TOKU - Treasury of Knowledge for Users

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This page initially from ChatGPT. 

The question:

//Lets say that you are looking to get Internet service to your house or apartment and you need to determine what your Internet service speed should be.  Suppose you have a TV running 4K, another TV running HD, and one or two devices running HD as well as running video conferencing using zoom.  What are the bandwith requirements for these and similar devices? And how can it determine what your service speed should be?//

====== Determining Your Internet Service Speed ======

To choose the right Internet service speed for your home, consider the bandwidth requirements of each device and activity that will be running simultaneously.

We'll first come up with a sample household and at the end of the page we'll have more detailed per-device network loads.

===== Bandwidth Requirements by Activity =====

  * **4K Streaming (TV):** Requires about **25 Mbps** per stream.
  * **HD Streaming (TV or Device):** Requires about **5-8 Mbps** per stream.
  * **HD Video Conferencing:** Requires about **3-5 Mbps** up and down.
  * **Group Video Conferencing in HD:** Requires about **5-8 Mbps** up and down.

===== Estimating Your Total Bandwidth Needs =====

To calculate the total bandwidth needed, add up the requirements for all the devices and activities you expect to use at the same time. For example, suppose you have two TVs, one 4K the other HD, and two computers busy streaming HD video, and a video conference going on at the same time:

  * **4K TV:** 25 Mbps
  * **HD TV:** 8 Mbps
  * **2 Devices Streaming in HD:** 2 x 8 Mbps = 16 Mbps
  * **Video Conferencing:** 8 Mbps

**Total Estimated Bandwidth for this example:**

  * 25 + 8 + 16 + 8 = **57 Mbps**

===== Considerations for Choosing Your Internet Speed =====

  * **Overhead and Fluctuations:**
    * Add about 20-50% extra to your calculated total to account for network fluctuations, background tasks, and overhead. For example, 57 Mbps plus 50% would be about **86 Mbps**.
  
  * **Simultaneous Usage:**
    * Consider how many people and devices will be using the Internet simultaneously. More devices may require additional bandwidth.
  
  * **Future Proofing:**
    * Consider getting a slightly higher speed than you calculate to accommodate future needs, additional devices, or to prevent slowdowns during peak usage times.

===== Recommended Service Speed =====

Given the example above, a plan that offers **at least 100 Mbps** should be sufficient.\\ 
For multiple high-bandwidth activities simultaneously or to ensure a smooth experience with no slowdowns, consider a **200 Mbps or higher** plan.\\ 
If you have a large household, expect large uploads or downloads, or foresee increased usage, a plan in the range of **300-500 Mbps** might be more appropriate.\\ 
Also, ensure the upload speed meets your needs, especially for video conferencing and cloud services, as many standard plans focus primarily on download speed.

=====Consequences of a Slower Service Speed=====

  * File uploads and downloads will take longer with slower speed.
  * Any system backups and restores to/from the cloud will take longer.
  * Transferring files using a file transfer service will take longer (uploading the file to send or downloading the file you've received)

===Downloading===
Let's explore the timing of an upload or download given different file sizes and provider Internet speed.

Download time (seconds) = File size (in bits) / Internet speed (in bits/second)\\ 
assuming 100MB file is 100*8 Mb, 1GB file = 1000 MB = 1000*8 Mb

^Provider speed^Download time 100MB file^Download time 1GB file^
|100Mbps|   64 seconds  |  640 seconds  |
|300Mbps|  21.33 seconds  |  213.33 seconds  |
|500Mbps|  12.8 seconds  |  128 seconds  |
|1Gbps|     8 seconds  |  80 seconds  |

These speeds do not account for 
  * **Latency** (delay before starting a transfer)
  * **Network Congestion** (exceeding available bandwidth capacity on the network)
  * **Packet loss** (and resulting re-transmissions) 
  * **Wifi vs Wired** connections (wifi can be less stable)
  * **Server** speed or load
  * **Quality of Service** (QoS) settings, prioritization of other traffic may have an impact

To account for these factors, estimate for overhead, a 20% to 50% increase in download times.

===Summary of findings===
  * 100 Mbps provides reasonable speeds but can feel slow for larger files.
  * 300 Mbps significantly reduces download times, enhancing user experience.
  * 500 Mbps offers a noticeable improvement, suitable for multiple users and devices.
  * 1 Gbps delivers the fastest download times, ideal for heavy data usage activities.

You might consider: how often you do the above uploads or downloads, and your tolerance for a longer transfer time.

=====Service Providers in the Lexington/Boston Area=====
Pricing details for various speeds from our three service providers as of 9/25/2024.\\ Key: ''Cost (download/upload speed latency)'' speeds are "up to" the speed.  Best is high numbers for download and upload, and low numbers for latency.

^Provider^300Mbps        ^500-600Mbps        ^1Gbps^ notes^
|Verizon|$49.99 (300/300 ?)|74.99 (500/500 ?)|$89.99 (750-940/750-880 ?)|
|Astound|$25 (300/20 ?)  |$40 (600/35 ?) |$50 (1000/50 ?)|Hard to get facts. Numbers from cnet.com, Astound doesn't provide them.  May cost extra for equipment rental monthly, and installation.|
|Xfinity|$45+25*=$70/mo (351/115 16ms)|n/a |$60+25*=$85/mo (1142/170 16ms) |* for gateway and wifi. Promo pricing for first 12 months.|

Important: if you see (600/35) then that means you can download files etc at 600 Mbps, million bits per second, but you can only upload data at 35 Mbps, which will impact you if you email large files, backup to the cloud, etc.

===Data point===
On 10/22/2024 at 6:30pm, with FiOS 300Mbps speed from Verizon, here's my timing.
^method^download^upload^
|Wired|89.8Mbps|89.8Mbps|ping 13ms Jitter 1ms|
|Wifi|87.2Mbps|90.0Mbps|ping 15ms jitter 2ms|
----
<fs large>The Next Question:</fs>

//What devices might I connect to the internet and what bandwidth would they need?//

====== Common Internet-Connected Devices and Their Bandwidth Requirements ======

When planning your Internet service, consider the various devices you might connect to your network and their typical bandwidth requirements.

===== 1. Streaming Devices =====
  * **4K Ultra HD TV (e.g., Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 25 Mbps per stream
  * **HD TV (e.g., Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 5-8 Mbps per stream

===== 2. Computers and Laptops =====
  * **General Web Browsing and Email:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-5 Mbps
  * **Video Conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 3-8 Mbps (up and down) for HD video
  * **Online Gaming:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 3-6 Mbps (up and down)
  * **Downloading Large Files or Cloud Backup:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** Varies, but faster speeds (20-100 Mbps) improve download times.

===== 3. Smartphones and Tablets =====
  * **General Browsing and Social Media:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-5 Mbps
  * **Streaming Video (HD):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 5-8 Mbps
  * **Video Calls:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 3-5 Mbps (up and down)

===== 4. Gaming Consoles (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) =====
  * **Online Multiplayer Gaming:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 3-6 Mbps (up and down)
  * **Downloading Games/Updates:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 20-100 Mbps or higher for faster downloads

===== 5. Smart Home Devices =====
  * **Smart Speakers (e.g., Amazon Echo, Google Nest):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** < 1 Mbps
  * **Smart Cameras (e.g., Ring, Nest, Arlo):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-5 Mbps per camera (up and down)
  * **Smart Thermostats, Light Bulbs, etc.:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** < 1 Mbps per device

===== 6. IoT (Internet of Things) Devices =====
  * **Smart Appliances (e.g., smart refrigerators, ovens):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** < 1 Mbps
  * **Wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** Minimal, generally < 1 Mbps

===== 7. Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones =====
  * **Standard VoIP Calls:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 0.1-0.5 Mbps per call (up and down)
  * **HD VoIP Calls:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-2 Mbps per call (up and down)

===== 8. Security Systems =====
  * **Connected Alarm Systems:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-2 Mbps (up and down)
  * **Cloud-Connected Security Cameras:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-5 Mbps per camera (up and down)

===== 9. Printers and Scanners =====
  * **Cloud-Connected Printers/Scanners:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** < 1 Mbps for basic tasks, more for high-res uploads/downloads

===== 10. Smart TVs and Media Players =====
  * **Streaming in SD (Standard Definition):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 1-3 Mbps
  * **Streaming in HD (High Definition):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 5-8 Mbps
  * **Streaming in 4K (Ultra HD):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 25 Mbps

===== 11. Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets =====
  * **Online VR Gaming/Experiences:**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** 10-30 Mbps

===== 12. Home Assistants =====
  * **Connected Home Assistants (e.g., Google Home, Alexa):**
    * **Bandwidth Required:** Minimal, generally < 1 Mbps

===== Summary =====
When calculating your total bandwidth needs, consider how many of these devices might be active simultaneously. For example, if you're streaming 4K content on one device while video conferencing on another, you'll need to ensure your total bandwidth can support these activities concurrently. It's often a good idea to plan for peak usage and future expansion by choosing a plan with a higher bandwidth than your current minimum requirements.