTunes 256kbps (high), 480kbps (maximum-resolution OGG compression). 512kbps is not enough to listen to uncompressed or lossless audio streams but more than enough to overkill on even the best audio codec hardware specs in any smartphone.

Other
You can easily browse the internet, read pages, even scroll through crowded social media sites full of video hoverboxes. All but the most morbidly obese websites will load just fine at that bitrate.
You can play many games on 512kbps. You might need faster data rates to play multiplayer shooters and the like, since they can have to process many objects, collisions, etc.
You can download files at 512kbps. Fine for all the usual little stuff. Frustrating if you're grabbing a multi-GB movie.
You can't really do any filesharing or other upload-intensive activities on 512kbps. And Telus is typically hostile to P2P usage, especially across their mobile network, expect extra throttles to kick in if you persist.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/other/streaming-bitrate

https://www.theaudioarchive.com/TAA_Resources_File_Size.htm

https://www.whathifi.com/advice/high-resolution-audio-everything-you-need-to-know

https://hub.yamaha.com/audio/music/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lossless-audio-and-alac/

[cbPM51]

Tx 

[hTideGnow]

HI @cbPM51 the unlimited is for you to use for "emergency" after you run out of fast data

But web browser, email checking would be all good

yes, video is slower, it is not meant for that anyway

[cbPM51]

Thats about what i ecpected

[HALIMACS]

oh, I’m sure you can use any service/app.

It would be almost intolerable, depending on what you were trying to do.

[cbPM51]

Tx

[cbPM51]

Surprising you could get all that.

[HALIMACS · Accepted solution]

@cbPM51 

basically that unlimited data speed is intended for more urgent use and not day-to-day high load usage apps.

For instance, it’ll allow folks to check Maps or email or do a simple Google search.

Other than that it’s pretty limited unless you’re using video qualities of lower streaming qualities or non-action gaming. 

[fixin]

@cbPM51  -  I was on the speed cap of 512kbps, and I could play music basically no problem. But video can take a bit longer, with less than 1 minute of buffering. Phone Calls and texts won't be slow. If you use iMessage, whatsapp, or Facebook messenger, you'll experience slow sending speeds than normal. Basically it is just slow.

[computergeek541]

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@cbPM51 wrote:

With the "unlimited" data plans, ramping is to 512kbps.   What can you do at that speed?

Email and what else.?

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Everything can be done, just at a slower speed.  Even video streaming would still work but it would take much longer to build up a preset buffer of that website/steraming service before playback starts.