End-User Internet Access
(Going from highest speed to lowest speed.)

>>	CNet: Cable vs. DSL A guide to choosing the right broadband connection.
>>	Satellite Internet - What is it? A practical introduction to this access method.
>>	Broadband from the electric company? . . . No thanks

"Broadband isn't necessarily as fast as you think. Some broadband providers advertise Net connections that run up to 30 times faster than dial-up. Technically, they may be right, but in reality, your connection won't be that fast. Why? Network traffic, the speed of connection of the site you're visiting, and your browser's own page-rendering capabilities affect how quickly your pages download. In general, if you use DSL, you can expect pages to load three to five times faster than at 56K. And, if you surf the Web for more than an hour per day, the savings really add up."
CNet: Do you really need broadband?

>>	Say no to broadband? Nine warning signs that [maybe] it's not for you.
>>	"Dial-up. 2005. Read my lips." And other End-User Connection Speed quotes. The need* to keep presuming dial-up access.*
>>	The Bandwidth Report -- A "second opinion" Canadian Broadband Continues Record Growth Cities in Canada a viable high bandwidth market?
>>	Modemsite.com: 56k=v.Unreliable Why 28.8 (or 33.6) is a better assumed speed.

In addition to the above connection rate issues, some "Free" (Banner Ads supported) or very low cost (too many users for bandwidth) dial-up providers offer a service that can also place limits on Internet access speed.
Then there are the new "top of the line" (1X or GPRS) cellular phone modems. Which are bringing back the 56K modem as the "latest and greatest" equipment. Including the signal conditions to such modems, and thus the effective connection rate, can vary greatly-- much like when phone-line 56K modems were new technology.
All of which are more arguments for the use of 28.8kbps as the "presumed speed" at which the performance of any Internet site is measured or judged. That if the site performance is adequate at 28.8, then it will provide good service to users who have faster Internet access.

>>	3G Wireless Data Access (1X & GPRS) Actual speeds plus cost to providers information.
>>	Webpage Loading Performance Which tells why all of the above really does matter.

To limit page download times to approximately 10 seconds, at a connection speed of 28.8K, keep the total size of each Web page under 30K. Or at the very most 35K, when presuming 33.6K is the lowest speed at which a 56K modem will reliably connect. Those totals assume that not less than 10K is text based content, such as Style Sheets and HTML. (Text compresses exceptionally well, as it is transmitted between phone-line modems.) In addition to which, all the files for each Web page should come from a single site or Internet server-- whenever that is possible.

[

Top of Page] [Site Policies] [Site Map]

^TM
Monitor this Webpage

E-mail the Webmaster
Page Content Updated: December 4, 2003

On a bad day, using FIDO GPRS Internet access, I have seen the DNS resolution for a Webpage take anywhere from 2 to 30 seconds. So for any Windows laptop using Cellular Internet access, I strongly recommend the AnalogX FastCache DNS, with the Minimum Timeout set to (only) 1 day. As that provides an immediate improvement in Webpage loading performance, while still fully supporting the reasonable propagation of any updated Website IP address.
Windows 95/98/ME TIP: Configure the settings for Dial-Up networking TCP/IP-- which Cellular mobile Internet access uses-- to make use of the FastCache DNS. But do not change any network card TCP/IP settings, to continue using the current configuration for your home or office network. (Don't try using FastCache's auto configure.)
See also: 3G Wireless Data Access

End-User Internet Access (Going from highest speed to lowest speed.)

End-User Internet Access
(Going from highest speed to lowest speed.)