Testing the Speed of your ADSL Connection
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by: derekrog
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It is possible to test the speed of your ADSL connection if it seems to be running below the standard speed and by using a few standard tests, you can track down the problem efficiently on your own. Such things as PING, TELNET, TRACERT, and IPCONFIG are some basic computer industry commands that help you test certain properties when trying to test a speed problem with your ADSL Connection.
The first thing you will need to do is to log onto your router. You will need to change the username to:speedtest@speedtest_domain, with a password of griffin. After you have logged on, you will need to go to www.speedtester.bt.com or to the URL's of http://217.35.209.142 or http://217.32.105.42 to run the tests and take screen shots of the results.
Then you will log back into your ADSL account to get the returned speed. Once you have this information, along with your account number, you can contact support with the results. This can help speed up the process of getting to the root of the problem.
PING is a basic internet program where you can verify an IP address and is used diagnostically to check a host computer. To use the PING command, just click Start-Run-type command-OK. You will then get a prompt on a MS-DOS window, where you will type "ping and your IP address" to make sure it acknowledges your IP address is ready to accept requests.
TELNET allows you to access somebody else's computer if they have given you permission. It is a common way of accessing a router device on a network and allows you to log on as a user of that computer. To use this command, you would click Start-Run-type command-OK and the MS-DOS window will appear with a prompt. You will type "telnet, server IP address and Port Number"
TRACERT can see the route to a destination and to use this command, you would click Start-Run-type command-OK.
IPCONFIG will display the IP assigned to the network and you can also clear and reset the IP addresses with this command. By using different IP commands such as IPCONFIG/Release which releases IP addresses or IPCONFIG/Renew, which obtains IP settings from a source, such as a router, you can determine if the settings are correct.
ADSL connectivity is not fault-proof, so there is no guaranteed uptime. You should consider having another backup connection, such as dial-up to avoid downtime in the event ADSL connections go down. There are other ways, such as a simple ISDN modem, replacing the router or complex solutions that include balancing across two ADSL lines to insure connectivity.
Sometimes, resetting a router can solve ADSL connectivity problems. To reset the router, turn the power off for a minimum of 30 seconds, and then back on. If that does not work, try pinging the router. If the router responds to the PING test, then you will need to contact your provider support to fix the problems with your ADSL Connection.
By trying a few of these simple tests on your own, often speed and connectivity problems can be fixed without the need for additional service calls to provide support. If ADSL connection is crucial to your applications, you may want to consider a back-up method to connect in the event of router or equipment problems that would require equipment shipped so that it is not onsite and can take time to get to you in order to repair.
About the Author
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For information on ADSL support, he recommends Iconnyx, a leading provider of internet support services.
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