Internet Access and Speed in the Lakes Region

[Lakegeezer]

Have you taken the NH Internet Speed Test!? The New Hampshire Broadband Mapping and Planning Program (UNH led) is collecting data for their research. This data (or "these data" for you geeks) helps undeserved communities plan projects and apply for grants to improve internet infrastructure.

As of early 2014, over three thousand NH households and businesses registered and took the speed test. Town profiles are at linked from the home page at www.iwantbroadbandnh.org To see Moultonborough's graphic, Click on this link. State wide, more than 50% of 8000 tests are below FCC's minimum download performance standards of 4 megabits per second.

Next time you are at a lakes region residence, please run the test at least once between now and September. Encourage your neighbors to run it too, and try it over your small business networks. Forum member participation could make a difference in the lake region's internet future infrastructure.

The link for the NH speed-test is at www.iwantbroadbandnh.org/speed_test. Enter the street address from where you are running the test. It only takes a few minutes and you get your results right away. The test is similar to other speed tests, but standardized for this research project, so your results may vary.

I'm reaching out to Moultonborough residents to encourage strong participation. Last I heard, there were only 20 data points across the whole town. Surely we can light the map up with many more. This will help highlight the under-served areas as well as good areas for telecommuters and other bandwidth needy businesses.

I just took the test and got 1.51 mbps download and 2.19 upload speed. What's yours?

[upthesaukee]

Here are the results:

Ping 26ms
Download 7.10Mbps
Upload 1.71Mbps
Provider: Metrocast

[RLW]

This is mine here on Alton mountain.
Download: 13.83 Mbps
Upload: 1.64 Mbps
Ping: 16MS

Carrier: Metrocast

[wifi]

Download Speed: 7337 kbps
Upload Speed: 5395 kbps
Latency: 39 ms

Town: Moultonboro
Carrier: Time Warner


Its much slower than any of the other speed test utilities report. (I ran different ones right after) TW has a strange "reverse-bursting" technique, that is to say it takes a good 10 seconds to ramp up to billed speeds, maybe OOLA is catching this.

It would also be good if the project logged paid for speed, can't really blame the provider for 128K service, if that is what the customer pays for.

Speed also quite seasonally dependent here. Winter times, I consistently get 30M down (on the other speed tests), summer time is quite a different story. One summer I had 500K all summer long, I called to complain, and there was laughter as a response....

[SteveA]

5.30am, 4-17-14

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

By Christmas Island
Metro Cast
Download Speed: 15.36 kbps
Upload Speed: 1.8 kbps
Latency: 50 ms
4/17/2014 6:01:08 AM

[Cindido]

Echo Point - Alton Bay
MetroCast
Download Speed: 16450 kbps (2056.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1644 kbps (205.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 18 ms
April 17, 2014 7:11:02 AM EDT

[Rusty]

In order to take the test I need to put in my street address. This would tie in my exact address to my IP number.

For some reason I don't want to do that. Don't know the exact reason, but I always thought my location and IP were kept private.

What do other people think about this?

[MAXUM]

Service providers dynamically assign IP addresses to their customers out of a huge pool of available addresses. Any place you visit on the internet can see where your coming from, or the gateway your going though as many providers will NAT out all their traffic. As a matter of fact some sites are able to determine your geographic location and adjust content on the fly just from the source address.

If you are concerned about privacy, this should be the least of your concerns!

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by wifi

It would also be good if the project logged paid for speed, can't really blame the provider for 128K service, if that is what the customer pays for.

I was wondering about this also. My neighbor and I both have Metrocast service. But our results are very different based on the service levels to which we subscribe (as they should be)

[BroadHopper]

On Lake Shore Rd.

Download Speed: 14161 kbps (1770.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1669 kbps (208.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 20 ms
‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2014‎ ‎8‎:‎27‎:‎40‎ ‎AM
provider: Metrocast

I have seen download speed down to 1 MB and up to 25 MB. Metrocast is never consistent. When it is raining out or the snow is melting, I would lose internet connection.

Fairpoint Fiber optics is available on an adjacent street to serve the industrial park. A call to sales I learn Fairpoint has no intention of fiber optics to residential customers. I talked to a Fairpoint Veep last weekend and the plan is to provide fiber optics speed to residential customers in the near future. The biggest hurdle is upgrading the 'trunk' lines to fiber optics and this is 98% complete. The plan is to hook up the commercial accounts and eventually provide fiber optics to residents. POTS (Plain old telephone service) or copper wires will eventually go with the dinosaurs.

Lately I learn to use 'Verizon Hotspot' when Metrocast is down. I had up 5 devices on the hotspot one time and it performs beautifully. Even when I am streaming a video. Metrocast would slow to a halt.

[tabascocat98]

Gilmanton (off Middle Route/Gale Road)

Last Result:
Download Speed: 3905 kbps (488.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 808 kbps (101 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 20 ms
4/17/2014 8:49:02 AM

[Winnisquamguy]

Last Result:
Download Speed: 3864 kbps (483 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 745 kbps (93.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 32 ms
Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:43:50 AM

Back side of Winnisquam in Sanbornton on Meredith line.

[RLW]

tabascocat98, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Glad to have you in the forum and your input.

[VitaBene]

Last Result:
Download Speed: 9840 kbps (1230 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1071 kbps (133.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 49 ms
4/17/2014 9:20:34 AM

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

By Christmas Island
Metro Cast
Download Speed: 15.36 kbps
Upload Speed: 1.8 kbps
Latency: 50 ms
4/17/2014 6:01:08 AM

You must be using dial up with a 56k modem to get results that bad!

Must be a glitch.

[MAXUM]

Yeah I was just going to say I get better speed than that through my cell phone hot spot!

[patman]

It's interesting to note that I consistently get 15-20Mbps down and .9 up with http://www.speedtest.net but the NH one only shows 4-7Mbps down and .9 up.

It couldn't be that TW is gaming the speedtest.net results, could it? Naaw...

[HellRaZoR004]

Originally Posted by patman

It's interesting to note that I consistently get 15-20Mbps down and .9 up with http://www.speedtest.net but the NH one only shows 4-7Mbps down and .9 up.

It couldn't be that TW is gaming the speedtest.net results, could it? Naaw...

I noticed the same thing on my tablet last night with Comcast. I'll try it again tonight with a laptop and see if it changes...?

[bclaker]

Download 6.87 Mbps
Upload 1.68 Mbps
Metrocast
IP 69.161.114.68

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Service providers dynamically assign IP addresses to their customers out of a huge pool of available addresses. Any place you visit on the internet can see where your coming from, or the gateway your going though as many providers will NAT out all their traffic. As a matter of fact some sites are able to determine your geographic location and adjust content on the fly just from the source address.

If you are concerned about privacy, this should be the least of your concerns!

Sort of.
While IP's are dynamically assigned, the average consumer device keeps its IP for 2 years or more if it stays constantly connected and in-use.

IP's can be sorted down to a geographic area with tools like this: http://ipinfo.io/ but *not* down to an individual street address.

I didn't put my real address in the tool either. I used 1 [My Street], that would be accurate to the node that feeds my street, and for any mapping purposes they want/need to do, more granular info than that won't be helpful.

Good data security is actually *really* hard to do, and lots of part-time developers think they understand encryption and security far more than they do in real life. My personal guess would be that the probability of this data getting accidentally released into the wild is fairly low, but the risk is fairly high. In other words, I'd wager that the people collecting this data probably suck at security, but the project is low profile enough that nobody is going to try to hack the data.

However, on the off change the data DOES get leaked, my IP address would only get you as far as my street, not my house.

[Rusty]

I took the test and it's just about the same as speedtest.net.

UNH:
Download Speed: 15461 kbps (1932.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1654 kbps (206.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 22 ms
Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:28:00 PM

Speedtest.net:
Download Speed: 16.93 Mbps
Upload Speed: 1.610 Mbps

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

Sort of.
While IP's are dynamically assigned, the average consumer device keeps its IP for 2 years or more if it stays constantly connected and in-use.

IP's can be sorted down to a geographic area with tools like this: http://ipinfo.io/ but *not* down to an individual street address.

I didn't put my real address in the tool either. I used 1 [My Street], that would be accurate to the node that feeds my street, and for any mapping purposes they want/need to do, more granular info than that won't be helpful.

Good data security is actually *really* hard to do, and lots of part-time developers think they understand encryption and security far more than they do in real life. My personal guess would be that the probability of this data getting accidentally released into the wild is fairly low, but the risk is fairly high. In other words, I'd wager that the people collecting this data probably suck at security, but the project is low profile enough that nobody is going to try to hack the data.

However, on the off change the data DOES get leaked, my IP address would only get you as far as my street, not my house.

I agree with your comments. I did just about the same thing you did when I put the street info in.
My IP doesn't change very often. The webmaster of this forum could tell you how many times mine has changed since I've used "Rusty" as my username.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by codeman671

You must be using dial up with a 56k modem to get results that bad!

Must be a glitch.

Here's what it read just now...

Last Result:
Download Speed: 15661 kbps (1957.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1648 kbps (206 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 52 ms
4/17/2014 7:13:13 PM

I don't know what any of the numbers really mean but I have no problem with my internet speed. I am very impatient and would go nuts if my speed was slow or lagged. I can get full wifi down to my docks (approx. 100 yds from my router). I hate metrocast and would love a reason to complain to them but I haven't had any issues with my internet for 2 years.
Do the new numbers look any better?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

Here's what it read just now...

Last Result:
Download Speed: 15661 kbps (1957.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1648 kbps (206 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 52 ms
4/17/2014 7:13:13 PM

I don't know what any of the numbers really mean but I have no problem with my internet speed. I am very impatient and would go nuts if my speed was slow or lagged. I can get full wifi down to my docks (approx. 100 yds from my router). I hate metrocast and would love a reason to complain to them but I haven't had any issues with my internet for 2 years.
Do the new numbers look any better?

That is a much better reading than the other day. 1000 kb= 1mb, so you are downloading at 15.6mb/second. Your original reading as posted was 15.36 kb, so basically .015 mb/second which would be pathetic, unless there was a decimal point in the wrong place.

[BroadHopper]

[QUOTE=BroadHopper;222930]On Lake Shore Rd.

Download Speed: 14161 kbps (1770.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1669 kbps (208.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 20 ms
‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2014‎ ‎8‎:‎27‎:‎40‎ ‎AM
provider: Metrocast

Download Speed: 17554 kbps (2194.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 15089 kbps (1886.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 24 ms
‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2014‎ ‎11‎:‎47‎:‎45‎ ‎AM

What a difference! 14 to 17 on the download speed. I paid for 15.

The upload speed is puzzling! .2 to 1.5! I paid for 1.0

You would think it would be more consistent and the network speed will be lower in the afternoon because of traffic!

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

On Lake Shore Rd.

Download Speed: 14161 kbps (1770.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1669 kbps (208.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 20 ms
‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2014‎ ‎8‎:‎27‎:‎40‎ ‎AM
provider: Metrocast

Download Speed: 17554 kbps (2194.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 15089 kbps (1886.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 24 ms
‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2014‎ ‎11‎:‎47‎:‎45‎ ‎AM

What a difference! 14 to 17 on the download speed. I paid for 15.

The upload speed is puzzling! .2 to 1.5! I paid for 1.0

You would think it would be more consistent and the network speed will be lower in the afternoon because of traffic!

Download Speed: 725 kbps (90.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 852 kbps (106.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 85 ms
‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2014‎ ‎8‎:‎48‎:‎15‎ ‎PM

Must be a lot of internet traffic on Friday night!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Download Speed: 725 kbps (90.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 852 kbps (106.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 85 ms
‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2014‎ ‎8‎:‎48‎:‎15‎ ‎PM

Must be a lot of internet traffic on Friday night!

852k/56k = 15.2...that means you are @15 times faster then dial-up.

What's the problem!

[Lakegeezer]

Those in Moultonborough may have seen the "speed test" posters around town. The town's Internet Speed Test campaign has seven more weeks to go. Then, the data will be compiled, mapped and published. I'm bumping this thread to ask all M'boro business and property owners that haven't taken the test to take a moment and just do it. Click here to get to the test site.

As of July 7'th, 341 unique properties have been tested but the goal is to map over 500.

Please note; to take the test, your web browser must support Flash. The folks from UNH are supporting this special test using old code from Ookla, and that won't be changed by September.