January 7, 2022

Keep Tabs on Internet Speeds with the Fritzmeter

from hackster.io

There are plenty of apps that can provide information about ISP bandwidth, but the Fritzmeter offers that data in an analog fashion. Software engineer Andy Reischle was interested in finding out if he was using his entire bandwidth while playing games or if his ISP was bottlenecking during those times. To keep tabs on his bandwidth, Reischle designed the Fritzmeter – an analog internet traffic monitor that uses a pair of gauges to display upload and download speeds.

The meter is outfitted with a pair of analog gauges (0 – 5V) driven by a Raspberry Pi Zero, as well as two digital-to-analog converters and a micro-USB power supply taken from an old cell phone. The analog gauges were originally tasked to measure voltage. As a result, Reischle replaced the background labeling with reading Mbps instead of V. Reischle packed the hardware into an old, weathered IKEA flower box, enhancing that analog aesthetic.

For those who would like to build the Fritzmeter, it’s important to note it only works with routers using the TR064 protocol and not SNMP. That said, Reischle has uploaded a detailed walkthrough of his meter on Instructables, complete with links to the necessary files and wiring diagrams.