Do you know your true internet connection speed? I

’m not talking about your modem speed ratings or what your internet service provider tell you or states, but what you are actually able to download within a certain amount of time. I’ve used several clocked download programs that measure the time it takes for your system to download a certain amount of data and the results were dismal and disheartening. However, now I know what I can and can not do with this connection and where the problem lies.

Seems that a lot of homesteaders are going to be in this same boat, especially if they live at a remote homestead and don't have a satellite connection.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), May 15, 2002

Answers

My speed varies greatly. About the only time that it is anywhere close to what the service provider states is in the middle of the night when no one is on. We have a modem in our small library a few miles from us, that is a satellite from another place, etc. We are at the END of everything, phone, electric etc. on a dirt road. We feel fortunate to be able to have ANY service here, everything was long distance until a couple of years ago and right out of our price range. That is why I waited so long to even get a computer. My son with his old 486 had faster internet speed on cable than I do here with my high speed modem and processer. Oh well, mostly I just answered questions anyway....never did get many answers except from Jay anyway :>). This time of year, what with growing all our own food and milking 5 goats etc. I don't have much time to fool around on the computer anyway. As I type this I am eating my lunch and preparing to go outside and plant. We are just having our SECOND sunny day in a row after days and days of rain and cold. I am out of here!!!!

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 15, 2002.

I'm computer illiterate, so computerese might as well be chinese for all I understand it. But. I know my modem is 56K/90, and yet the highest speed my server ever shows me connecting on is 24,000. My son who lives only a mile from me connects in the high 30's and 50's. He hates my computer. . . says it is SLOW. Yet, I have the same brand as his, a newer version, and it has more of everything that counts. I do not understand why I connect at such low speeds always.

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 15, 2002.

I finally broke down and purchased a dedicated dial up to achieve a 54k connect.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

My connection speed shows 52k, but I am on city slicker fiber optics right now. Only 10 bucks a month too.

Our homestead connection will be way less, and twice the cost.

Ah, the price of freedom!!!!

-- Rick in Southwest WV (Rick_122@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

well connection depends on the phonelines and modem.So if you have a new computer and old phone lines you may not get a good connection.it isnt the computers fault it is the phone companies.i have been one place and get 19200 and then 1 mile up road get 48000 it sucks.MY SUGGESTION #1 GET A NEW V92 MODEM #2GET SATELLITE IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT ..BUT CABLE OR DSL IS BETTER

-- david webb (dbbew@yahoo.com), November 06, 2003.