bandwidth spike, cable modem?

i have a question for anyone who knows something about networks. i just got a rca cable modem from optimum online about 2 weeks ago. early today i was watching my transfer rate running at about 1 mbs (my max speedtest is around 1.5). and then all of the sudden it started a steady climb up to 8mbs. it lasted for about 90 seconds or so then crashed down 2.5 (i was surfing and winmxing at the time). is this typical? I know those guys that got busted last week uncapped to about 17mbs, but 8mbs sounds really fast for $30.

what causes stuff like this? how can i look something like this up (without drawing attention to myself)? thanks in advance

This was controlled by the provider. They were probably adjusting voltage rates or swapping segments at the time. Was there perhaps an event that occurred in your (a football game, a big accident, something...) that would make a lot of people not surf for awhile?

Cable speed is completely variable based on load/demand.

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Was there perhaps an event that occurred in your (a football game, a big accident, something...) that would make a lot of people not surf for awhile?

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dunno, it was sunday 'bout noonish on a really niceday, maybe that's it. do you know where i could look this up or what to search for, nothing i punch gets me anything useful and legal. thanks for the info :D