Broadband speed tests

Post by **meggles** » 11 Dec 2007, 20:13

Well I got this but I don't know what it all means. But at the moment I can pour a can of beer and sup half of it before I get from one page to another!

[IMG:300:100]http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/bimages/333918.jpg[/img]

Post by **Dan Wood** » 11 Dec 2007, 20:38

Assuming you're on ADSL (broadband down your phone line) then it looks like you are being capped by your ISP.

Your upload speed is healthy, which suggests the noise on your ADSL line is low enough and you probably have a fast connection to your local exchange.

But your download speed is low, which suggests your ISP isn't giving you all that your line can support.

You need to be running these tests on a hard-wired PC (not wireless) and with only one computer in use at a time. If you've got wi-fi you might find your neighbours have the rest of your bandwidth!

Post by **MrBanana** » 11 Dec 2007, 20:59

[IMG::]http://www.speedtest.net/result/211136298.png[/img]

Post by **blu trukkie** » 11 Dec 2007, 21:22

[img][URL=http:300:135]http://www.speedtest.net/result/188271966.png[/img]

Post by **MrBanana** » 11 Dec 2007, 21:30

[IMG:300:135]http://www.speedtest.net/result/211146797.png[/img]

We've been with Blueyonder, the dreadful Tiscali and nightmare Pipex...

Rock on BT!

Post by **asahartz** » 11 Dec 2007, 21:36

All these "test sites" can ever do is measure the speed of the link between you and their server. There are a lot of factors that can affect that.

There is only one reliable way to measure the speed of your connection, and that involves uploading/downloading a large compressed (ie zipped) file to/from your own ISP server. Anything beyond that is simply measuring general internet speed.

If you do a traceroute to a distant site, using a graphical tool such as Sam Spade, you will see that vary from minute to minute, and the actual route can vary from day to day. Since information sent over the internet is split into "packets", and the individual packets can take different routes (which is in part how torrents work), nobody can guarantee that they are testing the speed of the fastest packet.

It's like sending 100 identical VWs from London to Glasgow. There are a multitude of different routes they can take, so some will take shorter routes, some will get stuck in traffic, some will get a clear run, and some may even get lost completely (!). The only thing that is certain is that they will not all arrive at the same time. How would you work out the speed of those?

Sorry for the tech stuff; I'm Head of IT in a school.

Post by **hembo666** » 11 Dec 2007, 22:48

Dan Wood wrote:Assuming you're on ADSL (broadband down your phone line) then it looks like you are being capped by your ISP.

Your upload speed is healthy, which suggests the noise on your ADSL line is low enough and you probably have a fast connection to your local exchange.

But your download speed is low, which suggests your ISP isn't giving you all that your line can support.

You need to be running these tests on a hard-wired PC (not wireless) and with only one computer in use at a time. If you've got wi-fi you might find your neighbours have the rest of your bandwidth!

So 2 main points befor testing really then, log off any other equipment on your network that may be connected to the internet and check your wireless security and kick any passengers. (and if you are carrying passengers up your security to stop them getting back on).

[IMG:300:135]http://www.speedtest.net/result/211166340.png[/img]

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 11 Dec 2007, 22:58

Sorry for the tech stuff; I'm Head of IT in a school.

Hi Asa, I am Network manager in a school too!

It's like sending 100 identical VWs from London to Glasgow.

more like breaking your van in London and mailing it to Glasgow the packets of the van will not necessarily go on the same royal mail van/trai/plane These test sites repackage the van at Glasgow and send it back to you you take the average of the time it took for the parts to get back to you. I like the van analogy! what you can do is run the test over several weeks and take your average, its not accurate as such but its about the best youv'e got.

Wireless shouldn't (if all is well) restrict your bandwidth to the internet 11b/g has enough to cover a standard internet link quite happily, Use preferably WPA2 and AES encryption with a 63 bit key to prevent bandwidth loss and packet snooping from your "neighbours"
use one from here https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm the bottom of the three is most compatible and keep it on a text file on a pendrive or something.

Post by **kevtherev** » 11 Dec 2007, 23:23

I checked mine and it came out to 1mbps... my provider tells me it is connected at 2.2 mbps

with all the windows closed .....the bytes received and sent traffic is never still

constantly increasing as each second passes

is this normal...or is microsoft down loading something

Post by **BigTam** » 12 Dec 2007, 00:38

The physical charicaristics of the line have more to do with its ability to deliver than anything else, I have worked for BT for many years now and have been involved with ADSL since its arrival in this country. There are literaly hundreds of different things that can affect the line, star wiring from extentions,the bell wire on extentions, RF2 filters, faulty sky boxes introducing noise on the line, aluminium cable on your route and line length to name a few, its a minefield, glad I'm off the tools now.

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