tracert - track where data goes online

The tracert command for Windows can trace the route that data takes from your network to a domain specified in the command. So if you go to command prompt and enter "tracert" followed by a web address results will be generated showing how many servers or routers data passes through to get its destination. Each 'hop' from one hardware device to another is numbered on the first column on the left.

. . . the next three columns show the time in milliseconds that the data takes to move between each router or server. The connection between every two points is tested three times. When the times in each test are about the same, the connection should be stable.

If there are three asterisks listed between two points at the end of the tracert report this would be an indication that the connection is down. But if the tracert test does not error out at the end, asterisks listed for one or more hops may simply mean that the routers or servers being used are set up not to provide the necessary data. Only 1 or 2 asterisks on a row are a bad sign - the connection is spotty.

WiFi 6E

When selecting a mobile hotspot, or other internet enabled device check to see if it is WiFi 6E enabled. WiFi 6 was released in 2019, and WiFi 7 is expected in 2024. WiFi 6E became available in 2021. It operates at up to 6 GHz, an improvement over the 5 GHz possible with WiFi 6, and makes it possible for a router to create additional channels. [WiFi transmits data via radio waves - 2.4 GHz is UHF; 5 GHz is SHF - super high frequency which actually covers between 3 and 30 GHZ]. You will get improved speed on WiFi 6E because your device will be operating on a spectrum which standard WiFi devices cannot reach. The new iPhone 15 Pro supports WiFi 6E, as does the Google Pixel 6. A WiFi 6 device may support up to 1000 mbps, but a 6E device can get up 1700 mbps. These speeds will obviously require a router that is 6E capable, and an ISP that provides speed faster than 1000 mbps - something that is unusual for home networks. The 6 GHz connection will only function at a short distance. WiFi 6 and 6E are both mesh capable, which means that they can access multiple routers to make them work as a single network.

It's cheaper to make a device 6E capable than to enable it for 5G, and you won't need a data plan to access WiFi 6E. WiFi 6 or 6E devices also require the use of an enhanced security protocol, WPA3. This protocol is particularly resistant to brute force dictionary attacks to guess passwords - the hacker needs to access the WiFi network for each guess. It will also provide data encryption on open networks.

5G still has advantages - it can be attuned for instances in which lower or higher bandwidth is required. It's also better than WiFi 6E in setting up data connections on the first attempt. 5G will work better for applications which have tight latency requirements such as video conferencing software like Zoom.

Internet connection on the rail from New York to D.C.

I’m on vacation this week, so I’ll just post a quick note about working while traveling. The Acela train from New York City to Washington, D.C. has no shortage of business travelers - many of them attorneys. If you were wondering if it’s practical to work on a laptop during the trip, the answer is unfortunately not. I tried getting online using both my my T-Mobile hotspot, and then with Amtrak’s WiFi. While I was able to reach several web sites, they loaded slowly. I reached the remote desktop, and was able to open documents, but the lag in-selecting and opening emails was too long to make the effort worthwhile.

When I first connected with my smartphone’s hotspot, I had to reboot before being able to get Windows 10 to coonect with WiFi.

If you’re very patient you’ll be able to get some work done, but it’s a struggle.