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--- internet_service [2024.09.25 20:08] – [Service Providers in the Lexington/Boston Area] Steve Isenberg
+++ internet_service [2024.10.22 15:34] (current) – Steve Isenberg
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 To choose the right Internet service speed for your home, consider the bandwidth requirements of each device and activity that will be running simultaneously.
+We'll first come up with a sample household and at the end of the page we'll have more detailed per-device network loads.
 ===== Bandwidth Requirements by Activity =====
-  * **4K Streaming (TV):**
+  * **4K Streaming (TV):** Requires about **25 Mbps** per stream.
-    * Requires about **25 Mbps** per stream.
+  * **HD Streaming (TV or Device):** Requires about **5-8 Mbps** per stream.
+  * **HD Video Conferencing:** Requires about **3-5 Mbps** up and down.
-  * **HD Streaming (TV or Device):**
+  * **Group Video Conferencing in HD:** Requires about **5-8 Mbps** up and down.
-    * Requires about **5-8 Mbps** per stream.
-  * **Video Conferencing (Zoom or similar):**
-    * **HD Video Conferencing:** Requires about **3-5 Mbps** up and down.
-    * **Group Video Conferencing in HD:** Requires about **5-8 Mbps** up and down.
 ===== Estimating Your Total Bandwidth Needs =====
-To calculate the total bandwidth needed, add up the requirements for all the devices and activities you expect to use at the same time. For example:
+To calculate the total bandwidth needed, add up the requirements for all the devices and activities you expect to use at the same time. For example, suppose you have two TVs, one 4K the other HD, and two computers busy streaming HD video, and a video conference going on at the same time:
   * **4K TV:** 25 Mbps
@@ Line 31: / Line 28: @@
   * **Video Conferencing:** 8 Mbps
-**Total Estimated Bandwidth:**
+**Total Estimated Bandwidth for this example:**
   * 25 + 8 + 16 + 8 = **57 Mbps**
@@ Line 38: / Line 35: @@
   * **Overhead and Fluctuations:**
-    * Add about 20-30% extra to your calculated total to account for network fluctuations, background tasks, and overhead. For example, 57 Mbps plus 30% would be about **74 Mbps**.
+    * Add about 20-50% extra to your calculated total to account for network fluctuations, background tasks, and overhead. For example, 57 Mbps plus 50% would be about **86 Mbps**.
   * **Simultaneous Usage:**
@@ Line 50: / Line 47: @@
 Given the example above, a plan that offers **at least 100 Mbps** should be sufficient.\\
 For multiple high-bandwidth activities simultaneously or to ensure a smooth experience with no slowdowns, consider a **200 Mbps or higher** plan.\\
-If you have a large household or foresee increased usage, a plan in the range of **300-500 Mbps** might be more appropriate.\\
+If you have a large household, expect large uploads or downloads, or foresee increased usage, a plan in the range of **300-500 Mbps** might be more appropriate.\\
 Also, ensure the upload speed meets your needs, especially for video conferencing and cloud services, as many standard plans focus primarily on download speed.
 =====Consequences of a Slower Service Speed=====
   * File uploads and downloads will take longer with slower speed.
   * Any system backups and restores to/from the cloud will take longer.
   * Transferring files using a file transfer service will take longer (uploading the file to send or downloading the file you've received)
-You might consider: how often you do the above, and your tolerance for a longer transfer time.
+===Downloading===
+Let's explore the timing of an upload or download given different file sizes and provider Internet speed.
+Download time (seconds) = File size (in bits) / Internet speed (in bits/second)\\
+assuming 100MB file is 100*8 Mb, 1GB file = 1000 MB = 1000*8 Mb
+^Provider speed^Download time 100MB file^Download time 1GB file^
+|100Mbps|   64 seconds  |  640 seconds  |
+|300Mbps|  21.33 seconds  |  213.33 seconds  |
+|500Mbps|  12.8 seconds  |  128 seconds  |
+|1Gbps|     8 seconds  |  80 seconds  |
+These speeds do not account for
+  * **Latency** (delay before starting a transfer)
+  * **Network Congestion** (exceeding available bandwidth capacity on the network)
+  * **Packet loss** (and resulting re-transmissions)
+  * **Wifi vs Wired** connections (wifi can be less stable)
+  * **Server** speed or load
+  * **Quality of Service** (QoS) settings, prioritization of other traffic may have an impact
+To account for these factors, estimate for overhead, a 20% to 50% increase in download times.
+===Summary of findings===
+  * 100 Mbps provides reasonable speeds but can feel slow for larger files.
+  * 300 Mbps significantly reduces download times, enhancing user experience.
+  * 500 Mbps offers a noticeable improvement, suitable for multiple users and devices.
+  * 1 Gbps delivers the fastest download times, ideal for heavy data usage activities.
+You might consider: how often you do the above uploads or downloads, and your tolerance for a longer transfer time.
 =====Service Providers in the Lexington/Boston Area=====
-Pricing details for various speeds from our three service providers.\\ Key: ''Cost (download/upload speed latency)'' speeds are "up to" the speed.  Best is high numbers for download and upload, and low numbers for latency.
+Pricing details for various speeds from our three service providers as of 9/25/2024.\\ Key: ''Cost (download/upload speed latency)'' speeds are "up to" the speed.  Best is high numbers for download and upload, and low numbers for latency.
 ^Provider^300Mbps        ^500-600Mbps        ^1Gbps^ notes^
-|Verizon|$39.99 (300/300)|59.99 (500/500)|$64.99 (750-940/750-880)|
+|Verizon|$49.99 (300/300 ?)|74.99 (500/500 ?)|$89.99 (750-940/750-880 ?)|
 |Astound|$25 (300/20 ?)  |$40 (600/35 ?) |$50 (1000/50 ?)|Hard to get facts. Numbers from cnet.com, Astound doesn't provide them.  May cost extra for equipment rental monthly, and installation.|
 |Xfinity|$45+25*=$70/mo (351/115 16ms)|n/a |$60+25*=$85/mo (1142/170 16ms) |* for gateway and wifi. Promo pricing for first 12 months.|
+Important: if you see (600/35) then that means you can download files etc at 600 Mbps, million bits per second, but you can only upload data at 35 Mbps, which will impact you if you email large files, backup to the cloud, etc.
+===Data point===
+On 10/22/2024 at 6:30pm, with FiOS 300Mbps speed from Verizon, here's my timing.
+^method^download^upload^
+|Wired|89.8Mbps|89.8Mbps|ping 13ms Jitter 1ms|
+|Wifi|87.2Mbps|90.0Mbps|ping 15ms jitter 2ms|
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