Speed tests - Sites to try etc

[NewsreadeR]

Okay, I have to say that using ADSL Guide speed test since going on Sky Broadband has given me some weird results in the same range as you mention, I suspect this is a MAC thing. For a web speed test site try these links:

Sky User - Broadband Speed Tester

Namesco BroadbandMax ADSL Broadband Bandwidth speedtest | Test your ADSL Broadband connection speed

BT Openworld

A more reliable measure would be doing an FTP download client test, if you haven't got an FTP client program download Transmit demo version via this link:

Panic - Transmit 3 - The next-generation Mac OS X FTP client!

Then log into this FTP site via Transmit:

ftp.mirror.ac.uk

Then copy and paste this initial path:

sites/ftp.freebsd.org/ftp/pub/FreeBSD/releases/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/6.1/

Now drag onto your desktop the file out of Transmit called:

6.1-RELEASE-amd64-bootonly.iso

See what KB/s download rate you are getting.

Hopefully using these instructions you might get some confirmation of your actual download/upload speeds.

nathan/spcdust

original thread here

thx to spcdust

[Keiran2K8]

Another thing to take into account, Speedtests are not 100% accurate and don't give actual results.
As servers are located all over the world and the distance between you and the server will effect the speed rate.

Many other things can effect your overall speed;

Congestion - So many people in your local exchange on the internet at the same time!

Server Congestion - The server which hosts the files your are using to test your speed may have many people online which can also slow you down.

Computer Misconfiguration - You may have upgraded to a faster service (16Mb) from a slower (2Mb) and you have forgotten to change the settings you previously tweaked with in e.g TuneUp Utilities or TCP Optimizer.

Router Connection - When connecting to any Broadband Service it is recomended you use a Ethernet Cable to connect as Ethernet can support upto 100Mbps Transfer Rate whereas USB1.1 Supports upto 12Mbps.

[garyb]

>> Server Congestion - The server which hosts the files your are using to test your speed may have many people online which can also slow you down.

Well said. This is the biggest problem with sites that do speedtest's. A URL gets posted and 100s of people rush to check then get down when it doesnt report 16MB! Best thing to do really is stick a 25mb file on any webspace you may have, then download it by FTP & check the results.

Just my tuppense

G

[Keiran2K8]

Yeah only just joined so i thought i could post some good tutorials and also some tips...

[Keiran2K8]

You could like download a big file 200mb+ and then wait for the download to settle down around 75mb and then record the speed...

try this... Hosted on BlueyonderUK servers...



I understand that admins like to keep th list short but many of the sites mentioned only have small files upto like 10mb.... Which are no good for real fast connections..
Sorry if im kinda anoyying!

[garyb]

Hmmm, now thats a file download!

[Keiran2K8]

The bigger the file the stable download speed yur gonna get... most speed test sites host a max of 5mb files... which can complete in seconds.. by the time the download has finished the connection hasnt been able to max out.. like reach its peak.. so i might have only hit 256kbps etc etc... MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN YOUR CACHE AFTER EACH TEST!

[craigiusmaximus]

Originally Posted by FibreOptic

You could like download a big file 200mb+ and then wait for the download to settle down around 75mb and then record the speed...

try this... Hosted on BlueyonderUK servers...



I understand that admins like to keep th list short but many of the sites mentioned only have small files upto like 10mb.... Which are no good for real fast connections..
Sorry if im kinda anoyying!

Going to give that one a try i think, thanks for the link