Wireless Broadband Measurement in California

An integrated software tool using the open source applications iPerf and ping was developed to measure broadband wireless performance in California. Statistics on TCP download/upload throughput, latency, UDP packet jitter and loss, network type, and network provider were recorded. The software can be installed on a Window-based laptop and Android-based smart phone. An analysis script was also developed to analyze measurement results on the database server. Using the software, testers conducted field test at 1,200 different locations in California, and the test result will be accessible to the general public using a viewer application. In addition, selected locations ran Glasnost, a traffic shaping detection tool, to determine if network providers altered performance of flows based on type or port number.