I was once embarrassed. I had a broadband Internet connection in my house. Yet, by knowing computer networking as I do, I had seven differently computers that shared that connection. Turns out, I was merely ahead of the curve.
Way back when, it was common to have a broadband modem — or really any modem — and have that gizmo connected to only one computer. They even had A-B switch gizmos so that two people could “share” a single modem.
In my home office, however, I had a broadband modem connected to a router connected to a switch connected to about five computers. I don’t use five computers. I use three. But my kids have computers, too. And because of those five computers on the Internet, I thought I was being a data hog.
Not quite.
The average today is can be anywhere from 4 to a dozen devices in a single home sharing the Internet connection. You have, on average, two computers. Then you also have cell phones, one for everyone. Then there are mobile gizmos like tablets and laptops. Throw in a few game consoles. Pretty soon you’re talking a lot of connections.
How many? I don’t know. I made up “4 to a dozen” without looking up any hard facts. It seems reasonable.
No longer do a feel like a broadband hog. In fact, I feel rather normal.
Reading the router’s DHCP table (which is too complex of a thing to describe here), I see that there are 11 devices using the network presently. Honestly, between kids’ cell phones, iPods, and laptops, that seems about right.
A few weeks back, I decided to inventory each device listed in the DHCP table. It was a daunting task because the table lists all the connected device’s IP addresses. So I had to visit each computer and mobile gizmo to check its IP address. I then checked the IP address off the list as being legitimate.
Eventually I ended up with two gizmos I couldn’t locate. So, being a cautious type, I figured that the IP addresses were assigned to neighbor’s computers or perhaps some college kid out front mooching my signal. (And that would be tough because my system has a long, long password attached.)
For the life of me, I couldn’t locate the gizmos.
Eventually I found them: The Wii game thing and my son’s iPod, which he left plugged in and turned on, but which he wasn’t using.
So no one was Bogarting my Wi-Fi.
Still, 11 devices sharing the connection. Turns out that’s no big deal these days.
Those rascally college kids wouldn’t dare mess with a CITY COUNCILMAN.
But in all seriousness, what kind of speed do you get? Do you have decent bandwidth to accommodate all those devices without bogging everything down?
We used to only get 7Mb/s (Stupid northern Minnesota) but now we get like 20 Mb/s. We could get more but we’re cheap. But at least now I can watch Netflix without having to make sure nobody else is using the internet elsewhere.
Comment by gamerguy473 — December 10, 2011 @ 10:20 pm
The speed here is pretty good. I forget what it clocked in at. For a spell, we were having problems and so the Time-Warner guy tested our speed. We were way over our allotment, which he said was great.
But to be honest, with all the gizmos we do have to restart the router every so often. Usually a phone or Wi-Fi device doesn’t release its IP properly and the router is too burdened to handle it. (I should upgrade to something beefier.) And it is extremely noticeable when someone begins a major download. My son Jeremiah often pipes up, “Who’s downloading the porn?” when his game begins to slow down.
Of course, no one is downloading porn, but usually someone is downloading or uploading something. The other day I was uploading the final part of a book and he noticed the reduced speed right away.
Comment by admin — December 10, 2011 @ 10:23 pm
This probably isn’t the place for this question but what book are you finishing up now?
Comment by gamerguy473 — December 10, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
It was yet another Android phone book! And the next book, and the next book . . .
I was hoping I’d get to do a new programming book, but the publisher is all hot for Android-this and Android-that. I’m cool with it.
There’s some downtime around Christmas. Wambooli needs some updating, which I’ll be doing over the next few days. Then I’ll get back to Java programming to hone my skills at programming Android. Then, come 2012, I’ll be back to writing. Well, and ruling over my city with an iron fist.
Comment by admin — December 10, 2011 @ 10:27 pm
Any possibility of a C++ Desk Reference in the future?
Comment by gamerguy473 — December 10, 2011 @ 10:31 pm
It’s already out there. Two other people wrote it. 🙁
Comment by admin — December 10, 2011 @ 10:40 pm