Streamyx

You can test your internet speed for free by using bandwidth meters found in many site over the internet. Note, however, that the results generated by these tests are not 100 percent accurate, and that your internet seed varies from time to time (depending on many factors). Nevertheless, a bandwidth meter can give you a very good idea of how fast your connection is, and is detrimental to helping you decide whether you need more speed or not.

How does a bandwidth meter work?

The process is actually very simple. When you go to bandwidth meter site and hit the test button, the sites server sends you a file and then calculates the length of time it takes for your computer to download the sent file. The resulting figure is your bandwidth speed.

A bandwidth meter essentially measures the capacity of your internet connection to carry information. The meter typically downloads an image to your computer ?you can specify a connection and speed to determine the size of the image that will be sent (it helps to at least know what type of connection you have). The meter then reports the rime it takes for the image to be downloaded to its servers, and you are sent the figure representing your internet speed. To know if your speed is decent enough, try comparing it to speeds offered by different kinds of internet service providers (such as DSL, cable access types and dial-up types).

Most free bandwidth meters have servers located in the United States. So if you are testing a computer outside the United States, your bandwidth score may be lowered. Factors other than your physical location affect the result, too. For instance, you will get a lower result if you are downloading other things or running a bandwidth-based program simultaneously as you test your speed.

Bandwidth provides detailed information on Bandwidth, Bandwidth Tests, Bandwidth Management, Bandwidth Meters and more. Bandwidth is affiliated with Colocation Hosting.

// posted by Streamyxch-5038 @ 10:52 PM 0 comments

Retired pensioner Keith Harrison of Perth, Australia, loves the internet. Not only does it provide the 66-year-old grandfather with all the latest news on his favourite Aussie Rules team - the West Coast Eagles - it also allows him and wife Glenda to contact their daughter, two sons, and nine grandchildren who are scattered across the globe.

Before his family clubbed together and bought him a PC, broadband connection and internet phone, English ex-pat Harrison used to stay in touch with them by using his home telephone and the odd letter. Despite his protestations that he didn't need nor want the 'new-fangled technology', he is now an avid internet user, regularly calling his family via the internet phone network to which they all subscribe.

But, because of international time differences the retired engineer first consults his elaborate homemade timetable before attempting to make a call. Eldest son Malcolm lives in Los Angeles, a massive 17 hours behind Perth, while youngest son Lee resides in London which is a more respectable nine hours behind. Conversely, daughter Eve lives in Sydney which is ahead of Perth by two hours. With such varying time differences Harrison admits that keeping on top of it all was confusing and that's why he concocted his fool-proof timetable.

Before moving to calling via internet Harrison and his wife used their home telephone to call the family, and he admits that he got it badly wrong on several occasions. More than once he has called various members of his family in the middle of the night, disturbing their slumber.

"Internet dialing is great," says Harrison "I can't ring anyone if they're asleep because they're off-line, plus now that I've got my timetable there's no danger of me trying to contact them at inappropriate times."

As well as being the most efficient and cheapest method for him to ring his family, he also uses his internet phone to call his 'mates' when arranging their pre-game meets at the pub before Eagles games at the Subiaco Oval.

He said: "With so many kids and grand-kids to keep in touch with it was costing me a fortune to make international phone calls. The money I save on my phone bills by using the internet phone almost pays for my seat at the Eagles home games."

And it's not just Keith that benefits from the internet phone as wife Glenda also uses the video call option to monitor the growth of her nine grandchildren that vary in age from 18 months to 15 years-old. "While Keith is out at the games, I spend a lot of time chatting to my kids and grand-kids," she said. "They grow up so fast and it's great being able to watch their progress on screen."

// posted by Streamyxch-5038 @ 2:50 AM 0 comments