[Q] ATT Throttle Test - AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Besides the regular internet speed tests, is there a definitive website and/or app that allows you to say for sure that your device is being throttled.? I've been working on this for a week now but cannot find a good and specific answer online.
Thank you

Another difficult question

No, There isn't a way to definitively say you are throttled or not.
There are many more larger questions here.
For instance, Define throttled. Are you referring to a specific rate limit set on your device? Rate limit as in, Traffic exceeding the rate limit are either queued, And sent at a lower rate period (Packet Scheduling). Or dropped (Rate Limiting).
I doubt ATT has placed a rate limit on your connection. They are in the business of having happy customers. Specifically making your connection slow is bad business to them. Now, Placing limits
Now, Another form of limiting could be construed into how their gear is setup. Let's say they are running a 5Mhz LTE channel. Which is capable of 20Mb/s up/down. But the gear technically can run a 40Mhz LTE channel giving you 400Mb/s up/down. Are they "Throttling" you because they choose not to run the gear at it's highest operating spec? You could say that. But it's a horrible way of looking at it.
Finally, the better question is what does it matter? In my youth I spent many a day trying to find data like this. If your service is working poorly. And your expectation is to provide proof of throttling in some attempt to change your service. I can tell you. Don't waste your time. Even if you had proof. No one at ATT cares that you found out you were throttled. Or care to do anything about it.

Related

Google Music works on IE9 on Mango (7112+ only)

Hey everyone I just wanted to point out that Google Music works in IE9 in Mango ! It only works on 7112 or higher though. I dont know how many people already know this but I think I should just point it out . The best thing is you dont need to be in the browser to listen to your music !
Yes it does work Just tried it on my Omnia 7 with 7720.
I thought it used flash to play the songs...
But only the pause/play button works, not previous/next.
From what I remember, it won't move on to the next track in the playlist/album while the browser isn't open.
PG2G said:
From what I remember, it won't move on to the next track in the playlist/album while the browser isn't open.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but considering it's a website designed for the desktop it's pretty good.
But anyway, I find Google Music very useless, since it's MY OWN MUSIC, that I already have stored on the phone :|
jotapm said:
Yes, but considering it's a website designed for the desktop it's pretty good.
But anyway, I find Google Music very useless, since it's MY OWN MUSIC, that I already have stored on the phone :|
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, its pretty nice if u have an 8 gig phone and are running out of space
I'm running 7.10.7712.60 in a 1.3v Samsung Focus. I tried to play a song and it states I need to install flash. What am I missing?
Seed 2.0 said:
I'm running 7.10.7712.60 in a 1.3v Samsung Focus. I tried to play a song and it states I need to install flash. What am I missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash?I think mango only can use html5
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App
jotapm said:
Yes, but considering it's a website designed for the desktop it's pretty good.
But anyway, I find Google Music very useless, since it's MY OWN MUSIC, that I already have stored on the phone :|
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you not notice the "free" section ?
also, uploading from your computer means streaming THAT library to your phone... anywhere and saving that measely 8gb of space for important stuff like Microsoft Premium Wow Zing Edition 2012 superlative Edition. documents. or whatever.
Yay.
More ways to consume ridiculous amounts of data and bring the network to a grinding halt (wifi OR 3g).
andrewkeith5 said:
Yay.
More ways to consume ridiculous amounts of data and bring the network to a grinding halt (wifi OR 3g).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, the data has to come from somewhere... insufficient storage or insufficient bandwidth, it gives the user another choise. choise is good.
ohgood said:
well, the data has to come from somewhere... insufficient storage or insufficient bandwidth, it gives the user another choise. choise is good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Choice isn't good when you're destroying the bandwidth of the network to others' detriment. That's exactly why FUPs have to be used.
can't imagine that google music would be easy on bandwidth
andrewkeith5 said:
Choice isn't good when you're destroying the bandwidth of the network to others' detriment. That's exactly why FUPs have to be used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're sold 4g, or 3g when you sign the contract, the ISPshould have enough capacity to handle each and every customer using what they were sold. if they do not, they are not being truthful in their advertising, or their contracts.
I have zero sympathy for isps that oversell and under deliver.
Yes, which is why most contracts have a FUP, so that they can do that.
It's just a shame that some users have some ridiculous expectation that they should have infinite access to the finite network resources, which results in the overall network becoming bogged down.
ohgood said:
if you're sold 4g, or 3g when you sign the contract, the ISPshould have enough capacity to handle each and every customer using what they were sold. if they do not, they are not being truthful in their advertising, or their contracts.
I have zero sympathy for isps that oversell and under deliver.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
andrewkeith5 said:
Yes, which is why most contracts have a FUP, so that they can do that.
It's just a shame that some users have some ridiculous expectation that they should have infinite access to the finite network resources, which results in the overall network becoming bogged down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unlimited 4g is what is being sold. it either is, or it isn't. of late isps are charging MORE for 1.5gb data contracts than they were for "unlimited" a couple of years ago.
if they ever update the supporting towers and backends servers, I could see your point. as it is, att can't handle all their contracted subscribers, nor tmo, nor any isp.
then they act as though they're doing everyone a favor for throttling users, who were SOLD on the idea of unlimited. "unlimited" is a fairly self explanitary word, no asterisk required, nor should it be allowed. truth in advertising... that's all I want.
I'm getting the impression that AT&T in the US are very much like 3 over here in the UK - oversell for a cheap price and then don't support properly.
Unfortunately I can't speak for the US, but here in the UK there are regulations and laws governing advertising, and already mobile phone networks are being forced to make FUPs more prominent - in fact, "Unlimited*" is pretty much gone from UK mobile networks - you either get true Unlimited or a clearly stated limit.
The point of a Fair Use Policy is exactly that - to ensure everyone on the network acts fairly. If you are automatically charged for exceeding a FUP then you need to challenge it, but if you routinely exceed it then you'll be charged, naturally.
Essentially a FUP is the networks way of saying "Use as much data as you like, but if you take the piss and it starts affecting the network performance, we'll start charging you more" - generally FUPs are WAY higher than the data you would use from heavy use web browsing, they are designed more to discourage sitting there watching hours of video over a mobile connection, when you really should either be on WiFi or keep the video on internal storage.
Yep, it's works

Cloud service - good or bad thing in the larger picture?

An earlier post, thought it may be a good topic for debate:
TO ALL THE CLOUD PEOPLE!
Not usually one to rant but I need to here. What scares me about this is the larger picture. Data plans are getting smaller and more expensive and at the same time storage is getting smaller, which will force you to use a cloud service. So for all the music, etc. that you already own you will have to stream it and use up part of your data plan. That's what really scares me, it's like getting taxed twice. Your using data to get the song but it doesn't end there, now you have to use data every time you listen to it. This all boils down to the carriers making a lot of money off of stuff you own. What's next? 8GB phones and $50 per GB data plans in 5 years? I'm all for companies making a profit, I'm conservative and definitely not an occupy movement type but i see potential disaster for the consumer here. Who knows, hopefully this isn't a trend but for all the good things about a cloud, when combined with an expensive data plan it can be really bad for the consumer. I'll keep my content locally thank you. Not to mention all the downfalls of a cloud service, battery drain, losing signal, etc.
What's really disappointing is this entire issue can be avoided with expandable memory. Feels like we are going backwards.
This is only a concern if you believe AT&T's rhetoric that the sky is falling.
First off 90% of phones still come with a Micro SD card slot.
Second, Verizon is really the only carrier who still charges overage fee's (T-mobile and AT&T throttle after a certain point and Sprint is "Unlimited") so I don't get where you are going with this.
bleach168 said:
This is only a concern if you believe AT&T's rhetoric that the sky is falling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have unlimited data on verizon. I can just add the two scenarios together and see the POTENTIAL for a bad thing, but can you deny that the potential is there?
miketoasty said:
First off 90% of phones still come with a Micro SD card slot.
Second, Verizon is really the only carrier who still charges overage fee's (T-mobile and AT&T throttle after a certain point and Sprint is "Unlimited") so I don't get where you are going with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try 99% of phones haha
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
miketoasty said:
First off 90% of phones still come with a Micro SD card slot.
Second, Verizon is really the only carrier who still charges overage fee's (T-mobile and AT&T throttle after a certain point and Sprint is "Unlimited") so I don't get where you are going with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you believe Sprint will have unlimited forever? Where I'm going is trying to point out what nobody else is. Smaller more expensive data plans and streaming services for content you already own COULD become very pricey down the road, hope it doesn't go that route. Not sure how to make that any clearer. Not about overage charges at all.
Verizon already has a 2GB plan (yes i know about double the data, just a gimmick to make you think they gave you something when they took it away). If you use 1GB streaming from the cloud you only have 1GB left for other use. You could have had the content on your phone locally and still had 2GB for other use. So if 2GB isn't enough now you need to spend more on a larger data plan, that's where the cost will be.
@joshnichols189
I'm well aware, see you bought a nexus anyways, good choice.
InfiniD said:
@joshnichols189
I'm well aware, see you bought a nexus anyways, good choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it does become a problem, I don't think it will happen within two years, but the next time you go looking for a phone make sure you get one with an expandable sd card slot
miketoasty said:
If it does become a problem, I don't think it will happen within two years, but the next time you go looking for a phone make sure you get one with an expandable sd card slot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this trend continues we could be in a tight spot in 2yrs. I was okay with the nexus because it was still 32GB, but if this continues and the higher end phones don't have expandable it will suck. I love the Gnex and the community support, I considered the Rezound and now very happy with my purchase mainly because of this site and everybody willing to help others. We are spoiled with the support here. My friend is trying to root his Sprint Evo Design 4G and there is some community support but nothing like the Gnex gets, heck it doesn't even have a forum here at xda.
I think everybody is kinda missing my point of the larger picture down the road lol. This topic started out as a response to discontinuing the 32GB nexus and people being okay with it because of cloud services. Just trying to point out the cloud could come back to bite us later.
I believe the OP has a very valid point here!
stickerbob said:
I believe the OP has a very valid point here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Was starting to think I was the only one that could connect the dots lol
InfiniD said:
I'll keep my content locally thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been in the data retrieval industry for a long time. I've seen at all and am still surprised on a daily basis of what my clients tell me happens to them that results in them losing all of their data.
Your local storage (on your phone, or computer) will fail and you may have to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to get it recovered, unless you're fine with losing it (which most people are forced to live with due to the high costs and fragile economy). You might shake your head in disagreement at what i'm saying, most think they will never experience this.
We're not walking backwards, cloud is the future, and in my experience, it's the only way to really make sure that you don't lose your data. The point is to never lose data and have it available to you anywhere. I suggest Box and Dropbox to every single client who asks how they can prevent this from happening to them again.
Google Music is a wonderful thing, i use it every morning on the way to work and every evening on the way home. I listen to about 30-40mb of music on the road. Wifi is always on at home, and available pretty much everywhere i go. Since Dec. 3rd, i've been using about 1 - 1.2GB/month for music and still have a little under 4 GB to use for whatever else my heart desires.
Anyway, while companies are screwing people with data plan costs, in the big picture cloud storage is a winner. My GN's 16GB is more than enough to store whatever i need. Also, i'm pretty sure there will be less and less 8GB phones in the future, i don't think you have anything to worry about.
I'm not saying the cloud is a bad thing on it's own, it definitely makes sense, I'm just worried what the future may hold and the how the carriers will take advantage of it. I agree with all of your points about data security/retrieval. I think if there was a plan that excluded cloud streaming as paid data usage that would be perfect. If that's even possible.
They should just make all phones with 64GB of data with an expandable slot and unlimited plans. I'll never worry again lol.
Nexcellent said:
I've been in the data retrieval industry for a long time. I've seen at all and am still surprised on a daily basis of what my clients tell me happens to them that results in them losing all of their data.
Your local storage (on your phone, or computer) will fail and you may have to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to get it recovered, unless you're fine with losing it (which most people are forced to live with due to the high costs and fragile economy). You might shake your head in disagreement at what i'm saying, most think they will never experience this.
We're not walking backwards, cloud is the future, and in my experience, it's the only way to really make sure that you don't lose your data. The point is to never lose data and have it available to you anywhere. I suggest Box and Dropbox to every single client who asks how they can prevent this from happening to them again.
Google Music is a wonderful thing, i use it every morning on the way to work and every evening on the way home. I listen to about 30-40mb of music on the road. Wifi is always on at home, and available pretty much everywhere i go. Since Dec. 3rd, i've been using about 1 - 1.2GB/month for music and still have a little under 4 GB to use for whatever else my heart desires.
Anyway, while companies are screwing people with data plan costs, in the big picture cloud storage is a winner. My GN's 16GB is more than enough to store whatever i need. Also, i'm pretty sure there will be less and less 8GB phones in the future, i don't think you have anything to worry about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% true.
While unlimited data may be on its way out, it's only because the telco's can afford to do that for now. Their goal is for you to think the exact same way the OP is thinking right now:
rather than get angry at the telcos, they want you to pay them more, and then get angry at Google, Netflix, Rdio, Slacker, Spotify, Pandora, Onlive, for trying to get you to stream more.
Cellular networks have had a great decade charging high rates on data that most people don't use much of. Average usage for an iPhone user 2 years ago was 800MB - 1.1GB. That means, ATT customers were essentially paying $30 for 1GB, which is a MONSTROUS rate per GB. Typical transit rates on wireline are closer to $0.04/GB. With Android, carriers noticed that usage began increasing very quickly, and just looking at the rise of cloud, they figured out that for them to keep their same profit margins, they needed to either charge more, or keep usage down.
Now, some cellular networks are fighting to keep you paying monstrous per GB rates, either by getting you to pay overages, or getting you to cut back your usage.
The only way to fight this is if enough customers begin actually using the wireless networks and begin bumping up against those artificial barriers, and then begin complaining.
Netflix has already advocated this for wireline networks, although they've been trying to help a bit with voluntary quality/bandwidth limiting.
But either way, cloud *is* the way forward. There are no 2 ways about it. Cell networks will fight as much as they can to retain their absurdly high quarterly results and keep their shareholders happy. If you don't agree with your particular network's policies, the only way to make sure they get the message that caps are bullsht, is to either call them or walk.

Heads Up! Warning Letter: WiFi Tether app

Hey folks!
I just got a warning letter from Sprint. They're threatening to disable service for tethering. I did a bit of searching on the forums and have seen similar threads, but thought I'd contribute so others wouldn't get flagged like I did.
I'm using CM9 Beta 1 (older version), with FL24 modem, and using WiFi Tether app to tether. Data usage for September so far has been 4.66 GB. Specific usage for data (from tethering) primarily involves web browsing, Youtube videos, Hulu, and playing Guild Wars 2 x3/week for less than 3 hour sessions each.
I'm not sure what all they can or cannot track, so I will try a newer CM9 or CM10 and use wired tethering instead to see if that helps. If I get terminated, oh well. After surcharges and tax, I'm paying 160 for two lines. The other phone on the line is a basic flip phone, of all things. I use tethering since it's more ideal than the campus wifi here.
If push comes to shove and I get terminated, I'll check out T-Mobile since their signal is strong-ish in this area. Not sure what factor/s caused the flag letter, but just posting the info so you could perhaps avoid it!
Good luck folks! :highfive:
They will be able to tell that you are tethering, it doesn't matter what ROM you are using or how you are tethering.
All of the information is in the packets that are being sent on the network. Everything from what browser you are using, operating system, which version of flash/java you have installed, etc...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Mattix724 said:
They will be able to tell that you are tethering, it doesn't matter what ROM you are using or how you are tethering.
All of the information is in the packets that are being sent on the network. Everything from what browser you are using, operating system, which version of flash/java you have installed, etc...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. From all the searching I've done across several different forums, this seems to be a consistent but very RANDOM problem (the letter). I wonder if they just do random checks on random people?? I saw a guy get a flag letter for using 100+GB, but I'm below 5GB. Is anyone else getting this letter?
Mattix724 said:
They will be able to tell that you are tethering, it doesn't matter what ROM you are using or how you are tethering.
All of the information is in the packets that are being sent on the network. Everything from what browser you are using, operating system, which version of flash/java you have installed, etc...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The real question is what they are looking at. Truth is we probably won't know and things change.
Just looking at user agent strings in post and get requests will result in false positives when a user has their android browser using a Windows Chrome user agent string. Its not terribly intensive to spot check traffic on port 80 to see whats going on but probably not the most efficient or fool proof way. Especially when the heavier users of the network are not just casually using a web browser.
Desktop Youtube and Hulu are likely to raise flags. Even the most passive of monitoring will catch these 2. When a tower experiences any amount of unusual congestion someone is likely to take a look at why and see something usual triggers won't notify on. More active solutions are likely to notice an account without tethering connecting to a known game server IP on a known port. Not so much a problem with say hosted FPS servers more of a problem with MMO's.
If they know exactly what they want to look for its very easy to put an automated solution in place. They don't always know what a user is doing on the network and spot checks during unusual congestion will turn things up. All from network administration point of view less of an accurate carrier view though.
Hey guys an update on what I did.
I just got back and found an OK deal. I'm not sure what you guys were paying for Sprint, but I was paying (after taxes and surcharges) 160/mo. for two lines, unlimited data + 2k non cell-to-cell mins and unlimited everything else. I ended up going T-Mobile and it's looking like the bill will be around 130/mo for 3, not 2 lines. One will have unlimited data, the other two are basic flip phones. Everything else is unlimited.
After bugging the living crap out of the representative and asking repeatedly throughout the sales process, it seems like they have a more flexible, less technical data plan. If this is not true, I'll necro this thread sometime to let everyone know.
Although the 130/mo for 3 lines looks good on paper, I did have to put down (after taxes) $430 for the three phones (GS-4, x2 basic flip phones) - not a pretty amount. After bugging them about how much it cost, they at least gave me a zagg screen protector and some crappy.. body armor? body guard? phone case. Not bad.
I mentioned my usage with tethering in the original post. Should things go sour the same way it did with Sprint, I'll update this thread and let everyone know what happened in detail. Supposedly the rep at the store was an avid user for tethering as well, though he only hinted it, telling me there's little for me to worry from his 'personal' experience.
On another note, I did have an incident with Sprint in the past. My phone was evidently set on automatic connection and Sprint literally kicked my phone off the plan for something they called 'excessive roaming'. They claimed they sent me a warning letter beforehand.. and I'm sure they did. My desk is a mess. The guy over at T-Mobile told me roaming was truly unlimited, but I won't take my chances just in case.
Data speed differences in the Denver Metropolitan area are significant. Speed Test shows around 1.5mbps DL Sprint WiMax, 8.16mbps DL T-Mobile "LTE" (Someone told me T-Mobile LTE isn't 'real' LTE. Not sure on this). 10 tests each were done and averaged. 5 tests indoors, 5 tests outdoors.
Thanks for the responses/input - it helped me make my decision. This forum has always been nothing short of awesome. :good:

Mobile technology--LTE, 5g, 300 mbs +

I'm still very impressed with 4g/LTE (when I can get it, that is) but I ran into a three Qualcomm engineers this weekend at a local San Diego hotel and among other things discussed was 5g and ever-increasing data capacities. Accordingly to the gentleman I spoke with, the technology for 300mbs (and even more) already exists in our devices--and up to 3 times faster in the lab(!)--but a combination of government regulations and matters of infrastructure inhibit us (citizens) from using the technology on a commercial scale. Current eta for this network is expected to stabilize in 2020.
I find this interesting for a couple reasons. First, it remains interesting to me how business and government intersect, particularly in the US, to produce cutting edge technological advances, and then see it (eventually) pour into greater society--it often varies depending on DOD and politcs.
However, despite the drawbacks, the work that arises from these relationship(s) is most often marked by success--in various respects--even considering the delayed roll outs or issues of quality. Eventually, they make their way into the hands of the general public, albeit at a (relative) increasingly slow rate.
(Of course, I'm leaving a great amount of information unstated or otherwise assumed, but I imagine those who may share my interest are likely well aware of the details.)
Second, and perhaps less interesting overall, but WTH are Internet providers going to do once LTE and eventually 5g reaches the major cities and becomes available to all consumers? Based on recent legal preceded, media companies like Netflix are going long on these providers and hence I wonder: are the IP providers working on advancements too? Or, are they going to continue to squeeze every last drop of value from the the current network structures via lobbying efforts that'll lead to... well you see the point. (Note that my points end up being interrelated.)
Anyhow, for those who may share interest, I'm curious--what are your thoughts?
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I have no doubts about technology such as this is already existent. Considering some markets have the 20/20 lte which yields almost 100meg/sec, its just a matter of time. My Comcast internet at home is 100down/20up, and they have faster available too. I really don't think the service providers are worried about cell carriers being faster, well maybe the budget carriers, but they're in a whole different demographic.
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium HD app
My cable company provides 50Mb, but I'm fine with 25 I have ATM and frankly I have hard time to imagine need for 300Mb, even 4k video is much less, but I'll take it when it comes, even if only for bragging rights. I'm not sure about you guys, but there is rather very few websites I use on regular basis, that can actually feed data anywhere near my 25Mb speed and I know it's not on my side, so pretty much whole infrastructure will need to be updated. For example I read somewhere Netflix averages 3 -5 Mb, regardless of the reason that's slow even for good quality SD program and even 300Mb wouldn't help in this case at all. And since most traffic goes over land lines until the last stage between cell tower and phone, they better do something fast.
^^^ I agree 100%
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Seriously over kill. They need to focus just on making LTE available everywhere I don't see a need for 300mb speed for anything in the near future. Right now I have 50 meg at my home and I can download movies in 20-30 minutes. Good enough for me.
Gn3
What I have noticed as a user who has had a 300mbit line and even a 1gbps line downstream, is that NO ONE can push information that fast to you, so it becomes useless. After a while I started to question what the point of a faster connection was. Very few companies (Microsoft,Apple) were able to come close to saturating my connection but in the end...for what? So I don't have to wait another milli-second for that download to happen? Now on the other hand, some apps saturated that connection all the time and it was great (mostly Usenet,Torrents etc). But then you have these companies that monitor everything you do and end up sending you letters to stop doing such activities. So then again I start asking myself....what's the point? I know for sure that I wouldn't want a slow connection per say but I think that we are currently in a good position for what's available. Now, if only we can get better coverage and more consistent connections...that would be a better solution.

Can I abuse the hotspot on this phone?

Hello reveryone, bit of an interesting question for you guys today. Long story short, I moved to city outskirts with my family about 2 years ago, and because internet in the US sucks (grr group monopolies), we have no form of cable internet, despite downtown being a few miles away.
So, I'm left using and abusing an unlimited hotspot plan with T-Mobile. It's not the best option, but it's not terrible. At this point, I've setup my old Nexus 5X on a new line in our living room a dedicated hotspot, but it struggles to keep up with the multiple computers in our household.
I've gotten myself a brand new Pixel 2 XL, but I'm deathly afraid of abusing it. I used to use and abuse the hotspot on my 6P, but this phone is brand new and premium and I'm afraid of significantly shortening its lifespan because of running the hotspot for hours on end. On the flip side though, it's much faster, probably because it's closer to my room.
I've noticed reports about the Pixel phones having dedicated hardware for hotspotting (see here: https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-2-hardware-accelerated-tethering/ ). Does this offload the work from the processor and not making running a hotspot taxing for the device? Can anyone who's used the hotspot extensively, or is knowledgeable in this area help me figure out if it's alright to run the hotspot for hours on end?
Thank you in advance, and have an amazing day!
You're not going to shorten the lifespan of the phone by utilizing the hotspot. It's doing nothing different than it would normally be doing in routing traffic from point A to point B, it's just that point B in this case is other devices.

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