Wireless signal = Good Internet performance

Purely fiction. Well, for the most part it is fiction. Here's why.

• Scenario: Newly-installed wireless network with all CISCO equipment.
  
• Strong signal from multiple WAPs (Wireless Access Points) throughout a concrete building.
• DSL connectivity to a DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexer).
• Poor internet download/upload performance.

How is this possible? There are many reasons why DSL connection can produce poor performance.

• Many articles have been written about overloading a DSLAM
• There may be a bad port on a DSLAM
• The DSLAM itself may be faulty
• The speed of the subscriber line itself as part of the DSL technology is slow
• Weather may impact DSL
• Distance from the CO (central office where phone equipment is stored for a certain NPA/NXX (e.g. 203/847 (Norwalk, CT)) is greater than a certain distance. The distance is, for the most part, debatable, but if you plan on subscribing to DSL, ensure that the distance from the central office is less than (<14000>
• Faulty DSL router
• Faulty DSL line
• SDSL versus ADSL (a totally different topic to discuss) - some say SDSL actually produces slower speeds!
• Speed of line is not actually guaranteed
• Line tests pass, but that is only from the DSL provider's network to the DSL router. If someone wants true Internet, the true test is from outside the DSL provider's network.
• Poorly-configured DSLAM port
• Poorly-configured equipment
• Cross-connect issue
• OSPF (Open Shortest Point First) is misconfigured (e.g. Two routers, one in Stamford, CT and one in New York City. Stamford needs to reach New York City. Instead of communicating in such a way if or when the open shortest point is direct from Stamford, CT, data packets are sent to a router in Los Angeles, CA), producing poor Internet performance
• Poor latency due to multiple factors. One cause is unestablished BGP Peering, where one network has no relations with another network

What can you do about it? Depending on the DSL provider, you may wish to switch to one that has a tried and true backbone (AT&T, etc.). While many DSL providers CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) actually state that their network is superior to that of other ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers such as AT&T), the case may actually be that they are cross-connected or bridged between the two networks!

Personally, I have found that ADSL from AT&T outperforms SDSL from other providers. ADSL is asymmetric "rides" on one of your two existing pairs that exist within a regular phone line. SDSL is symmetric and does not - rides on its own phone line.

The initial thought when DSL was first introduced was that DSL would out-perform Cable. The truth is that Cable is faster and more reliable than DSL!

wireless devices as part of your computer solution

Wireless devices approximately use the same frequency ~2.4Ghz. Too many wireless devices and a cordless phone that is in the same location which occupies 2.4Ghz may interfere with other wireless devices.

"Newer" frequency wireless phones, set to operate at DECT 6.0 Ghz, may cause less interference.

In the United States, the following channels can be used. Remember the original cordless phones that used to "auto-select" channels? Well, this table basically shows the channels. As stated, in the United States only channels up through channel 11 are able to be used.

Some devices, such as microwave ovens and speakers may also cause interference to wireless devices, or impede performance.

So, with all of this in mind, use caution because the following devices are some of the list that are available as wireless.

• Video Monitors
• Routers
• Firewalls
• Printers
• Mouse (mice)
• Keyboards
• cordless phones

We have no data at this time that either proves or disproves whether wireless/mobile phones or other devices (BlackBerry, iPhone, etc) by the Wireless telecommunications companies (Verizon, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile) impede performance or interfere with other devices. We do know that there is a debate of whether wireless telecommunications interfere with instruments such as avionics.

Table 2-1. 802.11g Radio Frequency Channels

Channel	Center Frequency	Frequency Spread
1	2412 MHz	2399.5 MHz - 2424.5 MHz
2	2417 MHz	2404.5 MHz - 2429.5 MHz
3	2422 MHz	2409.5 MHz - 2434.5 MHz
4	2427 MHz	2414.5 MHz - 2439.5 MHz
5	2432 MHz	2419.5 MHz - 2444.5 MHz
6	2437 MHz	2424.5 MHz - 2449.5 MHz
7	2442 MHz	2429.5 MHz - 2454.5 MHz
8	2447 MHz	2434.5 MHz - 2459.5 MHz
9	2452 MHz	2439.5 MHz - 2464.5 MHz
10	2457 MHz	2444.5 MHz - 2469.5 MHz
11	2462 MHz	2449.5 MHz - 2474.5 MHz
12	2467 MHz	2454.5 MHz - 2479.5 MHz
13	2472 MHz	2459.5 MHz - 2484.5 MHz

iTunes sync with Blackberry Storm

If you thought there was not a way to sync your BlackBerry playlists (at least your BlackBerry Storm used for this purpose), with (at the very least) your Macintosh computer, read ahead! In this case, RIOT Computer Technology, LLC sync'd a podcast with its BlackBerry Storm.

Warning: Before performing this task, RIOT Computer Technology, LLC assumes no responsibility for any damage or any resulting affect on the computer and device being used for this purpose, if you or anyone affiliated by you or any entity whatsoever performs this task. However, RIOT Computer Technology, LLC will assist you in the case of failure on either device, without guarantee or any form of warrantee, and you assume all liability in the event that RIOT Computer Technology, LLC is not able to recover either device. If RIOT Computer Technology, LLC is summoned for a service call, RIOT Computer Technology, LLC reserves the right to charge for support service time, based on billable time that is in effect during the support service call that RIOT Computer Technology, LLC performs.

Instructions. RIOT Computer Technology, LLC assumes that you have already downloaded the BlackBerry Media Sync Application from Blackberry.com

1. Launch iTunes on your Macintosh computer
2. Ensure that there are podcasts that exist in the "podcasts" category on your iTunes
3. Create a playlist (or use an existing one) and copy the contents of your podcast into your new (or existing) playlist
4. PHYSICALLY connect your BlackBerry device (in this case we used a Storm) to your Macintosh - the Macintosh will sense that the device has been connected and will bring up the BlackBerry Media Sync application
5. Under playlists, select the playlists to sync (or it provides the option of sync'ing all the playlists
6. The playlists will not appear on your BlackBerry is disconnected from your Macintosh computer. DO NOT DISCONNECT WHILE THE BLACKBERRY IS SYNC'ing WITH YOUR MACINTOSH COMPUTER
7. Upon disconnection, the music/playlists/podcasts should appear on your BlackBerry device
8. That's it! Enjoy.

When a PC gets a virus on a network

By no fault of anyone's own, PCs are always subject to viruses. The most common ways to get a virus is by using Internet Explorer as a web browser and proceeding to a particular website, where the virus "lives" among the coding of that site, through a web link that redirects the computer to another site that will spread the virus, or by launching an attachment of an email.

Before removing the virus, as soon as it is discovered on any infected PC, remove the PC from the computer network. Not doing so may infect more than one PC on the same network.

RIOT's on vacation

RIOT has been on vacation - back on Monday..

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