Best Way To Test Broadband Speed

[NH001]

What is the best way to test speed of broadband?

I have used Speedtest but I received the below from support. It which doesn't list XXL but assume this should be around 5MB/s ish? Speeds from the below don't match up with what I get on Speedest. However - didn't understand the relevant of adding the three speeds!?!

* Run Internet Explorer.

* Enter into the address bar: gamefiles.virginmedia.com

* Click on the link blueyondergames

* Click on the link demos

* Download any large file from the list you can see

* Note the Transfer rate. This is the actual speed of the download.

* Try downloading a second file. Add the transfer rate to the first
file's.

* Try download a third file. Again, add its transfer rate to the other
two.

* Now compare the download speed you are getting against those expected
for each of our packages: Size M: approx 250kb/s. Size L: approx 1MB/s
to 1.1MB/s. Size XL: approx 1.8 to 2.4MB/s

* If the speed you are getting is significantly lower than those above,
please reply to this email with the results.

[Raistlin]

You're supposed to download the three files at the same time and add the transfer rates together, this should give you a better idea of the maximum possible transfer rate on your connection.

[Sambora]

http://www.virginmedia.com/testmyspeed/

[NH001]

Ah - OK. Have given it a go with 4 files. This gives me a total of 5.1 so X 8 gives approx. 40.8 mb/s? Using Speedtest has given me a best ever download speed of 27 mb/s.

However, this is via my old Linksys router. If I switch to the new Virgin media N router it drops to under 1 mb/s! Any ideas why?