planiwa
join:2009-02-19
Toronto M5S
| reply to hacked
[RFC] Connection / Speed Problems Checklist
Connection / Speed Problems Checklist ... first draft
What connection did you lose?
[a] the modem's ADSL connection was broken (modem lost sync)
[b] modem never lost sync but PPPoE session was terminated
[c] PPPoE session was never terminated, but . . .
[d] I don't know
What was computer doing at the time?
[e] P2P -- bit-torrent, games ; very busy
[f] something else in particular
[g] nothing in particular
[h] nothing at all
[i] I don't know
What are the symptoms of the problem -- what can you observe?
What have you done to diagnose the problem?
How often does it happen?
What do you think triggers it?
What do you think fixes it?
What is your connectivity set-up?
* [dry-loop|wet-loop] -- modem [ does PPPoE, does NAT, does DHCP, is bridged] -- router [does PPPoE, does NAT] -- PC [does PPPoE?]
* state make and model of modem and router
Suggestions:
Post your modem's line stats
Do not turn off your modem, unless it is unresponsive. Get information from it instead.
Do not turn off your router, unless it is unresponsive. Get information from it instead.
Learn how to access your modem's line stats, error stats, and logs. Same with your router.
Learn the difference between ...
* no dialtone
* no DSL
* no sync
* no PPPoE
* no DNS
* no routing
* performance issues
* line capacity ... profile rates ... sync rates
Understand that "end to end internet speed tests", especially speedtest.net, are worse than useless for measuring DSL connection.
Understand that your DSL sync rate is the most accurate measure of your DSL "speed".
Understand that your *net* speed is about 80% of your DSL rate.
Learn to use ping and traceroute.
Use precise language, avoiding vague expressions such as "my internet died" or "I got disconnected".
Speed Issues:
Use your ISP's speed test, not speedtest.net. speedtest.net is notorious for displaying impossible results.
If you must use "internet speed tests", use several different ones and check their consistency and agreement.
Never rely on torrent "speed" measures.
If your "speed" is less than 75% of your DSL rate, the problem is not a DSL problem! |
