Category ArchiveCable Internet
Cable Internet Admin on 21 Apr 2008
How to Test Your DSL and Cable Internet Connection Speed
There are two measured elements that determine your internet connection speed. They are: The download rate, and the upload rate of data measured in bits per seconds. Usually, it is expressed in Kilobits per second.
A bit is the smallest piece of data that can be stored in a computer. The bit can be either “0″ or “1″. The byte is eight bits. Example of a byte and bits are the following:
bit= 0 or 1
byte=8 bits
1 byte=10011101 (eight bits)
A single charcter needs one byte or eight bits to be stored in a computer. So, when the data rate is 1 byte/sec, that means one character per second is the rate at which data is transferred through your connection.
This is very slow, and only intended for an example. In order to browse the internet, you must have at least a dial up access with a 56kb/s modem, in order to get a meaningful and practical result.
There are different types of internet connection. First they introduced the dialup connection using your phone line, then the broadband was introduced.
The broadband internet connections are DSL, Cable, or Satellite internet services. They are widely used and expanding due to the high bandwith.
When you get an internet service, your provider states that your speed will be a certain numbers. They usually give you a good idea, but not an exact one. The common asked questions
among internet users is:
How do I know what is my connection speed, and if I am getting what I was promised?.
If there anyway I can test my connection, and do I need to buy expensive software to test it?.
The answer is simple. There are two ways to test your internet connection speed:
1- The manual simple calculation test that you can do yourself without any software or third party services.
2- You can find a service that lets you run a test through their servers, and get your numbers displayed at their webpage.
1-The manual method:
Since I mentioned that the connection speed consist of two numbers, the download and upload speed. So, what you do is download from the internet any free software, and watch the result box with the result that show the size of the file and how many seconds it tool to download.
When you are done recording the download speed, upload a file of a specific size (1 Mb, 2 Mb), and time your watch when you start. When the file is uploaded, check your watch and record the time it took for the task. Then divide your file size by the seconds it took.
If you file was 2 Mb. that took 5 minutes to upload, then your upload speed is 2 Mb./300 sec. or 6.826 Kbits/sec.You can run the above test couple times, and then take the average for a better result.
2-The automated test at a third party service:
This is my preferred one, where you get to a website where the test is done for you. It is done using a script installed on their server, and letting you download and upload to their server a test file (invisible to you). Then, the result is displayed on their webpage. You just have to register for free using your email. It is free. This is a website address where they offer you a free internet connection test:
http://www.visualware.com.
In summary, don’t settle for numbers given to you by your services, do the tests whenever you can. You enjoy it, and feel that you are getting your money worth. This is because some servcies charges you 35 dollars or more for a high speed internet service.
Thanks,
George Chamoun
I have created an Ebook about troubleshooting procedures for DSL, or Cable connection problems. You can get it for free by
right clicking the link and saving to your computer:
http://www.ebookfreestore.com/software/ComputerEbook.pdf
Cable Internet Admin on 29 Mar 2008
What is Cable Internet Service
Unlike your DSL internet access, cable internet is acquired through your local Cable TV provider. This usually provides internet access faster than most of the broadband services available.
This technology uses your existing cable TV lines to access the internet. You will pay an additional fee to your cable TV provider for this extra service. If you were previously using dial up internet connection, you will probably notice a huge speed increase when you access the internet.
The advantage of this broadband internet connection than other types of broadband is speed. It typically offers faster speeds than most broadband internet types such as the DSL and satellite internet.
However, your cable internet speed depends largely on how many people is subscribing in the same company. The more the subscriber, the more you will be sharing bandwidth, therefore, the slower your internet will be.
Cable internet is also slightly more expensive than DSL internet.
Since a cable internet has a high-speed internet connection, it offers many benefits, whether for personal use or for business.
Cable internet connection can give you the ability to download files and software faster than any other type of internet connection. This means you can share more files faster, like pictures to your friends and family wherever they are.
Another advantage is that you can play online multiplayer games and join small communities in virtual worlds.
With fast internet connection, you can use VoIP internet phones. This technology allows you to call relatives wherever they are in the world for little or no fee. VoIP also has built in features that your traditional phone company considers as additional features and charges expensive fees. Some additional features are the video phone calls, caller ID, call waiting, voice messages, long distance calls, conference calls and more.
With cable internet access, you can now play internet radio smoothly and high audio quality than dial ups can offer. You can also watch video streams like short online movies or music videos in the internet without interruptions in cable internet access.
You can also watch the latest sport events in the internet with this internet connection. Because it is fast, there will be no interruptions while you are watching.
Buying music online will be more convenient and cheaper than buying on your local music stores. All you have to do is go to an online music store and download your favorite music.
Download your favorite movies in the internet. With dial ups, these can take days or even weeks, therefore expensive. With cable internet, you can download full-length movies in a matter of hours.
Businesses can also benefit with cable internet access. Instead of traveling, they can do meetings using video conferencing. This feature can save them many travel expenses by just attending a meeting or product presentation to their clients. They can now easily close deals, therefore, more profit to their business.
Are you a student doing your homework? With cable internet, you no longer have to run to the public library to do all your research, the internet is a huge library itself and can provide you as much information as you want about your research. Since cable internet is fast, you can visit many websites to do your research and finish half the time than by using dial ups.
There are more advantages by using cable internet services. It can benefit your studies, businesses, or you can simply entertain yourself by listening to music, playing online multiplayer games or watch movies.
Communicating to your family and friends are also easier and much more convenient than a dial up internet can provide.
Bob Hett has extensively covered the Internet Service Provider industry as an analyst and has researched the various companies for factors based on price, reliability, support and overall quality. Learn more at Cable Internet Service
Cable Internet Admin on 28 Mar 2008
For Lightning-Fast Speed, What You Need is Comcast Internet
Just 10 years ago, the Internet was a novelty, a rarity and a luxury that most Americans were aware of but did not participate in. Now, 75 percent of Americans have Internet access at home, and many of them are using Comcast Internet.
With so many choices out there, how do you find what kind of Internet service is right for you? Simple: Choose the fastest, most reliable and most affordable. And that’s Comcast Internet.
Until a few years ago, the standard for Internet access was dialup. Today, that method of connecting to the Internet is no longer favored, as many Internet customers have high-speed access, either cable or DSL. Nearly all businesses and offices with Internet access use broadband of some kind. And Comcast cable Internet is leading the way.
Comcast cable Internet offers broadband service that is faster than most DSL services — about 6 Mbps (”6 Megs”) of download speed — so fast you’ll barely notice anything is happening. (Most DSL services only go as high as 1.5 Mbps.) When Comcast Internet says “high speed Internet,” they mean it!
With Comcast Internet access that fast, you have all the speed you need to watch videos, download songs, play online computer games and take advantage of everything else the Internet has to offer.
But look what else comcast high speed internet
gets you: As a Comcast Internet customer, you’ll have access to exclusive features like Video Mail, PhotoShow, and a variety of music, entertainment, sports and financial news at Comcast.net. The Comcast Internet home page makes you part of a vast community of fellow Comcast Internet users.
Another advantage of Comcast high speed cable Internet is that you have customer service available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If there’s a problem with your cable Internet, there will always be someone on hand to help you solve it. This is important especially to businesses, where a large portion (or sometimes all!) of their business is conducted over the Internet, thus making reliable high speed Internet a necessity.
You can also get Comcast Internet in conjunction with other Comcast services, such as Comcast digital cable. Customers often get a price break if they order a “package” of services — cable Internet and cable TV, for example. Comcast digital cable TV has a digital video recorder (DVR) option that allows you to record your favorite programs digitally and watch them later, at your convenience. With high speed Internet and digital cable with DVR, all your news and entertainment needs are taken care of through Comcast.
Comcast Internet is one of many Internet service providers, yes. But none are used as often, or praised as widely, as Comcast is for its high speed broadband Internet services. When you want to use the Internet, you want to use it quickly, efficiently and without it costing an arm and a leg. Comcast Internet gives you all that and more, making it one of the leaders in today’s broadband Internet marketplace.
Christopher M. Luck has an extensive background in working exclusively with Comcast and is now offering his free personal internet tricks to the public. If you are at all interested in Christopher’s advice, tips, or secrets, you can visit his comcast blog