Web Journal!

So, since our dial-up annual plan was running out on the 20th, and I have a steady stream of income, I decided that it was time to invest in the future. A year ago, I was somewhat seriously considering and investigating getting DSL, or some other faster internet service. Most online order systems seemed to be in denial that someone at our address exists, or is able to get DSL service. This spring, we received a call from a technician who said that they were changing their equipment for lines in our area and that DSL should now be available. Not wanting an early termination fee, I patiently and eventually impatiently waited for our dial-up contract to near expiration. Online DSL order forms still denied the possibility of getting DSL on our line, or at best, seemed to think that it is possible, but wouldn't give a definite "yes." Ultimately, I risked it and picked our telephone company's DSL/phone bundle offer with an introductory 3Mb/s plan for $30/month for the first year. I requested the service to begin on the 17th (last Friday), giving them 5 business days and the weekend to get us ready. The modem was sent on Monday and arrived Tuesday. After waiting and going nuts for another week, it was finally set up on Monday the 21st. I'm so excited now to actually have a reasonably useful internet connection with a good speed. Unfortunately, I have a large number of online accounts and subscriptions that were using our (now) former ISP email account, and must be switched over to new email account(s). Fortunately most accounts created within the last 12 months or so I have created special email accounts "@chrisretlich.com" for so those will be fine for as long as I have a website. Also, as a result, I'll hopefully actually work on my website and improve it within the next few days/weeks.

Speed test results:

Download #1
------------------------------------------------------------------
File size transferred : 3.02 MB (3167484 bytes)
Total time taken      : 10.3 seconds (10296 milliseconds)
Throughput            : 307.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
                      = 0.31 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
                      = 2456.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
                      = 2.46 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]

Download #2
------------------------------------------------------------------
File size transferred : 3.02 MB (3167484 bytes)
Total time taken      : 10.25 seconds (10250 milliseconds)
Throughput            : 309.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
                      = 0.31 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
                      = 2472.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
                      = 2.47 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]



Upload #1
------------------------------------------------------------------
File size transferred : 3.02 MB (3167484 bytes)
Total time taken      : 56.67 seconds (56672 milliseconds)
Throughput            : 55.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
                      = 0.05 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
                      = 440.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
                      = 0.44 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]

Upload #2
------------------------------------------------------------------
File size transferred : 3.02 MB (3167484 bytes)
Total time taken      : 56.64 seconds (56640 milliseconds)
Throughput            : 55.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
                      = 0.05 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
                      = 440.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
                      = 0.44 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]