tracert freerepublic.com
the final ip address is: 209.157.64.200
to monitor the connectivity to that server, type:
ping -t 209.157.64.200
a sample from my pings:
Pinging 209.157.64.200 with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 209.157.64.200: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=45 Reply from 209.157.64.200: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=45 Reply from 209.157.64.200: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=45 Reply from 209.157.64.200: bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=45 Reply from 209.157.64.200: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=45
the time from my system to FR's server is hovering between 77 and 82 ms, fairly acceptable times from FL to CA
Windows command shell?
Do you happen to know the Macintosh method?