Connection Speed?

HI
I just switched to DSL, Can someone tell me where I can find my connection speed and what it means.
I have heard people talk about "up and down" I believe?

I'm new to this fast stuff So I would like any info that you can give that may be important.

Thanks
Geri

 

You can run various speed tests on DSL Reports. Click on "Tests + Tools" in the left-hand frame.

You can also view the status of your connection in Control Panel>Network Connections, select the connection you use and either click on "View status of this connection" over in the left-hand pane or right click on the connection and go to Status.

 

Hi Gerri,

You can monitor speed on a real time basis with a program called UpTimer:

You can pick what's displayed. One handy display is tcp monitoring, meaning real time download/upload times.

http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html

Regards - Charles

 

Hi charlesvar
It says that one is currently suspended. Seems like a good download though!
I'll check back later to see if it's up yet.

Miz
I show 3 there.
One is Linux IDG and it says 614.4 Kbps
One is 1394 connection status and shows 400.0 Mbps
One is Local Area connection and shows 100.0 Mbps

I don't understand these

I signed up at 256 and then upgraded to 1.5, (To take effect by Dec. 10th) I'm guessing Kbps and then Mbps?
Could you all give me a clue at what I'm looking at

Oh, One more thing, DSL is always on Correct? So there is no need (or way) to disconnect as with dial up?

Thanks
Geri

 

Hi Geri,

It says that one is currently suspended.
Means he is not further enhancing it for the time being. The current version works quite well as is.

Oh, One more thing, DSL is always on Correct? So there is no need (or way) to disconnect as with dial up?
As far as I know, DSL is a high speed Dialup service, so there is, or can be, a connect/diconnect. That actually in my mind makes it safer than always on cable.

Regards - Charles

EDIT: Forgot, info on DSL - how it works: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl.htm

 

DSL does run over your phone line but any I'm familiar with do not need or even make possible a dial-up connection. It's an always-on connection very similar to cable. The only ways I know of to disconnect are to either unplug the DSL 'modem' or something equally drastic. Still, when you plug the modem back in, you are connected again so no harm done.

I show 3 there.

One is Linux IDG and it says 614.4 Kbps
no idea about this one but the speed is in the general range I'd expect for your DSL connection since you say you have upgraded to 1.5Mbps (1,500Kbps)

One is 1394 connection status and shows 400.0 Mbps
this one is your firewire connection so more like hard drive storage but Microsoft shows it as a network connection for no reason I've ever been able to figure out.

One is Local Area connection and shows 100.0 Mbps
This is the speed your network card is set for and if you have a router/switch or other PCs, is the speed they will use but only within your network. Nothing to do with internet speed.

I signed up at 256Kbps and then upgraded to 1.5Mbps

I think if you check the fine print you will find that you have different speeds for downloads (stuff that comes from the internet in to you) and for uploads (stuff you send out to the internet). Almost always you will have a faster download speed than upload and often twice as fast.

With DSL, assuming you have good quality phone lines all the way from your house to the phone company equipment and their stuff isn't too far away you can expect to get fairly close to the rated speeds you are paying for. However, just like with dial-up where 56Kb equipment might really only get you 44Kbps or slower, you may not get near the rated speed unless they upgrade the lines from you to the substation and unless you are located pretty close to it.

Also note that you probably have asymmetric DSL (ADSL) service which is the cause of the faster download speeds than upload. You can buy symmetric DSL (usually just called DSL) but since it does not allow you to talk on the phone while the PC is connected most of us don't have that one at home. Some businesses might if they have a spare phone line to use just for internet while they maintain another line for normal voice telephones.

 

Hi Newt,

DSL does run over your phone line but any I'm familiar with do not need or even make possible a dial-up connection.
The installtion that I'm familiar with is a connect/diconnect the way a regular Dialup is. Now it is behind a router, and that may be "always on ", but I can't find any activity into the Computer using a TCP Monitor.

Regards - Charles

 

Hey Thanks

Yeah, I've heard that. and I expected such.
Thanks Newt

Charlesvar

This is a cool web site, I've been going there for years, I also get their news letter.
Thanks everyone

I will check with my ISP about the disconnection thing. I don't mind having it on, I have a firewall and virus protection.
and I know, If someone really wants to get into my computer there is no way of stopping them, You can only do what you can do. But I don't keep anything important on here. I do my banking and stuff in person.

Thanks again
Geri

 

Hi
FYI on what my DSL provider says...

Benefits of Qwest DSL Services:

> Gives you high-speed connection directly to your Internet Service
Provider (ISP).
> You'll have a dedicated connection that is "continuously on " to
receive and transmit in real time, no more waiting for dial ups, and no
security worries.

I wonder what they mean by "No Security worries "??
The first thing I did was get a Firewall !?

Geri

 

charlesvar
I downloaded the uptimer. One thing is, it says I have 44 processes running. That's a bit much isn't it?
Any clues on where I could find a list of the ones I really need running?

Also the date on it says Oct. 2004.
Do you know how to change that? I tried but could not find any setting for it.
Geri

 

Hi Gerri,

it says I have 44 processes running.
Search these sites for startups:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/system/ Windows System Startups

http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php !! Searchable DB by Windows Startup Manager people

Also the date on it says Oct. 2004.
Not clear on what you mean.

Regards - Charles

 

Mike Lin's StartUp CPL will put a tab in your control panel allowing you to easily stop processes from loading at boot. Black Viper has excellent suggestions for turning off unneeded services. PCPitstop is a fun way to check system performance, including connection speed.

To change your system time, either go into BIOS (ususally a tap on the delete key at boot) or use the Control Panel >Date & Time tab.

Johanna

 

Question.

Isn't that because of the Router ? Nothing can see your machine until you connect and send something out ?

BillyBob

 

Hi BB,

Isn't that because of the Router ? Nothing can see your machine until you connect and send something out ?
That seems to be true - not being behind a router, can't give a definitive answer.

What I meant was that in this particular instance that I'm familiar with, the user has to sign on to AOL, the motions being the same as over a regular voice line.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi
OK remember I'm new at this, So what is a router and how do I know if I.m using one?

It is not my system, There is a date showing on the "Uptimer" and it says 10/12/04 The date and time on my system is right.

Geri

 

Geri,
Some folks write dates dd/mm/yy which is what your "Uptimer" seems to be doing. Look for an "options" or "preferences" within the program itself, and see if you can switch it to the more familiar American mm/dd/yy.

Johanna

 

Hi Gerri,

It is not my system, There is a date showing on the "Uptimer" and it says 10/12/04 The date and time on my system is right.
Ok, understand now. Johanna is right - 10/12/04 is 12/10/04, the Europeans write their dates that way.

OK remember I'm new at this, So what is a router and how do I know if I.m using one?
A short explanation http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/r/router.html A longer and more elaborate explanation can be found using the How things Work site. I'm fairly certain you don't have one.

An example of a DSL router and cost:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0030154&cs=19&c=us&l=en

Even though you're not on a network - can be used for a single system and quite often is for the security with high speed access that it provides. Many people dispense with software firewalls when using a router. Using the correct type called NAT and set correctly, the outside world sees the router - not your system.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi

OK, I don't see any way to change it, But now that I know that, it's readable

This must be why I get this (below) when I click on "Test firewall ". I have McAfee's firewall.

From HackerWatch.org.
Unable to Probe
The IP address requesting this page is different from the IP address of your computer. This indicates that your computer is behind a proxy or NAT. These devices allow you to access the Internet by relaying traffic, typically from multiple computers, through a single IP address.

We are unable to directly probe your computer, you should take comfort from this. You have that much more protection between your computer and the Internet.

Thanks all.
If you think there is anything else I should know about DSL, Please feel free to post it.
I like to know what I'm working with.
Thanks again
Geri

Ps.
Johanna
Your Picture still looks good, Get your check yet??