Checking connection and Data rate transfer speed using Vista

Question

Hi all,   I will soon have my Inspiron 1520 Laptop with Vista Home Premium. If I want to check the wireless signal strength and data rate transfer speed once connected where do I go to check using Vista?   Thanks

mombodog · Answer

Java must be installed first.   http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp  use the second link (offline), download to your hard drive and execute when download is finished.   http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/  choose a server near you.

msgale · Answer

Actually the answer is much more complex.  There are two speeds.  First is the speed between your access point and the Internet.   http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ will measure this.  Then there is the speed between your PC and your access point.  The first speed is limited by your ISP, for broadband it typically between 384 kps and 15 mps..  The speed between your PC and your access point is limited by the protocol used,  802.11b 10 mps, 802.11g 54 mps, and 802.11n 270 mps.  Signal strength is measured between your PC and access point.  The NIC software will include software to measure signal strength and speed between your access point and NIC.

msgale · Answer

I have had no problems with the D820.  Actually I bouoht it with the cheapest OS I could, wiped it and installed Vista Ultimate.  This save me money since as a MSDN subscriber I have several Vista Ultimate licensese.

Nalini · Answer

msgale,   thanks for the info. I see your lattitude D820 has Windows Vista Ultimate. I went with the home premium because it is just for home use and travel. I ordered the same processor and memory that you have on your laptop though. haven't received my laptop yet it is hung up in the dell delays. How do you like Vista so far. I have only had XP for the past few years. How is the speed with the 2.0 processor and 2gb of RAM?   regards

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