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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b
style="">OPLIN 4Cast #172: Got Speed?</b><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">April 8, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="grame"><i><span
style="font-size: 12pt;">4casting technologies that could have an
impact on
public libraries.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h1>
<p>As we mentioned in <a href="http://oplin.org/2010-issues"
target="_blank">the
latest OPLIN CIRCUIT</a>, line speed tests don't work the way you want
them to
work. If you notice slow connectivity on your line, and you're like
most
good techs, you try to find the reason for the slowdown. You hunt for
bad
switches or network cards and when you're confident your equipment is
working
properly, you call us, armed with speed test evidence. Save yourself
some
time, skip the speed test, and just call the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">OPLIN</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Support</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. We're
here
to help you!</p>
<p>The FCC launched a <a
href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296810A1.pdf"
target="_blank">speed test too</a>l that consumers can use to test
service or
report to the FCC where broadband isn't available. But just because
it's
from the federal government doesn't mean it's perfect. Yes, it will
tell
you if your line is slower than broadband specs say it should be, but
it won't
tell you where the slowdowns are or what's causing them, and those ares
the
missing links.</p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a
href="http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/03/cable-isps-new-broadband-test-makes-our-service-look-slow.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss"
target="_blank">Cable ISPs: new broadband test makes our service look
slow</a></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a
href="http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/59354?hpg1=bn"
target="_blank">FCC Relying on Faulty ISP Performance Data from
comScore</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The key is to find out what's causing the slowdown of your network.
Here are some starting points:</p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a
href="http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winmtr.html" target="_blank">WinMTR</a>
(for Windows) and MTR ( for Linux) is free and it combines the
functionality of the `traceroute` and `ping` programs in a single
network diagnostic tool. It is small and easy to use and also offers to
copy the results to the clipboard in text or HTML format. No
installation required. With this tool, you can see exactly which hops
are slowing down your network.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.wireshark.org/"
target="_blank">Wireshark</a> is also free and open source (runs runs
on various Unix-like operating systems including Linux, Mac, and
Windows) and it monitors actual traffic (as opposed to WinMTR, which
tests the path the traffic takes). In other words, Wireshark let's you
know which PC is transferring the largest and the most packets. This
could be an indicator of a chatty network card or a misbehaving PC.
Wireshark does have a learning curve, so <a
href="http://openmaniak.com/wireshark.php" target="_blank">here is a
tutorial.</a></li>
</ul>
<p>As always, if you have any connectivity speed issues, please contact
OPLIN
Support at 1-888-966-7546 or <a href="mailto:support@oplin.org">support@oplin.org</a>.</p>
<p><b><i>Cool fact: </i></b><br>
Think you're getting what you pay for? <a
href="http://www.highspeedinternetdeals.com/high-speed-internet-myths.html"
target="_blank">Five Myths About High Speed Internet</a><span
class="grame"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p>The <em><b>OPLIN 4cast</b></em> is a weekly compilation of
recent headlines, topics, and trends that could impact public
libraries. You can subscribe to it in a variety of ways, such as:</p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><strong>RSS feed</strong>. You
can receive the <em>OPLIN 4cast</em> via RSS feed by subscribing to
the following URL: <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2" target="_blank">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2</a>.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><strong>Live Bookmark</strong>.
If you're using the <a href="http://www.mozilla.com/" target="_blank">Firefox</a>
web browser, you can go to the <em>4cast</em> website (<a
href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/" target="_blank">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/</a>)
and click on the orange "radio wave" icon on the right side of the
address bar. In <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/"
target="_blank">Internet Explorer 7</a>, click on the same icon to
view or subscribe to the <em>4cast</em> RSS feed. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style=""><strong>E-mail</strong>. You can
have the <em>OPLIN 4cast</em> delivered via e-mail (a'la OPLINlist and
OPLINtech) by subscribing to the <em>4cast</em> mailing list at <a
href="http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast"
target="_blank">http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<pre>--
Bobbi Galvin
OPLIN Customer Relations & Support
P: 1-888-966-7546
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.oplin.org">www.oplin.org</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
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