NetworkMonitoring

[trustytrev]

Hello,
       This may sound like a dumb question but here goes.Is the output of NetworkMonitoring in KBits/s or KBytes/s.The reason I ask is I have only just realized I may be misinterpreting my broadband speeds. Thanks.
trustytrev.

[ThirdOfSix]

trustytrev.

Unfortunately, different people and applications use different units.

Sometimes they do it because it is a better unit for the hardware involved and the particualar protocol.

Some of the ISPs marketing folks do it just to mislead people until after they have signed a binding contract.

To make matters worse, some of the monitoring tools will actually change which representation they are using dynamically while they are running.

You really have to pay very close attention to the units used on any tool that you are using.

In the case of ISPs, you really need to pay close attention to the language used.

There have been adds locally for a service that implies ultra fast wifi by saying that it is just as fast as your wired system at home. What is not obvious until you think about it is that what they are really saying is that it is as fast as a wired system provided by them, not their competition and is therefore, actually not very fast.

So, in addition to noticing whether you are being given figures based on bytes or bits, you also have to notice whether it is bytes, kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes.

Unfortunately, the choice of what is presented is sometimes based more on what looks good than what is useful.

Also, many people have not caught on to the fact that there are more than one way to express these numbers and therefore will unintentionally misrepresent their systems specs when on forums.

If something seems too good to be true or too good for the price, be sure to do a bit more research.

I do wish that there were a global flag to set on the systems so that all such readouts from different tools on the same system would use the same units.

[T6]

afik, the apps available on pclinux talks about kilobytes per second

1024 bytes being a byte 8 bits

some connections will talk about 1024 or 1000 kbits, kilobits, 1/8 of what you really thing you get or need

so if you have a 1 megabyte file and want to download it with your 2 megabit connection will take 5+ seconds to download(supposedly should be less than 1)

you could have a 16mbits connection that in reality runs at 2 megabytes per second, most internet providers say that a megabit is 120+/- kilobytes per second

[ThirdOfSix]

T6,

I just noticed the line at the bottom of your post.

I love it! I got a good chuckle over it.

[JohnBoy]

Hello,
       This may sound like a dumb question but here goes.Is the output of NetworkMonitoring in KBits/s or KBytes/s.The reason I ask is I have only just realized I may be misinterpreting my broadband speeds. Thanks.
trustytrev.

Best way to be sure is to do a speed test on line while running NetworkMonitor.
That should tell you.
The results should be reasonably close.

regards.

[trustytrev]

Hello,
        Thanks for the responses.I was referring to the readings in the Network Monitoring window which is part of net applet.
The readings in that and those in the online speed test appear to have nothing in common.
Any help would be appreciated.I need my facts correct when I approach my ISP.
Thanks.
trustytrev.


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[menotu]

Simply remember there are 8Bits to 1 Byte;

so, depending on what the "measuring tool" is monitoring the speed at, do the math by converting one way or t'other (multiply or divide by 8 )

eg, if you are downloading and it says 100MegaBITS that = 12.5MegaBYTES

HTH

[trustytrev]

Hello,
       I should be more precise.I appreciate the eight bits to a byte,but how does one differentiate between Kilobytes and kilobits  with notations like KBs?Or should that be KBs and kbs?
Thanks.
trustytrev.

[T6]

you can't most times, that is the trick for most isps

under most circumstances you should believe that mbs in internet is the only measure being this measure megabits

some apps can be set to only talk in terms os megabytes in every aspect, i remember a windows app that lets you monitor this with a nice graph registering the whole year in kilobytes or kilobits

if your internet connection has gigabits per month limit, change your internet provider 

[trustytrev]

Hello,
        It isn't the amount that is the problem.My line to the exchange is only capable of 0.5Mbs.The speed of what is available is the problem.
It doesn't matter which service provider I go with.Britains general broadband provision is pretty diabolical in reality.
trustytrev.

[T6]

0.5?

try this and post the results

speedtest.net

these are mine trying with a server in elpaso texas

[JohnBoy]

In usual terms
B => byte
b => bit

So if people actually follow that notation then

800b/s  = 100B/s
but it is also normal for the connection speed to be displayed in bits and not Bytes .....  ISPs like larger numbers 'cause they appear better to those who are not aware of such things.

I have apps that tell me they are sending a file at 40KB/s.
My max upload is 384Kb/s.
40KB/s = 320Kb/s
So my upload is running at or near my maximum.

The same thing applies to downloads.

regards.

[YouCanToo]

Not bad for downloads, but the upload speed really suck today.

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[trustytrev]

Hello,
            The test shows higher than 0.5mb but these sort of tests probably aren't too accurate.
There is apparently an upgrade to the service due in April but I wont hold my breath.
The 0.5mb speed limit is from data provided by BT who control all phone lines at the end of the day here in the UK.
Thanks.
trustytrev.


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[pags]

In usual terms
B => byte
b => bit

So if people actually follow that notation then

800b/s  = 100B/s
but it is also normal for the connection speed to be displayed in bits and not Bytes .....  ISPs like larger numbers 'cause they appear better to those who are not aware of such things.

I have apps that tell me they are sending a file at 40KB/s.
My max upload is 384Kb/s.
40KB/s = 320Kb/s
So my upload is running at or near my maximum.

The same thing applies to downloads.

regards.

I concur (as does wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_rate_units#Suffix:_b_vs._B

However, part of the issue is that you need to be sure whoever you're dealing with also recognizes and follows the same conevtion.

Additionally, when comparing a rated line speed to an amount of data transferred, I find it better to dived by 10, instead of 8.  First off, it makes the math easier  .  More importantly, it helps correct for protocol overhead, collisions and other possible discrepancies that can occur (parity, it required, depending on the systems the data goes through when routed).

$.02