Tech: Broadband speed

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 May 11 - 05:38 PM

Thanks

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Newport Boy
Date: 02 May 11 - 05:10 PM

Depends on the speed test on your line - if you can't get 2Mb or thereabouts at a quiet time, then more expense is unlikely to make a difference.

I got fed up with TalkTalk Business offering me 'up to 20Mb' for an extra £10, when I know my line won't sustain over 5Mb.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 May 11 - 04:50 PM

My 'nominal' speed is 'Up To 2Mb' but I am lucky if I get 1Mb - IF I opt for a more expensive , faster rate , what are the chances I will still only get the 1Mb ?
g

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Newport Boy
Date: 02 May 11 - 04:27 PM

@treewind The speed you actually get is limited by your distance from the telephone exchange. 8Mb is the theoretical speed you get when the two ends of the link are next to each other on the bench and it drops with increasing distance. At work we are at the limit of broadband about a mile from the exchange and we get 1Mb on an "up to 8Mb" connection. At that distance the received signal is barely above the background noise on the line (a theoretical limit) and it's amazing that we get a reliable connection at all.

It does seem to vary a lot from exchange to exchange. I'm about 2 miles from the exchange as the crow flies, 2.5 miles by the line route. The last mile is an old overhead line which feeds about 30 properties. I get a nominal 4Mb (tested today between 3.3 and 4.2).

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 02 May 11 - 02:52 PM

I THINK I'm wireless, as I have a BT thing called a 'Hub'. But it does take ages to load a page onto the screen. The most annoying thing is watching Youtube videos, they keep stopping after about two seconds, while a little wheel device whirls around. Also, our TV breaks up all the time, and freezes, usually just at an interesting moment in the programme! Part of the price for living in rural isolation I suppose!

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: olddude
Date: 02 May 11 - 02:47 PM

Be careful, if you are on a wireless a lot of other factors are involve IE distance from the router, type of wireless router, how the wireless is configured. If you are hardwired then the test is accurate

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 02 May 11 - 02:37 PM

To most standards that wouldn't even deserve to be called 'broadband'. Much like my own by the way. That said, we had line trouble a month ago and our speed went down to what you have, near dial up speeds. it was excruciating.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 02 May 11 - 02:34 PM

I just tried 'Scanmyspeed' and it came out as 0.28 Mbps for download and 0.256 for upload. As I know nothing about computers, is this bad or good? (I'm told our village has very poor Broadband speeds)

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 02 May 11 - 01:47 PM

0.85 Mbps down, 0.09 up here in West Clare

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 May 11 - 01:38 PM

The trick for ultra fast data download is a Virgin fibre optical connection - you should get up to 1.4Mbps compared with BT's measly 360Kbps!!

However, actual surfing speed is faster on BT.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: treewind
Date: 02 May 11 - 01:35 PM

"So much for 'up to 8 meg'."
The speed you actually get is limited by your distance from the telephone exchange. 8Mb is the theoretical speed you get when the two ends of the link are next to each other on the bench and it drops with increasing distance. At work we are at the limit of broadband about a mile from the exchange and we get 1Mb on an "up to 8Mb" connection. At that distance the received signal is barely above the background noise on the line (a theoretical limit) and it's amazing that we get a reliable connection at all.

Of course it may be also that your broadband ISP is congested; that usually manifests as variations in speed with time of day.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 02 May 11 - 12:53 PM

Just put 'speed test' in your browser, there are several which will tell you and give a comparison with other servers in your area, I reccomend the BBC's speed test, again just put 'BBC Speed test' in search. And while I'm at it, I reccomend people avoid AOL Premium Broadband, it's total rubbish

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: terrier
Date: 02 May 11 - 09:21 AM

I've just tried SPEEDTEST.NET on my PC using Firefox 4.01 and it runs fine although it tells me my download speed is only 1.9. So much for 'up to 8 meg'.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 May 11 - 08:47 AM

ScanMySpeed works fine - but www.speedtest.net/ freaks right out and flashes things all over the screen and gives no results...

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST
Date: 02 May 11 - 03:15 AM

you can check your broadband speed through this site. ScanMySpeed you can even check the browsers speed through this site.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: GUEST,sahaya
Date: 02 May 11 - 03:12 AM

you can check your broadband speed through this site. http://www.scanmyspeed.com/ you can even check the browsers speed through this site.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Michael
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 06:04 PM

Thanks one and all, my faith in 'catters is unshaken.

Mike

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 12:40 PM

hmmm...not bad. 2900/514 locally (50 miles) 2100/487 to Atlanta,(1200 miles)

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 11:37 AM

This is what I use

http://www.speedtest.net/

Once you are on there, click on the nearest cone to you and follow the instructions. It will give you your download speed and upload speed (you need to wait whilst it does its checks).

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 10:39 AM

For some reason the blickymaker will not handle it, but here is the url for the official BT (UK) speed test. It is the one that your ISP will probably tell you to use if you are arguing with the ISP about your speed.

It can however be clunky and I have found it best to run the test (after following their instructions) before going to bed and to come down to find the result in the morning!

BT Speed Test (click)
Link by Joe Offer Enterprises, Ltd.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: bobad
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 09:28 AM

Here is a place.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadband speed
From: mack/misophist
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 09:16 AM

DSL Reports has a tool here.

Subject: Tech: Broadband speed
From: Michael
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 09:09 AM

How can I see what speed my broadband connection is actually running at as opposed to the provider's stated connection speed?
I have looked in the (to me) obvious places and can't find anything.

Thanks in anticipation.
Mike