Sniper's Paradise!
Basic Internet Terminology
There are a lot of things that factor into your speed of your Internet connection. Download and upload speeds, backbones, networks, latency, ping times, and DNS servers to name a few. Below you will find some fequently used terms and their description used on the Internet
Bandwidth
The transmission capacity of the lines that carry the Internet's electronic traffic.
Download
Download is a measure of how fast your connection delivers content to your computer or local area network.
Upload
Upload is the measure of how fast content is delivered from your computer or local area network to others on the Internet.
For businesses or power-users, download and upload speed should match or at least be very close. This is important for applications like VoIP, on-line gaming and other interactive programs. Upload speed is even more important if you are operating a server at your location. If achieving optimal upload speed is a concern, consider Ethernet, T1 or SDSL services.
Kbps
Kbps transfer rate = kilobit per second transfer rate. There are 8 bits in a byte, so we would divide kbps by 8 to get KB/sec transfer rate.
Transfer Rate
Transfer rate is speed at which data can be transmitted between devices. This is sometimes referred to as throughput. As files to download become increasingly larger, the highest data transfer rate is most desirable.
Latency
In a network, latency, a synonym for delay, is an expression of how much time it takes for a packet of data to get from one designated point to another. In some usages, latency is measured by sending a packet that is returned to the sender and the round-trip time is considered the latency. Low latency is extremely important for businesses and power-users.
Backbones and Core Networks
A fast connection doesn't mean much if your provider isn't proactively managing their core network. A good provider operates their own private backbone. Quality and size of Internet backbones the provider is connected to is also key.To achieve optimal performance, broadband networks should be engineered from the ground up. Providers who are focused on high speed connections "from the edge to the core and back again" are better equipped to provide you with the best and most reliable broadband experience.
Latency and "Ping Times"
The information displayed is a measure, in milliseconds, of how long it takes a single small packet of data to travel from one location to another and back again. Data travels at nearly the speed of light, plus the time it takes to work its way through the core networking equipment (usually just a few milliseconds). Therefore, if your connection is well engineered you can expect the rough equivalent of 20ms per 1,000 miles (round-trip).Low latency is extremely important for businesses and power-users, virtual private networks, VoIP and highly interactive applications like on-line data-bases or broadband gaming. If your usage demands low latency and your provider cannot or will not talk with you about ping times on their network (and therefore your connection) you should think twice about your choice of providers.
DNS Servers
When you type a domain name into your web browser (e.g., "www.snipersparadise.net"), computers called "Domain Name Servers" attempt to quickly translate that domain name into a series of numbers called an IP address that your computer can understand. This is necessary for the website content to be located, requested and then delivered back to your browser.DNS Servers are one of several components that help make your connection truly "fast". If these servers aren't functioning or are slow to respond, it can make your connection appear slow or even offline. Make sure your provider has both secondary and primary DNS servers for you to use. Do your own investigation. Try 'Googling' your provider's name and DNS to see if they have a history of problems, (e.g., search for "DNS Comcast").
Like the old adage, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link," every web page you view, file or download from the Internet is handled by dozens of computers before it appears on your screen. And the speed you receive from the Internet is determined by the slowest "link" in the data chain leading to your computer. Listed below are some factors that can affect the speed of your Modem connection.
What Affects Speed?1. The Host Server
The most common cause of slow speed on the Internet is the host server. This server may be mis-configured or underpowered for the number of people using it at the same time. A slow server can affect anything you do on the Internet.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Try a few different web sites (or FTP sites, or game servers, etc.) and see which one works the fastest.
- The speed of the fastest web site or server you find tells you that your Cable Modem is capable of delivering at least that much speed.
- If other web sites or servers are slower, the problem is usually with those web sites or servers.
2. The Host Server's Internet Connection
The servers from which you receive web pages, files, videos or gaming data from, connect to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider. These servers connect using one or more T1 lines, which can deliver a guaranteed 1.5 Mbps. If a server only has a single T1 line and ten people are using it simultaneously, each person will only receive 150 kbps, slowing the speed.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Same diagnosis/cure for The Host Server described above holds true here.
- Speed delivered may vary depending on the time of day you are using the server.
- Demand on servers can be very high at peak times or during special events.
3. Internet Routers
The data sent to your computer from a server typically bounces through a dozen or so routers. Their purpose is directing data from one point to another on the Internet. Routers, or the connections between them, can become mis-configured or overloaded by high demand.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Even if a problem is identified, there's not much we can do, because it is up to the company who owns that router to resolve the problem.
4. Ad-ware or Spyware
If your computer is infected with "ad-ware" or "spyware" you'll likely see reduced computer performance and a constant stream of pop-up ads. This will likely cause everything on your computer to work slower.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Several software companies provide removal software, which may assist you. These resources below may also prove useful:
- Norton Antivirus available at www.symantec-norton.com. Norton Antivirus is a Anti-Virus protection, Anti-Spam, Parental Controls and Firewall protection.
- Ad-ware from Lavasoft available at www.lavasoftusa.com. Ad-ware scans and cleans your computer for known data mining, advertising and tracking components.
- Spybot Search & Destroy from PepiMK Software* available at www.safer-networking.org. Spybot Search & Destroy can detect and remove many types of spyware from your computer.
* Please note that Sniper's Paradise does not recommend or endorse the use of these products and/or web sites. There are many other products and services available on the Internet which provide similar removal tools.
5. Web Browser
A corrupted or poorly configured web browser is one of the most common bottlenecks for fast web browsing.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Run the "auto-repair" feature of Internet Explorer.
- Upgrade to a newer version of your browser.
6. Your TCP/IP Configuration
Installation software provided by dial-up Internet providers can change the default TCP/IP settings on your computer in an attempt to provide better performance. These changes usually cause poorer performance with high-speed Internet services. Macintosh users don't experience this particular problem.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Windows users can run one of several "registry scripts" to reset theTCP/IP configuration to default values.
- Your Internet Service Provider's broadband software should contain such a registry fix.
7. Your Computer Hardware
The speed of the processor, hard drive, network card, graphics accelerator, even the amount of RAM, all impact the speed your computer can process Internet data.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Upgrading your RAM memory is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to boost speed.
- In general older computers will limit the speed you receive with your Modem connection.
Here is a good way to determine whether or not your computer is at fault:
Find a friend who is receiving good speed with their connection. Borrow their lap top computer and connect it to your modem. If the speed problem doesn't manifest itself, it could be your computer.
8. Your Operating System
With extensive use, any computer operating system can become corrupted, inefficient or mis-configured, which will affect the speed.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Upgrading to a major new release of your operating system may help.
- Reinstall your operating system. If unsure how to do this, call your computer manufacturer or work with a qualified area consultant.
9. Your Home Networking Device
A home networking device, or router, routes traffic between your modem and your computer(s). Routers which do not use the 100baseT Ethernet Standard and routers which have outdated software could slow your connection.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Unplug the Ethernet cables from your router and connect your computer directly to the modem.
- Reboot your computer and then recheck your speeds.
- If your speeds have increased, your home networking device could be the problem.
- In some cases you may just need to update the firmware/software on the device.
- Or you may need to remove or replace the home networking device.
The major cause of a slow internet connection in most cases is as a result of the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Whether this is the case or not, it is possible to optimize the internet connection through port functions with the bandwidth that has been provided. A common problem of slowed internet connection is for the router to have been set with a downloading limit without the user's knowledge and this slows downloading speeds. In order to find out if this is the case, the cable going to the router may be connected directly to the computer and the speed monitored. If the speed is significantly faster, then the router could have been set with a limit.
The ports for the router can also be opened on the computer and under the router settings and port forwarding, the IP address should be input. The router is required to be configured in a way that it can accept ports for the appropriate programs that are being used. Port speed is an important factor and the modem should be set up with the right speed for appropriate internet speeds. Incase modem connection problems still persist; one could try and lower the port speed towards modem speed and turn off the compression. This is done only for those set ups that still utilize old UART's.
The general connecting ports should be checked for any loose connections or wiring which may be the cause of a slow or breaking connection. The use of cable mapping tools may also play a vital role in ensuring that cables are properly assigned and in addition can show port status, byte counts, and port speed. The use of USB ports for internet connection has served to create a fast and convenient way for broadband internet connection. Wireless USB devices have also shown great performance speed in addition to their portability.
10. Cabe Company Routers
In addition to passing through routers on the public Internet, information received also passes through between six and twelve routers maintained by Cable company's. It is possible for them to become mis-configured or overloaded, but it's more common for routine upgrades or maintenance to these routers to be at fault.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Automated monitoring tools or Cable company subscribers advanced users versed in network troubleshooting would usually report a problem before it was noticed by most subscribers. In any event you should call your internet provider if low speeds persist
11. Your Modem's Signal
If your signal delivered to your modem is too weak or too noisy, it can cause your Modem to slow down or stop working entirely. Adding a signal splitter to your cable line; a nick in the cable line running to your house; or changes to the cable system in your neighborhood, could also slow your cable signal.
Diagnosis/Cure:
- Remove any cable splitters you may have added to the cable line leading to your modem.
- Contact your ISP to see if your signal is out of spec.
- If it looks like you are experiencing a problem with your signal, schedule a visit with them to troubleshoot the problem.
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