Greed For Speed

[Ariesjill]

Hi,

I am getting Speed Greed. Currently have cable modem broadband via RCN. They offer now 4 tiers; I have the second lowest (affordable) called Mach 5 (not 5X faster than sound barrier as the marketing cuties clearly want U 2 conjure).

They also offer 10 at double the speed and more than double the price....and now Mach 20......which, I am sure, causes the coaxial to melt & set yr apt on fire....but you die FAST, ok?

In lieu of UNAFFORDABLE, I went to this site and ran test.....the results of which I did not understand, but I then downloaded some Dr. Speedy file they offered to tweak something I could not identify, forget actually locate....it tweaked, I saved and rebooted.
I feel emotionally better.....but have no idea if anything changed....or, if it needs to.

I am pasting wut this site found.....if anyone can differentially assess (no emergency, I am just getting spoiled is all....also want P D, 3.80 Optiplex) that would be fabulous.
_______________________

Intro FAQ Tweak Test Speed Tests Line Quality Line Monitor Whois Doctor Ping »»

Tweak Tester Result
We have collected information from your trial download and upload.
Service:
isdndslcablewirelesssatellitefiber Download Speed kbit/s:

(the download speed advertised for your line) Operating System:
win95win98win98SEwinMEwinNTwin2kwinXPVistaMacLinuxFBSDSolaris Connection:
normalwinXPpppoerouterpppoeraspppoepppoA


1. Your Tweakable Settings:

Receive Window (RWIN): 8576
Window Scaling: 0
Path MTU Discovery: ON
RFC1323 Window Scaling: ON
RFC1323 Time Stamping: OFF
Selective Acks: ON
MSS requested: 536
TTL: unknown
TTL remaining: 122
TOS/TOS subfield: 0
TOS/Flags:
2. Test Download

Actual data bytes sent: 1024001
Actual data packets: 1913
Max packet sent (MTU): 576
Max packet recd (MTU): 576
Retransmitted packets: 0
sacks you sent: 0
pushed data pkts: 260
data transmit time: 3.999 secs
our max idletime: 237.3 ms
transfer rate: 237529 bytes/sec
transfer rate: 1900 kbits/sec
transfer efficiency: 100%
3. ICMP (ping) check

Target unpingable



Notes and recommendations:
Change MTU to 1500 (FAQ #652, #695)
We have no recommendations for <64k lines
download/use DRTCP .. (FAQ #578)
Read the tweak FAQ

Observations:
Good data stream (no/few rexmits)

Observations:
Become pingable
if you need basic packet loss tests done
Check tweak FAQ
____________________________________

Re being "PINGABLE" I think the general consensus is I am anyhow...if that means high energy

Thanks so much,
Jill

[Ariesjill]

Just learned to find this in THIS FORUM; I must be missing the Mach 5 part; will attach.
Thanks,
Jill

[BuffaloChips]

OK, I said it elsewhere but here goes again. Go to www.speedguide.net. Browse through the files there and implement some of them. There is a small program you can download called TCP Optimizer that will set some of this for you. I usually get the prog., run it, click the little thing on the bottom that says "optimal settings" then click on apply changes. After that i think you reboot. You will get a bit of a boost from that. There are also some registry tweaks there that will help too.

Also I came across something from PCPitStop last night that actually sped up my browsing. http://www.opendns.com . If you can use this it will speed things up a bit too!

[carsey]

It appears that you are connected to a server, This is because of the local area conenction. Best to speak to your network administrator before you go optimizing the settings which, potentially, could have fatal effects.

[Ariesjill]

I truly appreciate these responses....esp because this ain't no emergency.

I really am beyond ignorant re how various broadband options work.....except I do get the broader the band the bettah. A SERVER!!!!! Now, given everyone with cable mdem broadband has same connectivity from puter > moden.....would this B true for all cable broadbands? (as opposed, that is, to DSL) My building is hard wired for both Time-Warner (Road Runer) and RCN. Again, I have the latter not lowest speed but second lowest.

Also if shuld loose my mind and doubled my downstram speed to 10....all they have 2 to at head end is throqw a swsitch, right? So wut big deal there? Wut justifies more than twice the price?

Would all standard cable modem broadbands be connected to a server?

I know.....stupid, but if U don't know, U gotta ask.
Thaks again,
Jill

[johnwill]

Why don't you tell us the make/model of your broadband modem, any router, and the version/patch level of Windows you use. As for speed, I'm pretty happy with my Verizon FiOS service.

[Ariesjill]

Thanks so much for helping, though I am starting to think I am being totally unfair and yes, greedy.

this modem is the one the installation guy brought....he had to drill new holes and route the coaxial from their J box and like that, of course:

Scientific Atlanta WebStar; DPC 2100 (made in
China by Pandas....just kidding)

My desktop, main system: Optiplex GX260, 2.28; 1 GB of ram; two 80GB HDDs; W XP Pro....kept clean as whistle.

Also, the day they installed, I called RCN and nice guy tested the connection and said it rocked....basically.
Seems to work faster on my lappy I use a second edthernet cable for...yes ojnly one at a time: Alienware Sentia 223; Pent M, 2.00, 1GB of ram, 60 GB HDD.

Again, allow that I could just be being greedy....I should go get RCN menu.....will do this.

I so appreciate your help.....not even sure if this site is hallucination.
Jill

OK found it:

MegaModem Mach 20 | MegaModem Mach 10 | MegaModem Mach 5 | 1.5 Mbps Cable Modem | Performance | System Requirements | What You Need For Speed | Modem Purchase



Get the Speed You Need.
Choose the modem that best suits you. If you need a state-of-the-art internet connection, try the RCN MegaModem Mach 20, which downloads and uploads extra-large files at blazing speeds. Or check out three other levels of speed and service: the RCN MegaModem Mach 10, RCN MegaModem Mach 5 and the RCN 1.5 Mbps modem.

The table below lists the high-speed internet services offered in your neighborhood.



Service
Speed
Recommended Uses
Availability

MegaModem Mach 20 20.0 Mbps Download
2 Mbps Upload
Up to 350x Faster vs. Dial-up
Download movies in minutes.
View streaming video clips.
Home networking.
Teleconference with colleagues.
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Lehigh Valley, PA***
Manhattan, NY
Queens, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Washington, DC

MegaModem Mach 10 10.0 Mbps Download
800 Kbps Upload
Up to 175x Faster vs. Dial-up
Stay one step ahead of other players at RCN interACTION Games**.
Trade photos and family movies quickly and easily.
Work from home faster than ever
Listen and Burn over 1,000,000 tracks of the latest songs from RCN interACTION Music**.
Get the whole family in on the fun with RCN interACTION Kids**.
Host your own website****
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL***
Lehigh Valley, PA***
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Queens, NY
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC

MegaModem Mach 5 5.0 Mbps Download
384 Kbps Upload
Up to 90x Faster vs. Dial-up
Get hundreds of game titles on demand with RCN interACTION Games**.
Show off your favorite photos.
Surf the web and find what you're looking for fast
Listen and Burn over 1,000,000 tracks of the latest songs from RCN interACTION Music**.
Get the whole family in on the fun with RCN interACTION Kids**.
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL***
Lehigh Valley, PA***
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Queens, NY
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC

1.5 Mbps Cable Modem 1.5 Mbps Download
384 Kbps Upload
Up to 26x Faster vs. Dial-up
Emailing friends
Web surfing
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL***
Lehigh Valley, PA***
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Queens, NY
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
__________________________________
I have the MegaModemMach (puhleeezzze, who R these marketing people???) 5.

Compared with DSL, yes, it is waaay faster....for first year, I am paying arond $30 a month.....they just told me it would be almost $63 for the 10......for the 20, I guess they take one arm and part of a leg.

Re "BLAZING" I think it's in the eye of the beholder, OK?

Jill

[Ariesjill]

Afterwonder:

OK.....does the actual capacity of the physical modem per se impact downstream/data transfer speeds?

I thought it was just wut they do at the head end. Because if a)....I could just buy a bettah modem, right? Or not.

Nah....a) would be waay 2 good 2 be true, right?

Jill

Also....I have no router; when I need to update my lappy, I just hook up the ethernet cable I keep with it (the one RCN brought, it is longer) and reset the modem. Both companies hardwired sedtups excellent: amps & J-boxes on each landing in respective service stairwells.....they just show up, drill holes with giant masonry bit, connect their coax already over your door, thread it thru....unwind, staple.....you know.

How about I pour some hotsauce into the little Scientific Atlanta? (Kidding , everyone relax.)

Jill

[Ariesjill]

oK, just came upon this little cutie:

http://www.cable-modem.net/gc/modem_....html#how_fast

Apparently the claims cable providers make are dogs & ponies. Or, smoke & mirrors. Or.....wirtten by the imploding Carl Rove.

It also appears that a modem is a modem is a modem and "by any other brand would work as fast." (Maybe.) We remember this from Shakespeare, right? Who obviously had broadband.....go figa.

Probably...if I had that GX620 I tracked on eBay....Pentium D at 3.80 with 2GBs of DDR2ram & mega FSB......I would C a difference (more greed).

But how would I know? I think the cable companies R driving this vehicle....and the rest of us R in the trunk.

But I am not sure.

Jill

Edit: Wut is an ethernet switch?
http://www.nettechdi.com/Premise/pre...FQ7eSgodiGvx_A

And why does it sound like something that can alter data transfer speed?

(And R the noises on top of the top penthouse in my building in December....Santa????? Is reason he has not brought me the new Optiplex that he still has dialup????)
J.

[Ariesjill]

OK, wait....

http://www.duxcw.com/faq/ics/diffrout.htm

Now, I am going to try to understand/decode this in last link..
J.

Edit: this above in link is written by sadists & members of a giant conspiracy, OK? I just realized, This is REALLY why "ethernet" has the word ETHER IN IT, ok? Does NOT MEAN THE UNIVERSAL AIR KIND....MEANS THE ANESTHETIZING kind of ETHER....SO THEY CAN keep U in coma & MAKE OBSCENE PROFITS & be new arbiters OF "BLAZING."

J.

[johnwill]

So far, the claims of Verizon for my FiOS service have held up.

[Ariesjill]

Hi, Johnwill:

Am little confused about your last post, given U have share this and I am happy 4 U.

Again, my building offers 2 options re broadband via cable: Time-Warner and RCN.......but I think this may be more than the average here in Manhattan.

Is your Verizon via cable modem? If so, how does your speed comport with wut I pasted re RCN Mach 5?

Thanks,
Jill

[johnwill]

As you can see, I have 15mbit/2mbit service, and it comes close to the stated speeds. I have never seen a time where the speed has varied from my quoted bandwidths, even during the peak usage periods.

Here's the Verizon FiOS FAQ: http://www22.verizon.com/content/con.../faqs/faqs.htm

[Ariesjill]

Hi again....

OK, I C this is Verizon DSL. Will mention that few months ago, I tried it and, perhaps because this is Manhattan, was terribly disappointed and sent the modem back; they didn't want the adapters/block thingiesthey sent isolating the phone line to their modem from other lines.
I also found it was unreliable & inconsistent in its performance....at least here....

...and I will say that this Mach 5 thingy from RCN via cable, really is faster than my experience with Verizon DSL, given I guess, nothing comes thru the phone line....so I should probably just chill and get that this is fine and wut I can afford right now.

Thanks much,
Jill

[johnwill]

Actually, Verizon DSL and Verizon FiOS are totally different services. FiOS is optical fiber directly to the premises, I have a fiber to the interface in the basement, no copper anywhere. DSL is transmitted over the copper phone lines. So far my FiOS has been 100% reliable and consistent.

[Fr4665]

i agree i had Verizon FiOS 15/2 and sometimes got faster speeds of around 17/3 and i loved it.

its not the same as DSL !
cable wise id go with Timewarner or if available Comcast

[Ariesjill]

O....Ok, I now C the difference....and it is vast re the varyng Verizons (VV).....but, hardwiring needs to be in place.....esp given I live in an 10 story landmark building here in Manhattan, and, as I mentoned, we are hardwired for two cable broadband services (whose packages can include everything else as usual)

So I can now C again......wut my best available options R....and should my speed gree get out of control at sme point, I could pay the obscene cost of the mach 10......but I have learned a lot and I thank all of U.

Jill

[johnwill]

Quite frankly, most folks won't see any difference between different broadband options unless they do a ton of downloading. I went with the FiOS because I suspect it'll be more reliable, and it cost the same as my previous Comcast service, so it was an easy choice. I wouldn't have paid more for the faster service, since the Comcast 6000/768 standard speed would be fine for my use.

[Ariesjill]

johnwill:

Thanks for additional data; I C things in more accurate perspective now; if I had your option I would consider it, but funny part (not) my original thread title was accurate: I am being greedy....and like infant. All about need versus want......including CPU issues!!!! (For my particular applications.)

More worse (as they say): I like seeing myself as impervious to marketing ploys....but I now C I was total patsy re the 5, 10, 20. Honest. Also, pathetic.

Kinda like someone who lives and basically drives in a city...convinced they need a Masserati.

Or being in luv wit the idea of 4GBs of ram.....given, I just learned XP can only really employ 3! Or, that I got convinced that IDE drives Less Than SATA....also recently learned accurate stuff about that!

I am little silly putty person I now C.....re this technology.

Only thing I was clear on in this pernicious, commerce-driven stuff.....was Vista.

Shame on me.

But I also know way more now than before.

Thanks,
Jill

[BuffaloChips]

Dude, don't feel alone. I have the need for speed as well. If I could afford a faster cpu of connection to the net, I'd have it.