Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

[dualstow]

Oh, man, I thought it was a typo!

Internet test for desktop with ethernet cable:

[pp4me]

Here's Mine.

When I switched internet providers back in January the salesman talked me into paying the extra $10/month for 1 gig speed vs the 50 Mbps I had before. He said I would be really impressed. I was skeptical and I was right. The only time you can tell any difference is when you run this speed test.

At this point in time I think internet speeds are so far beyond the speed at which client and server computers can exchange data that it makes no difference to the naked eye. Maybe if I was a gamer I would notice it.

nearest petrol station to my location now

[Xan]

Here's Mine.

When I switched internet providers back in January the salesman talked me into paying the extra $10/month for 1 gig speed vs the 50 Mbps I had before. He said I would be really impressed. I was skeptical and I was right. The only time you can tell any difference is when you run this speed test.

At this point in time I think internet speeds are so far beyond the speed at which client and server computers can exchange data that it makes no difference to the naked eye. Maybe if I was a gamer I would notice it.

nearest petrol station to my location now

I think you're largely right, but with some caveats. ISPs typically sell only one number: the downstream data rate. And note that that's all this test is about, too!

Most of the time (after the data rate is "high enough"), latency is what's really most important. Especially for something like gaming. If you have a 10mbps connection with a 30ms ping to your gaming server, you're much better off than with 1000mbps connection with a 100ms ping.

Having a low latency requires an ISP to have lines that aren't saturated, to have good peering arrangements with many peers, and to be very good at what they do. It's hard to advertise for this because it's multi-dimensional: it isn't just a single number like the data rate.

The other issue is that they only sell the downstream data rate, which is a shame. The promise of the Internet is that everybody can be both producer and consumer. Everybody can host a server. Instead the ISPs sell downstream and give everybody a pittance of upstream data. This isn't just a theoretical problem: the quickest way to absolutely kill your downstream performance is to have your teeny upstream be saturated. In this new world of Zoom calls, upstream is really important, not only because you're sending video as well as receiving it, but because your insufficient upstream can easily be saturated and then you've got nothing.

[pp4me]

Here's Mine.

When I switched internet providers back in January the salesman talked me into paying the extra $10/month for 1 gig speed vs the 50 Mbps I had before. He said I would be really impressed. I was skeptical and I was right. The only time you can tell any difference is when you run this speed test.

At this point in time I think internet speeds are so far beyond the speed at which client and server computers can exchange data that it makes no difference to the naked eye. Maybe if I was a gamer I would notice it.

image deleted to save space

I think you're largely right, but with some caveats. ISPs typically sell only one number: the downstream data rate. And note that that's all this test is about, too!

Most of the time (after the data rate is "high enough"), latency is what's really most important. Especially for something like gaming. If you have a 10mbps connection with a 30ms ping to your gaming server, you're much better off than with 1000mbps connection with a 100ms ping.

Having a low latency requires an ISP to have lines that aren't saturated, to have good peering arrangements with many peers, and to be very good at what they do. It's hard to advertise for this because it's multi-dimensional: it isn't just a single number like the data rate.

The other issue is that they only sell the downstream data rate, which is a shame. The promise of the Internet is that everybody can be both producer and consumer. Everybody can host a server. Instead the ISPs sell downstream and give everybody a pittance of upstream data. This isn't just a theoretical problem: the quickest way to absolutely kill your downstream performance is to have your teeny upstream be saturated. In this new world of Zoom calls, upstream is really important, not only because you're sending video as well as receiving it, but because your insufficient upstream can easily be saturated and then you've got nothing.

The one thing this test does seem to tell me is that my inside wiring is able to handle the greater speed. I've read that for a lot of people, upgrading to higher speeds has no effect because it stops at the box outside your house. If you have older cabling this might be a problem.

[Libertarian666]

Here's Mine.

When I switched internet providers back in January the salesman talked me into paying the extra $10/month for 1 gig speed vs the 50 Mbps I had before. He said I would be really impressed. I was skeptical and I was right. The only time you can tell any difference is when you run this speed test.

At this point in time I think internet speeds are so far beyond the speed at which client and server computers can exchange data that it makes no difference to the naked eye. Maybe if I was a gamer I would notice it.

That's easy for you to say. Try living out here where satellite is the only option.

[flyingpylon]

Many people also use cheap WiFi routers and that will negatively impact the speeds you experience. For example, if you're just using your internet provider's WiFi router, there's a good chance you can do better. Many people are starting to use mesh WiFi systems that are not the absolute fastest but eliminate dead spots and deliver consistently solid connections throughout the house.

[dualstow]

...
Having a low latency requires an ISP to have lines that aren't saturated, to have good peering arrangements with many peers, and to be very good at what they do. It's hard to advertise for this because it's multi-dimensional: it isn't just a single number like the data rate.

The other issue is that they only sell the downstream data rate, which is a shame. The promise of the Internet is that everybody can be both producer and consumer. Everybody can host a server. Instead the ISPs sell downstream and give everybody a pittance of upstream data. This isn't just a theoretical problem: the quickest way to absolutely kill your downstream performance is to have your teeny upstream be saturated. In this new world of Zoom calls, upstream is really important, not only because you're sending video as well as receiving it, but because your insufficient upstream can easily be saturated and then you've got nothing.

Do you think I should look into having a server?
or just network attached storage?
I have good speed (at a high price) and I feel like I'm wasting it.

{ FYI: I'm traveling tomorrow, so if I don't respond right away, it just means....I'm traveling }

[Smith1776]

Tor would certainly slow things down to a trickle. Just hiding everything from the ISP in some way shape or form would probably be sufficient for me.

I've also considered running a Tor exit node. It's the liability concerns which prevent me from doing so. Anybody have any insights into that?

Can't say I have personal experience running a node, and it's for exactly the reason you mentioned. I've read up plenty on it, and it seems like nothing but a really good way to get the FBI knocking down your door one day on child pornography suspicions.

[WiseOne]

I have plain vanilla Verizon FIOS, which is 50 Mbps for both up and downstreaming. I've never had any reason to need more, and I have no desire to pay extra for faster speeds.

The interesting question is what's going to happen when true 5G phones are introduced. 5G will be even faster than this, so theoretically you could get a generous data plan on your phone, use it as a hotspot whenever you're home, and dispense with cable internet entirely. I wouldn't risk this while still working, but for a retired person on a limited income it could be a great option. Some wireless providers are already advertising 5G home internet at a price that slightly undercuts Verizon FIOS. More competition will surely help drive prices down.

Sadly, the 5G iPhone is delayed, so I guess experimenting with 5G will have to wait a bit longer.

[vnatale]

I have plain vanilla Verizon FIOS, which is 50 Mbps for both up and downstreaming. I've never had any reason to need more, and I have no desire to pay extra for faster speeds.

The interesting question is what's going to happen when true 5G phones are introduced. 5G will be even faster than this, so theoretically you could get a generous data plan on your phone, use it as a hotspot whenever you're home, and dispense with cable internet entirely. I wouldn't risk this while still working, but for a retired person on a limited income it could be a great option. Some wireless providers are already advertising 5G home internet at a price that slightly undercuts Verizon FIOS. More competition will surely help drive prices down.

Sadly, the 5G iPhone is delayed, so I guess experimenting with 5G will have to wait a bit longer.

I'd most recently read that actual implementation is FAR away. But from what I read what you have above, it is already being advertised, which means it is available?

Vinny

[Xan]

Many people also use cheap WiFi routers and that will negatively impact the speeds you experience. For example, if you're just using your internet provider's WiFi router, there's a good chance you can do better. Many people are starting to use mesh WiFi systems that are not the absolute fastest but eliminate dead spots and deliver consistently solid connections throughout the house.

I'm a wire guy, myself. WiFi is for devices and places where there's no other option. You're definitely right that WiFi performance is likely to be a bottleneck these days.

[Xan]

Do you think I should look into having a server?
or just network attached storage?
I have good speed (at a high price) and I feel like I'm wasting it.

{ FYI: I'm traveling tomorrow, so if I don't respond right away, it just means....I'm traveling }

Renting a VPS or some other "cloud" storage solution might not be a bad idea, mostly in order to get off-site backups in case of a fire or other local disaster.

I would think long and hard before delivering all your data to some third party, though. You may want to recommend encrypt it before uploading (that is, don't trust their encryption, if they have any).

[Xan]

I have plain vanilla Verizon FIOS, which is 50 Mbps for both up and downstreaming. I've never had any reason to need more, and I have no desire to pay extra for faster speeds.

The interesting question is what's going to happen when true 5G phones are introduced. 5G will be even faster than this, so theoretically you could get a generous data plan on your phone, use it as a hotspot whenever you're home, and dispense with cable internet entirely. I wouldn't risk this while still working, but for a retired person on a limited income it could be a great option. Some wireless providers are already advertising 5G home internet at a price that slightly undercuts Verizon FIOS. More competition will surely help drive prices down.

Sadly, the 5G iPhone is delayed, so I guess experimenting with 5G will have to wait a bit longer.

For performance, consistency, latency, and reliability it's hard to beat a wire. There's going to be (and is) a lot of noise on the spectrum. Maybe I'm just old fashioned. Depending on the pricing it could be a good option as you say for somebody on a fixed income who doesn't need much.

[Mark Leavy]

I'm getting some serious Sally action in Panama City Beach this morning. I still have power, but the weather is tripping the building fire alarms every few hours. Three times this morning so far. Yeah, with buckets of water flying around in swirls everywhere, I don't think so...

Also, the winds have somehow sucked all of the water out of the toilets. They just sit there like enormous shop vacs now, gobbling up air and whooshing it down into the bowels of Hades. Anything that approaches them will never return from the underworld. Thank Neptune's minions that the shower drain is still approachable.

[dualstow]

Stay safe, Mark!

Renting a VPS or some other "cloud" storage solution might not be a bad idea, mostly in order to get off-site backups in case of a fire or other local disaster.

I would think long and hard before delivering all your data to some third party, though. You may want to recommend encrypt it before uploading (that is, don't trust their encryption, if they have any).

Many thanks, Xan.

[Smith1776]

Hey guys. I know some of you are religious on this forum. I could use your thoughts and prayers. Going through (again) some trying times. Thanks all.

[Mark Leavy]

Dude. I'm not religious, but best wishes. You have a lot of good still to do. You make the world a better place.

[Smith1776]

Dude. I'm not religious, but best wishes. You have a lot of good still to do. You make the world a better place.

Thank you, Mark. The challenges in life don't stop, but I am doing my best to meet them.

On a side note, every painful experience usually has a stand-up comedy bit somewhere in there.

[Kriegsspiel]

How bad is it? Should I sacrifice a dove or a feral cat?

Trick question; it will be a feral cat.

[Mark Leavy]

How bad is it? Should I sacrifice a dove or a feral cat?

Trick question; it will be a feral cat.

Good call, Kriegs. Doves are the wrong animal in this situation. If I'm reading the room correctly, we may need a horse head.

[Hal]

How bad is it? Should I sacrifice a dove or a feral cat?

Trick question; it will be a feral cat.

Good call, Kriegs. Doves are the wrong animal in this situation. If I'm reading the room correctly, we may need a horse head.

Heh, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4k7vaouYhU

[Mountaineer]

Hey guys. I know some of you are religious on this forum. I could use your thoughts and prayers. Going through (again) some trying times. Thanks all.

Smith, I'm sorry you are going through trying times. Just remember that God loves you, all the time, no matter what. You might like to read Psalm 136 (first few verses shown below); I find it comforting. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Psalm 136 (from ESV translation):

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever; ........

[Hal]

Thats a good set of verses Mountaineer,

Maybe not as good as the bible, but perhaps these Stoic quotes may help as well....
https://daringtolivefully.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes

Hope everything sorts itself out Smith....

[Mountaineer]

Thats a good set of verses Mountaineer,

Maybe not as good as the bible, but perhaps these Stoic quotes may help as well....
https://daringtolivefully.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes

Hope everything sorts itself out Smith....

Those are great quotes Hal.

Another thought came to mind: Whenever I'm feeling sorry for myself or my situation, I try to focus on helping someone who is worse off than me (and there are lots of those people out there); a shift from me to thee. Inevitably, that somehow improves my situation, and hopefully the situation of the one I'm helping. A win-win!

It is helpful for me to keep my eyes on Jesus, the steady, unchanging, always solid stake in the ground who paid the price all our mistakes versus keeping my eyes on me and my feelings which are not so steady, not so reliable, can be dependent on what others are thinking of me, and subject to changing with current circumstances. I think of Jesus as a mountain (steady and long lasting) and myself as an iceberg (subject to changing with the winds and currents of life as I slowly melt away).

[Mountaineer]

Another great Psalm for comfort in trying times is 27.