Download speeds with telecom data

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sarnold

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2017 11-Aug-2004 09:57

This could be a problem in one of a number of areas, but on the off chance someone here might have an insight here goes. I'm using a laptop with XP pro and Outlook 2003 as the mail client. I'm using the infrared modem through a Nokia 6225 and am either using a CSD link to my ISP or via telecom data services (#777).

Now I've had trouble popping my email accounts. Traffic leaving the laptop seems to go fine, downloads from web pages OK, but with an occassional hang resulting in a timeout, but regardless of the path I use (CSD or data) there seems to be a huge overhead coming in (a 1.72MB email seemed to have 2.7MB recieved via the infrared link, it took 9mins to get the file while a direct download via web mail took around 4), and Outlook seemed to be working well behind the actual data coming down ie it was showing a few bytes of mail recieved when the infrared modem had almost got the whole file. Even after the infrared modem had stopped recieving data it took another 4 mins for Outlook to finally get the email.

I've searched for problems between Outlook and infrared modems, but can't see anything obvious. Can't really see how it could be the phone link to ISP given that it seems not to be dependent on the type of call.

Any thoughts greatfully accepted. (BTW am using modem initialisation strings of AT+CRM=0; +CSO=12 for CSD, and AT+CRM=1; +CSO=33 for data).

rck

139 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#7674 11-Aug-2004 13:22

I dont have a direct answer for you but the good people at Telecom Mobile Helpdesk should be able to find a solution for you... 0800400909

sarnold

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#7675 11-Aug-2004 15:08

Had checked, but no joy there so far.

Isamu

13 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#7739 16-Aug-2004 11:21

owch @ large emails.
From memory sending/recieving large emails is not a good thing for b/w..
Good luck with your travels

mobile_scribe

7 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#11570 5-Jan-2005 15:20

hi,

the reason that your more data usage than the size of the email, is due to the way emails are transferred. When downloading emails via POP3 only printable characters can be transmitted. This means that binary attachments have to be 'converted' into a stream of printable characters buy a process called UUencoding. This process has the effect of increasing the size of the attachment by a factor of 4/3 ( i.e. a 3MB file will use 4MB of bandwidth.) hence the increased usage you are seeing.

When you download via web mail, you are using HTTP to do the transfer, and HTTP has a Binary mode, so the data usage is the same as the file size.

The reason that your are seeing outlook lag behind, is probably due to the fact that lage attachments, after being uuencoded are split across multiple emails behind the scenes, and then re-assembled by outlook into one attachment. there is no telling how outlook's data counters deal with these situations, but they could well give misleading info.