HNAME=news-15.net # Notorious spammer.
# HNAME=$HOST
# Debug: test for localhost.
count=2 # Send only two pings.
if [[ `ping -c $count "$HNAME"` ]]
then
echo ""$HNAME" still up and broadcasting spam your way."
else
echo ""$HNAME" seems to be down. Pity."
fi

HNAME=192.168.1.21
count=2 # Send only two pings.
if ping -c $count "$HNAME" 2> /dev/null
then
    echo ""$HNAME" still up and broadcasting spam your way."
else
    echo ""$HNAME" seems to be down. Pity."
fi