This page last changed 2024.10.22 15:34 [views: 12 times today, 12 times yesterday, and 2103 total times] This page initially from ChatGPT.
The question:
Lets say that you are looking to get Internet service to your house or apartment and you need to determine what your Internet service speed should be. Suppose you have a TV running 4K, another TV running HD, and one or two devices running HD as well as running video conferencing using zoom. What are the bandwith requirements for these and similar devices? And how can it determine what your service speed should be?
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.
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:
Total Estimated Bandwidth for this example:
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, 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.
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
To account for these factors, estimate for overhead, a 20% to 50% increase in download times.
You might consider: how often you do the above uploads or downloads, and your tolerance for a longer transfer time.
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 | $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.
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 |
—- The Next Question:
What devices might I connect to the internet and what bandwidth would they need?
When planning your Internet service, consider the various devices you might connect to your network and their typical bandwidth requirements.
When calculating your total bandwidth needs, consider how many of these devices might be active simultaneously. For example, if you're streaming 4K content on one device while video conferencing on another, you'll need to ensure your total bandwidth can support these activities concurrently. It's often a good idea to plan for peak usage and future expansion by choosing a plan with a higher bandwidth than your current minimum requirements.