Where to go to do an independant speed test on my broadband

hughesdecorator · 18-02-2007, 17:43

As the heading says I keep seeing all these speed tests that everyone does. Where can I get an unbiased test on my 4 meg broadband through the modem box?
My little icon at the bottom of the screen says I'm connected at 100.o Mbps
is this right .
Help......?

Nikesh · 18-02-2007, 17:44

Use this speed test: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/speed.php

100 Mps is just the speed of your network card, not the speed of your internet.

hughesdecorator · 18-02-2007, 17:48

Hi Nikesh,
Thanks for that.
I did just try it , getting 3.5 on average which I suppose at this time of night isn't too bad.
How independant is the speed test. Might sound cheeky this but I often wonder who provides these things?

Nikesh · 18-02-2007, 17:54

I'm not sure how indepdant it is, but it seems pretty accurate for me and it's the speed test they have linked on this forum.

**Hugh** · 18-02-2007, 18:42

You could also try this one - www.speedtest.net

Tezcatlipoca · 18-02-2007, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikesh

I'm not sure how indepdant it is, but it seems pretty accurate for me and it's the speed test they have linked on this forum.

It's Paul M's.

---------- Post added at 19:57 ---------- Previous post was at 19:55 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

You could also try this one - www.speedtest.net

I use that a lot

Also good is this one: http://www.dslzoneuk.net/speedtest.php

(requires free registration though).

Oh, & Dan Elwell's Broadband Speed Test app is very good:

http://www.broadbandspeedtest.net/

Illuminist · 18-02-2007, 19:50

Speed-tests are unreliable.

...Download off a correclty working HTTP server and see where you transfer rate settles to. ...Its as simple as that.

leics poshie · 24-02-2007, 17:32

You must turn on JavaScript to get results from this Speed Test.
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:32:05 GMT

1st 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps
2nd 512K took 250 ms = 2048 KB/sec, approx 16876 Kbps, 16.48 Mbps
3rd 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps
4th 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 19806 Kbps, 19.35 Mbps

These results appear to be rather fast - this page was probably in the browser cache.

To repeat this test from the source server click here.

Can this be explained to me please

lynx2oo2 · 24-02-2007, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by leics poshie

You must turn on JavaScript to get results from this Speed Test.
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:32:05 GMT

1st 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps
2nd 512K took 250 ms = 2048 KB/sec, approx 16876 Kbps, 16.48 Mbps
3rd 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps
4th 512K took 203 ms = 2522.2 KB/sec, approx 20783 Kbps, 20.3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 19806 Kbps, 19.35 Mbps

These results appear to be rather fast - this page was probably in the browser cache.

To repeat this test from the source server click here.

Can this be explained to me please

The clue is "These results appear to be rather fast - this page was probably in the browser cache", don't press refresh, click on the source server link.

Stuart · 24-02-2007, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughesdecorator

Hi Nikesh,
Thanks for that.
I did just try it , getting 3.5 on average which I suppose at this time of night isn't too bad.
How independant is the speed test. Might sound cheeky this but I often wonder who provides these things?

We do. The test is run from Virgin's public webserver, on Paul M's webspace on there.

Apart from having some contacts within Virgin for resolution of Customer problems, we are totally independant of Virgin, and the site was originally funded by the admin team (with donations from some members), and is now funded by Google Ads.

---------- Post added at 20:11 ---------- Previous post was at 20:07 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illuminist

Speed-tests are unreliable.

...Download off a correclty working HTTP server and see where you transfer rate settles to. ...Its as simple as that.

However, if the connection is slow, you don't know whether the problem is on your end, somewhere within the Virgin network (either way, you or Virgin may be able to resolve it) or on the server end (in which case, you probably won't). This problem also applies to web-based speed test.

Dan Elwill's doesn't suffer as badly from this as it performs various tests on various servers.