Monitoring My Internet Connection

[Michael.Chute]

Hi,

Introduction:
Our internet connection consists of a modem (Motorola SB5120) and a router (Cisco Linksys WRT310N). We had anywhere up to 9 deivces (3 desktops, 2 laptops, 2 phones, 1 iPad & 1 XBOX 360). I know this is a lot on our network considering our connection speed (which is unknown at the moment).

Problem:
Our internet dips in and out whether we have 1 connected computer or all the devices listed above and I'm not quiet sure why or where the problem is coming from other than what I can only guess. How can I monitor the max connection speed and the times I lose connection 24/7/365? Is there any free programs out there?

Thank You,
Chute

 

[Yevrag35]

3 desktops, 2 laptops, 2 phones, 1 iPad & 1 XBOX 360

Because you don't know your internet speed (by the way, easy way to tell is go to www.speedtest.net), a couple of suggestions I would make would be:
1. Get a better router to handle the abnormal amount of devices demanding equal access to the line.
2. Port forward your Xbox 360
3. Stop torrenting...

That would help.

 

[Michael.Chute]

Because you don't know your internet speed (by the way, easy way to tell is go to www.speedtest.net), a couple of suggestions I would make would be:
1. Get a better router to handle the abnormal amount of devices demanding equal access to the line.
2. Port forward your Xbox 360
3. Stop torrenting...

That would help.

1. I agree and planned on it but since I'm on Terminal Leave and saving for a house this is an option for when I get my house.
2. Done.
3. It's off when I'm not using it on all computers.

Not sure if it's the ISP or the router. I think it's the ISP because the connection does it all the time even when there is only one or two computers online. The connection does slow down the more users (obviously) but it's not as bad as the drop of service for 1-5 minutes at a time constantly.

 

[Yevrag35]

3. It's off when I'm not using it on all computers.

1. What do you mean by "it's off"? What are you doing to close the active peer connections?

The connection does slow down the more users (obviously) but it's not as bad as the drop of service for 1-5 minutes at a time constantly.

Torrenting actually explains this.

 

[Tehporp]

You probably want to kill the torrenting processes on whichever computers you're using with a task manager. At least check for any torrent process on your task manager to see if it is still running.

 

[Yevrag35]

You probably want to kill the torrenting processes on whichever computers you're using with a task manager. At least check for any torrent process on your task manager to see if it is still running.

Particularly, what I want to know is what does the OP do once the download is complete.

 

[Michael.Chute]

1. What do you mean by "it's off"? What are you doing to close the active peer connections?

Torrenting actually explains this.

I'm aware of the torrent issues that come with it and not complete shutting them down. I check all the time using ALT+CTL+DEL to ensure no resources are being used just as if I was making sure my computer isn't utilizing resources on it's hardware. They are closed for sure. I'm not an expert but I think it's the ISP which is why I want to monitor the network connection and not my computers network connection to see drop off times and service times as well as maximum connection speed to ensure I'm getting what is being paid for. I checked speedtest.net but I didn't find a link anywhere to download a program that monitors 24/7. When I do turn on the torrent I can tell it's on because it hits the network pretty hard depending on what's being downloaded and how much is being downloaded but like I said all torrents are offline at the moment.

 

[Michael.Chute]

Particularly, what I want to know is what does the OP do once the download is complete.

I seed it until it hits about a 2/1 ratio and then I delete it out of the torrent. Seeding only takes place when I'm not using the network not when I'm on the network. Move the files from their Complete torrent folder to their correct location. Delete the completed torrents out of the dotTorrent Folder. Make sure that there is no files that are still in my Incomplete Torrents folder.

 

[Yevrag35]

Ok, now you did say that we about 5 other computers on the network, are they all yours? If they aren't, do they torrent at all?

 

[Michael.Chute]

Ok, now you did say that we about 5 other computers on the network, are they all yours? If they aren't, do they torrent at all?

Sorry for the late reply just got back out of school.

Out of all those devices the phones, iPad, and two of the computers belong to me and my wife the others to family members. Only two of the computers use torrents mine and another family member. Like I said above when we use them we finish what we are doing then shut them down through ALT CTL DEL to ensure that all client tasks stop. As far as the network down times it dosen't just happen during the period we are using torrents it happens during heavy network usage, light network usage, gaming, researching for school, hard wired computers, wireless connected computers; the times are random and they are not consistent with the torrents or heavy usage which is why I think it's the ISP. I used to work for the Military as a communication specialist (up until a month ago) for 5 years and had my hands in a little bit of networking, a lot of troubleshooting of simple network issues and computer problems but never touched on monitoring an ISP or internet connection through programs. Which programs can I download to monitor the network connection up and down speeds at all times? I need this so when I present this to the ISP provider they have no choice to fix the issue or give me an answer as to what could be causing it.