First thing we need to consider is the most common type of Internet connection is through your cable TV company. Most cable companies provide Internet access through the same connection that they provide for your cable television. This connection is usually shared between many other users in the same vicinity of your physical location. This situation means that your bandwidth speed is shared amongst all the other users sharing this connection. You ll see during peak times that your bandwidth speed will be very low and during off peak times you ll see a higher bandwidth speed. This is because that on peak times many of the users are using the same shared Internet connection causing your bandwidth speed to be divided between the online users. This type of connection can be very frustrating especially when the time that you want to use the Internet is usually during the peak hours when everybody else is using it. Now keep in mind that a cable Internet connection is not the only type of connection to use this sharing process, you ll see this also in DSL, ADSL, satellite, dial-up and most other connection types.
The most important thing you need to consider is to monitor your bandwidth speed for your connection to ensure that you re getting the proper speed that your promised from your ISP. Many ISPs will add too many users to a shared connection, causing a much lower usable bandwidth speed. It is OK to allow your Internet speeds to vary slightly, however when you are getting a major differential between the speed that your promised and the speed that you re getting then you may want to consider talking to your ISP about the problem.
Talking to your ISP can be very difficult without factual proof of your Internet connection speed deficiencies. You can always do an online speed test (http://www.absolutefuturity.com/speedtest.asp), which is just a website that downloads data to your computer and measures the speed of that transfer. The problem with doing an online speed test is that you have to do it manually every single time that you think there may be a problem with your connection. There is a Speed test software product (http://speedtestpro.net/SpeedTest.exe) available that tests your bandwidth speed throughout the day for as long as you prefer completely automatically without your intervention and shows your results in graphs and even logs this data so you can send this information to your ISP via email to show them that the problem really exists and at what times.
Shared user connection problems are not the only speed issues that you may encounter. Internet connections that transfer data through fiber optic systems or wires through the ground can be damaged by construction, water, insects, animals, erosion and many other different things. Internet connections that transfer data through the air can be affected by changes in the atmospheric conditions. Although you may think that there s nothing you can do about atmospheric conditions, you may be wrong in some situations. Consider a tree that is too high or too bushy or even a situation that would just require moving the dish. No matter what the cause, you are not responsible for taking care of these situations, your ISP is. Using data from a speed testing software to ensure that you get the problem fixed in a very timely manner without having to try to explain to the technician what the problem is while he is looking at you thinking that he is going to be chasing ghosts.
Always keep in mind that you are the customer and you are paying good money every month for a service. So that service should be exactly what they offered for the price you are paying. They want your business and it is their job to please you to keep you as their customer.
Click here to start testing your Internet connection now. http://speedtestpro.net/SpeedTest.exe
This article may be used anywhere, however the content and links cannot be modified at all. Copyright 2007 Chris Wiggerman
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