Satellite Internet

[forestranger52]

I got satellite Internet so that I could watch videos. The first month it worked OK but still needed to stop and catch up.
Now it only plays for about three seconds, stops to load and plays for three more seconds. This sucks.

How can I find out how many KBS the satellite is sending?

I will call Wildblue and bitch or cancel my contract.

My computer used to tell me how fast the dial up used to run at. Usually 28 kbs.

[Timaru]

Computer advice from me falls into the blind leading the blind category but try........

www.speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net)

[McDuff]

Most sat internet providers only allow you a max data usage/month. If you go over this(videos use lots), then they will "throttle-back" your thruput speeds, thus making video watching difficult/impossible.

Call your provider and see if/what your max is and ask them if you have hit it yet, and what their policy is if you do.

[Wise Young]

I got satellite Internet so that I could watch videos. The first month it worked OK but still needed to stop and catch up.
Now it only plays for about three seconds, stops to load and plays for three more seconds. This sucks.

How can I find out how many KBS the satellite is sending?

I will call Wildblue and bitch or cancel my contract.

My computer used to tell me how fast the dial up used to run at. Usually 28 kbs.

What kind of computer do you have? If you have a Mac, I can tell you how you can find out. I am sure that there are ways on a Windows computer as well but I don't know them.

Wise.

[forestranger52]

Thanks Doc and folks.
I have a HP desk top computer.
Somewhere on this computer there must be a location that informs me what speed I am receiving info at.

[Lazlo]

The speed test site that Timaru suggested above is a good way to test your connection.

I had Satellite internet for a year and canceled it as soon as the contract ran out due to variable performance like you describe. In my experience the performance was particularly bad during "peak hours", say, 5pm - 11pm. At 4am, it was great (usually).

See if 3G WAN (cellular internet) is available in your area, it's much more reliable than satellite and has decent bandwidth compared to dialup.

[bob clark]

NetStat Live by AnalogX (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/nsl.htm) is good "stand-alone" program that will tell you your throughput. It's a very small (257kbs) program but really gets the job done well. Plus it free and looks really cool!

Have you ever wondered just how fast your network connection is? Not just how fast the modem is connected at, but how much data you can actually get? Does your internet connection sometimes seem slower than normal? Forget hacking the registry or using counter-intuitive tools to get the information you want - enter the world of AnalogX NetStat Live (NSL)! NSL is a small, easy to use TCP/IP protocol monitor which can be used to see your exact throughput on both incoming and outgoing data - whether you're using a modem, cable modem, DSL, or even local network! NSL doesn't just stop there, it lets you see how quickly your data goes from your computer to another computer on the internet; it even will tell you how many other computers your data must go through to get there! But wait - there's more! NSL also graphs your CPU usage of your system! This can be especially useful in identifying if your computer is what's slowing things down, or if it's your internet connection.


http://www.analogx.com/contents/graphics/nsl.jpg

Sorry Wise, no Mac version.

Is there a Mac version available?

Ah yes, the inevitable question! First let me say that I like the Mac, and I wouldn't be opposed to making programs for it, but there's just one little problem... I don't own one. Sure, if I was a 'true' hacker, this really wouldn't matter, I'd build it out of chewing gum and scraps of tinfoil, but alas, those days are gone for me. And since I'm not actually charging anything for my fine utilities, it's unlikely that supporting the Mac will ever be an economically viable option. But don't loose faith! I am a commercial programmer, and I do occasionally need to port products over to the Mac, and when this next occurs, who knows, something new and whacky may show up on the site!

There are other "nifty" programs there as well.

Bob.

ETA. I'm not sure if it works with Vista or not but I don't think it would hurt anything to try.

[CLC379]

wildblue has all that information on there website. my contract with them didnt end soon enough.

i have a sprint aircard now, more reliable, higher speed dwnload/upload, and no restrictions or limits on dwnloads

at&t or others might have a better deal on aircards than sprint