Tweaking Programs
Hi, Chip!
I also spent several hours trying to improve the performance of my Internet connection via Ricochet by using TweakDUN and came to the same conclusion that you came to. Must have something to do with the design or software of the Ricochet system. I even registered TweakDUN to be able to tweak not only the MTU, but also the RWIN settings. No success. Ricochet tech support tells me that Ricochet uses an MTU of 1500, but it seems that the limiting factor is the server with the lowest MTU along the data flow path, but I'm no expert in this stuff, so I really don't know.
In the process of all this TweakDUN testing, I discovered a nice little utility called DU Meter (shareware, $10 to register), which displays a nice little chart and numerical readout showing you what your data transfer rate is. It confirmed for me that my Ricochet connection was much slower than advertised, so tech support is now trying to fix one of the radios near me. Without DU Meter, I really had no way of proving what kind of data transfer rate I was experiencing. Now, I can start a file download, give it a minute or two to provide an accurate reading, and see right now that I'm downloading at 10.8 kbps, way below advertised rates of 14.4 - 28.8 kbps. I'll keep you posted on how this improves when the radio near me is fixed. It is supposed to be replaced with one of the network radios, so we'll see what happens.
I'm in US West's telephone coverage area, but the DSL service doesn't reach to my area either. It does sound awfully tempting... 256 kbps, $40/mo and no extra phone line required...
Ross... re: EW2 on MCOM? I don't know. Wave 2's are normally not this long and drawn out, or complex like what MCOM seems to be going through.
Best,
Rex |
