How to Monitor Your Internet DSL Bandwidth Speed as a Log File for an Average Day

Monitoring Internet bandwidth usage can help you keep from going over your allotted download limit and give you a perspective on how much bandwidth you are consuming. The best solutions for monitoring and logging daily bandwidth are freeware bandwidth trackers. There are hundreds of programs, all with relatively similar functioning, that do this, such as Bandwidth Monitor, Antamedia Bandwidth Manager 2.5.0.0 and AnalogX Netstat Live. The scope and function of software options ranges greatly. Fortunately, Windows provides a native solution via their networking monitoring software.

• 1

  Double-click the network icon in the status bar. This will look like a computer monitor. Wireless connections may have graphic signal bars next to it. This will open the "Network Connection Status" window.

• 2

  Look for the "Activity" heading. Note how many bytes were uploaded and downloaded. Write down the time.

• 3

  Repeat steps 1 and 2 the next day at the same time. Subtract the amount from the previous day from this day's amount. This will be the total downloaded during that 24-hour period.

• 4

  Repeat steps 1 and 2 and check again in a month. Subtract the amount at the beginning of the month from the amount at the end of the month. This is the total bandwidth used. Divide this number by the days in the month to determine the average daily bandwidth usage.