Slow Connection Problems

[markjones05]

Does anyone know how I might be able to check the spped at which I transfer and recieve information through my cable modem? I pay alot of money for my cable bill which includes my modem and sometimes I download 5 kbs/sec. Is there something that I am doing wrong or do i need to call my isp? Any input would be phenomenal.

[timbloom]

http://www.DSLreports.com

[Eniregnat]

I am not a cable modem fan. It’s great when nobody near you has similar service, but if you’re in an area with heavy subscription, the speed drops.

Cnet Bandwidth tester
Test your bandwidth (http://webservices.cnet.com/Bandwidth/)
It’s a simple and relatively reliable test. Run it several times to get a more reliable average. If you can ping out a known server with a lot of bandwidth, for me Apple.com at 17.254.3.183, you can start to build reliable statistics.

A CNET.com article. (http://www.cnet.com/internet/0-3762-8-20697067-1.html )
Another CNET article. (http://www.cnet.com/internet/0-3762-8-20697067-2.html?tag=st.is.3762-8-20697067-1.arrow.3762-8-20697067-2)

DSL, ISDN, satellite, cable, what ever. Some of the just suck COX.

[arn]

Originally posted by Eniregnat
I am not a cable modem fan. It?s great when nobody near you has similar service, but if you?re in an area with heavy subscription, the speed drops.

I think this is a myth... in that in theory, yes... this is what might happen... but practically, it is not the case.

In my (and my friends') experience, Cable modem is consistantly faster than DSL. How much faster depends on your location and service.

My Cable modem maxes out at around 250 K/s downstream. My friends' DSL maxes out around 60 K/s downstream. It's noticable in daytoday use.

arn

[Eniregnat]

Hey Arn. I have a great deal of respect for you.
I am not preaching that DSL or any form of connection is the best. In my area cable is good as long as not too many people subscribe with in your area.

This is from personal experience. Our local cable provider is not particularly good about its promises or in upgrading its equipment. The local newspaper did a few articles on this. I have worked with people that have had great bandwidth via cable, but in most cases I know people that have seen their “speed” as well as service drop significantly though the years. It is quite possible that our local area has maximized its bandwidth, at least with the equipment that our local cable provider has installed. I have helped a number of friends both set up cable modems and deal with the local cable company’s technical support. I was neither impressed with their technical knowledge base, nor was I impressed with the technicians.

“What should a farmer plant in her/his fields?”
“What ever the grows well with the neighbors.”
This doesn’t lead to much of a dynamic. Risk takers will try something different, and quite often prevail. I do believe that the best way to choose any ISP is to ask around first. Because there is only one cable provider in my area there is no comparison. There are several DSL providers, but all of them have one thing in common. They all use the same backbone, which is owned by Sprint. Coincidentally, Sprint customers seem to get their service up and running faster than anybody else’s do. A little bit of knowledge can lead to a lot of power.

My only advice is if anybody has problems take detailed notes. Write down everything, including the name of the person that helped you, as well as the time that a person was on hold. Get extension numbers if you can. If your service turns out not to be as advertised, and there is a better service in your area, then you will have enough information to help get you out a contract, or to prove that they have not provided what they promised.

Also- The technical support people are human. Treat them well, do what they ask you to do, and be firm about your position. Make sure that they take notes and lastly, be polite even if they are not.

[Eniregnat]

Back on topic:
Some more tests. They should spawn a new browser.


1.) Small data (http://homepage.eircom.net/~leslie/testpage/testpg56.htm) test. Fast by Eircom.net
2.) Large data (http://homepage.eircom.net/~leslie/testpage/testlrge.htm) graphics- by Eircom.net (odd pictures)
3.) Toast.net’s (http://www.toast.net/performance/) multi stream test. Like aSwiss Army . :cool:
4.) (http://computingcentral.msn.com/internet/speedtest.asp) Similar to the CNET test.
5.) Another Java test (http://www.cable-modem.net/features/oct99/speed.html), but not area code or zip code required.