Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Books, Movies, Food, Wine, and Whatever -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ron who wrote (27108)	12/31/2009 2:41:19 PM
From: freelyhovering	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 51702

Thanks. I'm sure that lots of folks are home using computers this week. I do have DSL. Are you saying that DSL should not be effected? (or is it 'affected'? I've never gotten that straight--even with a PhD and other advanced training. Maybe this next year. <g>)

To: Ron who wrote (27108)	12/31/2009 3:32:06 PM
From: cosmicforce	Respond to of 51702

When I log into my company's network through the VPN, I always use NJ as opposed to the local network access point. This is counter intuitive, because I'm California, you'd think I'd be better off using California. The problem is that California sends BACK to NJ for authentication and data retrieval so diagrammatically it looks like this [Home]----[CA]===[NJ1]===[NJ2]===[NJ1]===[CA]----[Home] versus [Home]----[NJ1]===[NJ2]===[NJ1]----[Home] Since each way point costs something in overhead, I'm actually better off staying out of the company backbone (shown by ===) because the Comcast backbone (shown with ---) is better.

To: Ron who wrote (27108)	1/6/2010 9:30:43 PM
From: Cogito	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 51702

>>Typically those online speed measuring sites bounce packets of data to servers in whichever city you pick. So if you are in Dallas, you'd want to test it on a server some distance away. For example here in Raleigh, I usually use Chicago or Seattle as test servers so the data has further to travel. Often I'll get a faster speed if I pick a closer city, such as Atlanta. If you use cable your speed will be affected by the number of users online in your neighborhood, as well. For example if there is some kid nearby doing some heavy duty gaming, that is likely to slightly drag down the speed of everyone in that area. Someone streaming a Netflix movie would also probably have that effect.(Some cable companies deny this, but I have seen it in action) I don't believe this happens with DSL.<< If you use a distant server, you are measuring a different thing than if you use a local one. In the case of the local server, you're measuring (mostly) the speed of your own link to the Internet. The farther away the server you choose is, the more "hops" may be involved in the transfer of data, so essentially the speed you get will depend on the slowest link in the entire pathway. For that reason, the most meaningful numbers you get will be from the closest server, as a general rule, since your own link to the Net has the most influence there. Every single packet you download or upload has to travel over your own link. I hope that's helpful. It's a lot easier to explain with diagrams. - Allen