Speed Testing

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When conducting speed tests, consider that overall throughput over the wireless link can be effected by:

• Number of SU's associated with SU
• Bandwidth usage of other customers
• MIR Setting
• 10 BaseT (Slow Ethernet) devices connected to radios

FTP

A simple and reliable method to test the speed across a wireless link is through the use of a basic file transfer protocol (FTP) program with an FTP server at one end of the wireless link and an FTP client at the other end of the link.

In order to test throughput across your wireless link, it is important to isolate other components of the network from the wireless equipment.

For the most accurate results, connect a computer (equipped with Fast Ethernet NIC) to each radio (AP and SU) directly to the J-Box. Do not connect any other Switch, Hub, Router, or other network device.

Use an suitable FTP program such as WSFTP. Set buffer size in FTP program to maximum so that file transfers will go straight to the computer's RAM and will not be slowed down by the hard drive.

FTP file across the link. Expected throughput speed should be at or near 10 Mbps. Larger packet sizes will move faster.

Some ISPs maintain a server at each AP site for the sole purpose of conducting speed tests between base stations and customer locations.

LINKTEST Command (Access 5830 command available in firmware v1.1 and higher)

This built-in test sends a continuous stream of packets across the link in each direction. The expected result is 10 Mbps or better. Any packet-loss due to non-optimal link conditions will decrease the result.

At the AP, type linktest <su id>

Qcheck™

Another useful tool for conducting speed tests is a freeware product called Qcheck which is available from www.netiq.com. Qcheck has two components, a Tester and an Endpoint. The Endpoint is placed on any and every server, PC, and laptop that you need to test from. The Tester is installed on any computer that has connectivity to the two points in the network that you need to test. Unlike FTP, Qcheck is not heavily dependent on the system's drives and CPU. Unlike ICMP, it can run on UDP, or TCP, and it makes performance in each direction clear.

Please note that due to certain Qheck parameters such as packet size and packet headers, you will typically only see about 8.2-8.5 Mbps transferred over an Access5830 wireless link.

Check Functionality

Tests the response time of traffic on IP networks.

Emulates real application flows across the network to test connectivity and performance.

Tests network throughput.

Tests whether a network can support multimedia traffic.

Tests a network link using the application flows generated by streaming multimedia applications.

Determines at what rate streaming traffic is received and how much packet loss occurs.

Tests the connectivity between your own computer and another computer.

Supports a variety of protocols and can test network performance using TCP, UDP, IPX, and SPX networks.

Shows a workstation's physical memory, operating system levels and CPU utilization.

Runs traceroute between any two workstations on your network, regardless of their locations.

Smartbits™

Smartbits (manufactured by Netcom) is a device that allows you to to test, simulate, analyze, troubleshoot, develop, and certify network equipment and infrastructure. Smartbits is widely recognized as the industry standard for testing network performance. Trango Broadband utilizes Smartbits for all internal testing of its products. Smartbits testing will yield results at 10 Mbps for larger packet sizes. Small packet sizes will demonstrate slower throughput.

DSL Reports – Broadband Test Utility

Many installers and broadband customers utilize the tools available at http://www.dslreports.com/tools to test line and network performance both upload speed and download speed, from several locations on the internet. Naturally this test involves many factors not related to the wireless link, but it is a useful tool for benchmarking.