Simulate Low Bandwidth

[soniCron]

Since I'm developing a webgame, I'd like to what it's like to load the game on a dial-up connection. I've got a 4Mbit cablemodem, and I don't know anyone that has less than a 3Mbit connection. Is there some way I can throttle the network bandwidth to simulate a slower connection? I really need to test the whole webbrowsing experience, so if anyone knows how to cripple my connection, I'd love to know! (I never thought I'd be saying those words!)

[Nexic]

You don't know anyone with less than 3mbit? You must live in "Rich IT Guru Land" :P (I've only got 128k, and I dont know anyone with more than 1mbit)

[hanford_lemoore]

NetZero provides dialup access for free for up to 10 hours a month. Something worth trying.

[iopred]

http://www.netlimiter.com/

[soniCron]

NetZero provides dialup access for free for up to 10 hours a month. Something worth trying. Ok, let me also quantify: I haven't a modem, nor do I know anybody that does.

@Nexic: :) Well, I don't know a lot of people, but those I do I've turned on to high-speed internet!

@iopred: Thanks! I'll check that out.

[Tom Cain]

Limiting a broadband connection will give you an idea of performance. But if you really want to know what it will be like on dial-up, internal 56k modems are only around $10, external USB around $25. And your broadband provider may include a free dial-up account with your service as a backup, many do.

[1EyedJack]

You could try this software:

http://www.netlimiter.com

I used it a couple of years ago to test "dial-up performance" on a website I was developing. It worked pretty well.

[tolik]

Last time we've tried to buy NetLimiter, their payment processor declined like 10 CCs.

[Cygnus]

Hmm, I do it by code, it works okay depending on what i'm working with, but its not 100%.

what i do i send the max amount of information i can through the network. i take a % off (take 56kbps off your max send bandwidth) which leaves you with just 56kbps of bandwidth for the rest of your stuff!

Hope this method helps- though it can be a bit tricky and is not perfect.

[badjim]

I recommend a real 56k modem. You otherwise have to simulate the low bandwidth and the lag and the packet loss of 56k.

You can limit a 4Mb connection with 70ms latency to about 30Kb but it's not the same. It will still be to consistent, and you still have to do something about the latency. You will still have to account for lag spikes.

[Cygnus]

You otherwise have to simulate the low bandwidth and the lag and the packet loss of 56k.


Ah, yes- true.

My connection (is crap) actually has the lag of 56k according to Sisoift Sandra 2004, despite being 1mb- it does run at 1mb, its just slow at connecting. I wouldnt mind betting my packet loss is about the same too as i constantly have to refresh a webpage that simply isnt loading.
Edit: Actually I dont know if packet loss interferes with your web-browser. Don't they have "guaranteed delivery" packets, or whatever you call them, being on TCP?