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View Full Version : True Speed Test........?


peacey
25-01-2006, 17:31
Hi All,

I know there has been many arguments, disputes and differences in opinion about NTL's 10MB service I have been reading about them over the past weeks......

I too have had these problems with my service before now I was getting between 1-2.5Mb on my so called 10mb service.....

I have now changed from STB to the NTL:250 Cable modem today, what is the best way to find out the true speeds from my new modem?


Peacey

DocDutch
25-01-2006, 17:32
download something like SP2 from the microsoft website...then you can see how fast you go. at least thats what I do as most of the speed test sites arent that reliable

patrickp
25-01-2006, 20:02
There are several different approaches you can take to this, peacey. First you can check your modem settings: point your browser to http://192.168.100.1/ (this won't work if you have a proxy set, unless you enter that IP in exceptions for the proxy), log in with 'root' as the username and password, and look at the Operation Configuration page. For the 10 Mb service, it should read 'Maximum Downstream Data Rate: 10240000' and 'Maximum Upstream Data Rate: 512000.'

Next, there are a couple of speed tests within the ntl network - in other words, you are not including (by and large) WWW conditions in your test. One is the Cable Forum test: just scroll up and click 'Speed Test.' The other is Robin Walker's test: try http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/speedtest.html

And then, venturing outside into the WWW, there are any number of tests: try the Irish Speed test (http://www.irishisptest.com/myspeed/), for instance.

Stuart
25-01-2006, 20:26
The most accurate one I have found is Dan Elwill's speed test (http://www.broadbandspeedtest.net).

Site hosted tests have the disadvantage that if the server is heavily loaded, any tests hosted on that server will underperform.

JohnHorb
25-01-2006, 20:36
...which shows approx 2.6 MB from uk server, 2.1 from European and 1.1 from US. Sounds about right for NTL's 10MB service in its current state in this area (South Manchester).

PS there's a spurious ) at the end of your hyperlink, Stuart.

Stuart
25-01-2006, 20:37
PS there's a spurious ) at the end of your hyperlink, Stuart.

Not now. :D Thanks.

beavertron
27-01-2006, 03:11
just use the windows network monitor and download something big from somewhere fast. Itl show you the exact speed. I tested my m8s 10 meg and was getting 1250k or 10meg exactly from ibm.

Paul
27-01-2006, 03:55
We have speedtest on the navbar which is about as accurate as any other. The files are on the ntl network as well so there are no external network factors involved.

APS
27-01-2006, 19:25
Has anyone noticed that the Speedtest in the navbar gives different, more pessimistic answers, than Robin Walkers on ntlhellworld. This is not due to the different files sizes but the calculations from bytes per sec to bits per second which are different by 10% or so. Example:

Robnin Walker

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:14:45 UTC
1st 128K took 719 ms = 182298 Bytes/sec = approx 1517 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 703 ms = 186447 Bytes/sec = approx 1551 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 718 ms = 182552 Bytes/sec = approx 1519 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 704 ms = 186182 Bytes/sec = approx 1549 kbits/sec


Cableforum a little later:

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:20:17 UTC

1st 512K took 2827 ms = 181.1 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2828 ms = 181 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2858 ms = 179.1 KB/sec, approx 1361 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
4th 512K took 2875 ms = 178.1 KB/sec, approx 1354 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1367 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Look at the figures around 182 KB/sec which are translated to 1520 for RW and 1370 for Cableforum.

Who has the maths wrong?

APS

KevAmiga
27-01-2006, 19:40
If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

JohnHorb
27-01-2006, 20:49
If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

Nice one. Downloads at 185 - 200 K/Bs on my 'up-to 10MB' (actually 'up to 5MB', as it's an STB) service with 54g router on 'good' signal strength.

Chrysalis
28-01-2006, 02:12
problem is kevamiga it is http download and subject to proxy server performance.

I have many times been able to beat the ntl internal speedtest from a external non http site because my proxies are so bad.

KevAmiga
29-01-2006, 00:18
True, well if your getting proxy issues, thats something different again i guess.

Still, i can pull full whack off it so its worth checking.

Hom3r
29-01-2006, 00:20
If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com#

not working for me??

KevAmiga
29-01-2006, 00:22
Oh well, i guess its a proxy issuse :)

Works from here OK.

Hom3r
29-01-2006, 01:31
Tried it with and without a proxy

must be a local issue (CM20)

---------- Post added at 00:13 ---------- Previous post was at 00:06 ----------

I've even added it to ZA to allow access.

---------- Post added at 00:31 ---------- Previous post was at 00:22 ----------

Are you connected to the modem via a router, or are you directly connected to the modem?

KevAmiga
29-01-2006, 01:40
Connected via a Linksys router, dont think that makes any odds tho.

Hom3r
29-01-2006, 01:45
I connect via a belkin router.

I don't know why I cannot connect to it

KevAmiga
29-01-2006, 03:20
Dunno... odd tho i still can and im not browsing from cache...

Chrysalis
29-01-2006, 04:36
it seems bad designed page, I click a link nothing happens but cpu load shoots up and its downloading data in the background without a download window, so I think its processing it as ascii or something.

Hom3r
29-01-2006, 19:51
I tried this on my dads PC and got through

So is this related to Pop-up blocker or ZA firewall?

KevAmiga
30-01-2006, 01:54
So is this related to Pop-up blocker or ZA firewall?

Hmm dunno how ...?

festoid
30-01-2006, 07:15
Has anyone noticed that the Speedtest in the navbar gives different, more pessimistic answers, than Robin Walkers on ntlhellworld. This is not due to the different files sizes but the calculations from bytes per sec to bits per second which are different by 10% or so. Example:

Robnin Walker

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:14:45 UTC
1st 128K took 719 ms = 182298 Bytes/sec = approx 1517 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 703 ms = 186447 Bytes/sec = approx 1551 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 718 ms = 182552 Bytes/sec = approx 1519 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 704 ms = 186182 Bytes/sec = approx 1549 kbits/sec


Cableforum a little later:

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:20:17 UTC

1st 512K took 2827 ms = 181.1 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2828 ms = 181 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2858 ms = 179.1 KB/sec, approx 1361 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
4th 512K took 2875 ms = 178.1 KB/sec, approx 1354 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1367 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Look at the figures around 182 KB/sec which are translated to 1520 for RW and 1370 for Cableforum.

Who has the maths wrong?

APS

The file sizes are 4 times larger on cableforum, could account for the differences.

APS
01-02-2006, 14:42
The file sizes are 4 times larger on cableforum, could account for the differences.

It would explain the fact that the cable forum test gives more consistent results and is not subject to some errors due to the limited resolution of PC clocks, but it does not explain why the calcuations from bytes per sec to bits/sec is different. It looks like the cable forum test gives a reading that is >10% too low, which if true, doesn't help when people are currently complaining of slow connections (although most suffer more than a 10% problem).

APS

georgepomone
01-02-2006, 16:50
Hi All,
it's zipping along with this £34 connection.

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 15:45:31 UTC

1st 512K took 3055 ms = 167.6 KB/sec, approx 1274 Kbps, 1.2 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2844 ms = 180 KB/sec, approx 1368 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2674 ms = 191.5 KB/sec, approx 1455 Kbps, 1.4 Mbps
4th 512K took 2624 ms = 195.1 KB/sec, approx 1483 Kbps, 1.4 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1395 Kbps, 1.33 Mbps


To repeat the test please click here

Please note that these results should only be considered approximate as many factors can affect a speed test.
I make no further comment.
George.:dozey:

mob227
02-02-2006, 12:58
If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

it asks for a password

---------- Post added at 11:58 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

Thanks, i did that test and it seems im suffering from some packet loss how do i correct that

The most accurate one I have found is Dan Elwill's speed test (http://www.broadbandspeedtest.net).

Site hosted tests have the disadvantage that if the server is heavily loaded, any tests hosted on that server will underperform.

Paul
02-02-2006, 19:44
The CF test has been altered to open in a seperate window as the vbulletin gzipping was intefering too much with it.

Chrysalis
03-02-2006, 00:47
I have a test up now that utilises port 81 and port 80, I will probably post it in the proxy section so people can try both links and see how much affects the proxies have.

Thanks to paul for the code.

JamShady
05-02-2006, 20:20
If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com
It's asking me for a username and password. The domain is "By Invitation Only" :(

tubbles
10-02-2006, 14:01
I am having the same problem Jam. nothing much shows up on the page but it then asks for user name & password. Tried root root and nothing, but i did get them from another thread lol:dunce:. Hey I thought it was worth a try. I have a 2mb connection and i can download from binary newsgroups at 230kb/s which seems fast to me. have recently had lots of trouble with web browsing though and had to keep switching on and off the cable box downstairs. Who says computer users get no exercise lol. NTL have our health interests in mind when issuing all the dodgy connectivity devices I have never run around so much.:D