You can do some tests here: http://www.broadbandreports.com/tools

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp

http://www.t1shopper.com/tools/speedtest/

Remember that whatever your particular service is supposed to be for speed, there's going to be some loss due to overhead.

Here's some hints that might help: A well set-up LW can start to automatically continue its dwnlding after it's settled down perhaps 2 out of 3 times you open LW. Optimising LW & Maximising Uplds & Dwnlds A (1st post only) & also Part B which is even better & last & least are search & dwnld hints. The latter one I've been thinking about re-writing for some time. That's just for playing it safe. eg- I show all speeds & qualities.