Broadband speed test

[Alex Moon]

I am on Virgin's VIP package and should have up to 20 meg connection. I have tried about 10 different speed tests from Google's search and all have different results – from 2meg to 11 meg. What speedtest should I be using? Thanks for any help.

[Hom3r]

Don't rely on speed tests, download a large file, inexcess of 100MB to get a more reliable speed.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Use the one at the top of this page as the file is hosted within the Virgin Network. Despite what Hom3r has just said, this will give the most reliable numbers. However each download outside the network will only be as fast as its slowest point.

[Alex Moon]

Test at top of this page doesn't work for*me – maybe it's because I use a Mac

[AmAtoL]

You could always use the one provided by CS, which seems a fair indication of download speed :- www.f1test.notlong.com (http://www.f1test.notlong.com)

See what you get there.

I just tried that again and was getting about 650, so not that good a speed atm.

Edit for test

[progers]

I find this one very accurate; I have others if you need them, just PM me

Peter

http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

[xspeedyx]

FTP is the best way

gamefiles.blueyonder.co.uk

use this link and download 2 files and see what speed you get

[Alex Moon]

BBmax says i am getting 7.8 meg. NTL test just comes up as a page of programming script.

Thanks folks.

Still don't understand why various tests are so wildly apart!

[what?]

dl form gamefiles.virginmedia.com

virgins own site. dl at least 3 files, and add up the total speed across the 3

then if ur way short of the 20 mb, call trech support as they cant argue with results from their own server, though they will do some basic pc check
for spyware etc.

[Bonglet]

they can and will arguee with the results i've been told on a few occasions when it goes tits up and im getting just above 100k that my speed is fine and its well within working limits lol that was off a 2 seperate thread download from the vigin gamefiles site lol and externaly off vm's network it was much worse than that.

[what?]

if they argue with that and say 100k is fine then request to speak to a manager. they wont be able to pass u straight on to 1 but will arrange a call back, or ask them to log a complaint.

no matter what connection speed ur on 100k is not within the limits of whats ok.

(well, unless ur one of the very few ppl still using set top boxes tto connect)

[Rains]

Use the one at the top of this page as the file is hosted within the Virgin Network. Despite what Hom3r has just said, this will give the most reliable numbers. However each download outside the network will only be as fast as its slowest point.Nope gives me 5mb and when i download of xbox live servers i get 10mb that speed test is crap never bother with them just test it on a good site or server

[Sirpingalot]

I'm just getting crap speed in general ever since the 20mb upgrade.

[xpod]

(well, unless ur one of the very few ppl still using set top boxes tto connect)

I`ve sometimes had no choice but to use my lads stb connection.When your 20Mb connection isn`t working at all it`s sure handy having a working stb around....even with it`s -1Mb:)

Of course though, sometimes they`re both down together so it`s usually love thy neighbour on those rare occasions....the neighbours being more than happy to oblige of course.

I`m never without internet of some sort thankfully,even if it is only Kb`s & not Mb`s

[Callumpy]

Virgin Always Say Use http://speedtester.bt.com

[what?]

virgin actually discourage u from using any speed test site
because of how unreliable they are.

use gamefiles.virginmedia.com

download a few files over 100meg

add total transfer rate, and that will give u the most accurate speeds results
off of their own server.

[Sirpingalot]

Hmm... 1.7MB/s

[what?]

almost on service. obv running a little slower than expected
but it is stated on vm.com that some areas will have to have
maintenance work done before it will make full 20mb so it could
b that thats keepin ur speed down a little
it does say on there thos earea should get 1.6mb/s at least
until that work is done.

[vmtech]

do what what is saying
gamefiles.virginmedia.com
battlefield 1942
demos
win32
download both files
add them together and thts should give u an idea of ur speed

[Toto]

You could always use the one provided by CS, which seems a fair indication of download speed :- www.f1test.notlong.com (http://www.f1test.notlong.com)

See what you get there.

I just tried that again and was getting about 650, so not that good a speed atm.

Edit for test

Good little test that.

I ran the speedtest link, getting back results of about 14.5Mb

Less on the Speedtest.net site. ( much less, less than 10Mb)

Tried that download, got 20Mb easy, flew through.

It proves what loads have said here, only FTP sites can give you a good idea of your current speed.

[Dark Fiber]

It proves what loads have said here, only FTP sites can give you a good idea of your current speed.
Where does FTP come into any of these tests? :confused:

[Callumpy]

virgin did tell me to use the speedtester.bt.com thingy, and also yes they are really unreliable

[Toto]

Where does FTP come into any of these tests? :confused:

Well, as its one of the oldest transfer protocals on the Internet, its one of the most relevant, and reliable, as my previous post shows.

[vmtech]

does it really matter 2 guys for virgin tech support told u exactly what to do

[Dark Fiber]

Well, as its one of the oldest transfer protocals on the Internet, its one of the most relevant, and reliable, as my previous post shows.
But none of the tests mentioned uses it!

[Toto]

But none of the tests mentioned uses it!

So?

Please look at my post again, and tell me which YOU think is more reliable then?

[Sirpingalot]

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2007/07/31.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

---------- Post added at 18:02 ---------- Previous post was at 18:02 ----------

haven't got over 10mb on any speedtests and I appear to be maxing out in downloads at 1.7MByte/s

---------- Post added at 18:04 ---------- Previous post was at 18:02 ----------

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2007/07/32.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 18:04 ----------

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2007/07/33.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[Dark Fiber]

Please look at my post again,
If you're talking about Post #20, you said:
"Tried that download [presumably <www.f1test.notlong.com>], got 20Mb easy, flew through."
but that's using HTTP.

There is an important point here, FTP and NNTP tests can establish that someone's connection is _capable_ of performing close to the nominal rate for their tier of service. However, most people's complaints are about slow HTTP performance (even where their FTP rates, if tested, are close to nominal).
That is a separate issue and could, in some circumstances, be corrected by VM.

[Shaun]

virgin did tell me to use the speedtester.bt.com thingy, and also yes they are really unreliable

They told you to use that because you're on ADSL provided over a BT lanline. Most of the people that come here are getting theirs down a VM cable so it's of no use tho them. :)

[xpod]

Why do people keeeeep relying on ANY of those bloody seedtest sites????

Their USELESS and rarely if ever give a true indication of your current speeds.
Every single time i`ve ever used a speedtest site i`ve always compared with downloading a couple of games/live cd`s from some virgin site and ALWAYS its completely different...i.e the downloading is ALWAYS faster.

Regardless of how s**t my speeds may be speedtest sites always show them to be worse than multiple downloading does.
Even when my speeds are crap the downloads will always still be faster.

I mentioned somewhere a while ago that because i dont use Newsgroups and because i dont spend all day downloading from VM sites i rarely ever expected to see 20Mb downloads.
Someone took that how he wanted and proceeded to tell why VM were going down the drain because of people like me who just put up with anything and never complain....i just about ****ed myself laughing so i did.

Obviously i took great pleasure in explaing a little about my many many calls over the year and of course the price i now pay for said troubles.

[Toto]

If you're talking about Post #20, you said:
"Tried that download [presumably <www.f1test.notlong.com>], got 20Mb easy, flew through."
but that's using HTTP.

There is an important point here, FTP and NNTP tests can establish that someone's connection is _capable_ of performing close to the nominal rate for their tier of service. However, most people's complaints are about slow HTTP performance (even where their FTP rates, if tested, are close to nominal).
That is a separate issue and could, in some circumstances, be corrected by VM.

most people's complaints are about slow HTTP performance

I thought this thread was about BB speeds in general?

I still stand by my original posts on here, and other threads that the best way to see if you are getting your advertised speeds is to try FTP downloads.

So, my test was HTTP, well then, looks like VM got it right doesn't it.

[vmtech]

u tell them xpod download from vm servers they will give a gd idea of wat speed your getting

[Stuart]

Virgin Always Say Use http://speedtester.bt.com

That site is for ADSL customers.

[xpod]

Is it just me or is there a few less complaints about speeds & spelling this last day or so.........:shocked:

Oh well,my speeds are pretty crap this morning(10Mb test V 13Mb http dl) and i`ll bet vmtechs spelling is just as dodgy looking too:p

:

[thp]

Please see my post http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/108/33618729-speed.html regarding Virgin 20mb and download speed issues.

[vmtech]

hey its not that bad! just missing a few letters lol hard getting used to writing normaly again

[Dean B]

Test at top of this page doesn't work for*me – maybe it's because I use a Mac

It works fine on a Mac.