Fluctating cable speeds

smiffly · 06-01-2007, 05:08

Hi folks, I wonder if any one can throw any light on why I get wildly fluctating speed test results, and also why no two speed test site give the same or similar readings? I currently have Ntl 10 meg broadband I can get test resukts from 1.4 meg to 9.6meg in the space of 5 mins, I have a newly replaced Ntl 250 modem connected direct via the ethernet card, not using a router, or networked to any other pc, or running any p2p or other programs whilst testing, www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk just gave me 9.620 Meg down & 0.479Meg up, whilst www.pcpitstop.com gave 3.2 Meg down & 0.467 Meg up, for good measure www.cableforum.co,uk gave me 7.4Meg download speed (didnt do upload test couldnt see it) Dan Ewells speedtest at www.broadbandspeedtest.net gave 3.2 Meg download, no packet loss, pings to three uk servers all below 22ms, european servers all below 48ms, East coast USA servers 112-140ms. whats interesting is that all my upload tests always come in at around the stated speed of 0.512Meg. I test download games from www.gamehouse.com just did 18.2meg download in 17 secs YEA BABY, but two mins before, did the same download in 44 secs.

Sorry if this is to long a post, I know War and Peace was easier reading, But it's the Paranoia wot does it, make it go away Mummy!

pooper · 07-01-2007, 00:46

I wouldn't get too hung up on the plethora of speedtest sites out there, the results you get will (generally) vary.

As an example, i very rarely get over 5mb from www.speedtest.net whereas from www.adslguide.org.uk i always get at least 9mb.....!

Plus there's things like contention and proxies to consider, both will have an impact on browsing speed etc. :P

smiffly · 08-01-2007, 07:00

Thanks for the reply, what are contentions and proxies? But surely I should get a stable service from ntl and not have it banging in at +9 meg one min to -2 meg the next? and that's downloading files, not using speedtesters.