Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

I am on 300mb
I did a few tests with different testers--Results

1st test with OOkla said 513.05 down
2nd test said 387.10 down.

With some other it said 376 down then after it said 158 down

With DSLR it says 388.3 Down.

Confused to heck. I normally use Ookla.
Any ideas as to what is happening out there. ?
Thanks

---------- Post added at 15:38 ---------- Previous post was at 15:36 ----------

<a href="http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest/24362063">
<img src="http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest/24362063.png"></a>

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:38 ----------

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Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

All sorts of reasons can lead to variable speed test results. The four that jump to mind straight away, you may already have eliminated, so ignore this if you have.

1. Were all other users of your broadband disconnected for both tests, e.g. other kit in the building or applications on your kit?

2. Is your processor up to flash speed testers? An inadequate processor might produce odd spikes during the tests and variable results. Use task manager during a test just to see how much processor speed is being used. If it is up in the 80% / 90% range then that could be your problem.

3. Was your testing done at the same time every day. Perhaps it was in peak usage time. If you are in a contended / oversubscribed area the bandwidth available to you may vary over a short period of time.

4. Are you connected to your router / modem by wifi or by ethernet cable? If the former, then that could be the problem. Wifi signal can vary greatly over a short time. Ethernet cable, especially if you have Cat5e works better.

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

Modem via Cat 6 cable. Though my D-Link power line is connected just below it. Should not make much difference though because nothing is using my D-link whilst I on main PC. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with that speed but I sometimes wonder why different Speed testers (and sometimes the same ones) give lower speeds within a few tests...Never use to. No I test at different times of the day every other day.Thanks

I think its a reg occurance to get different results.....

The network has a huge load on it so you wont get the exact same result,you'll get the BEST the network can deliver @ that time...

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

I am connected direct from my Asus N66U using Cat5e. Powerline and wifi are not reliable. Using speedtest.net and DSL reports I get 332Mb /21Mb 24/7. I know these are multiple thread tests and do iron out network vagaries. However, when I had a PC with a less powerful processor I did get great variation in results with spiking during the test.

Perhaps Copernob's local VM network has changed recently. Maybe it has become oversubscribed.

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

So glad you asked this as I've wondered this too.

Recently noticed that Cableforum has its own speed test.

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

Well spotted, I haven't used it in years since it was capped for 50mbits. I have just tried it and am not impressed and wouldn't class it as reliable. You can't see what server it is using and it said my ping was 37ms:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/3.png



In contrast:

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https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/5.png

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

Your first test, Think broadband, compares a single thread test with multi-thread to help you understand the quality of your connection. Ideally, both tests should give similar results. Your best speed of >300Mb is a lot better than I get. I never get more than 180Mb on TBB. I sometimes wonder if there is a problem with the connection between TBB servers and parts of the VM network.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/7.png

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/8.png

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/11/9.png

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

I know, the point I was trying to make is that I would never want to use it for diagnostic purposes if I thought I had a problem with my connection because it isn't giving accurate results. There is a bit of a difference between 300mbits and 380mbits, a whole 10MB/sec to be precise.

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

Something has changed.

After years of getting TBB speed test results way below my actual speed I am suddenly getting results near my paid-for speed. Also the difference between the single and multi-thread tests is much reduced.

Does this mean that the TBB connection to my part of the VM network has been improved after so long, or has the quality of my own connection suddenly improved?

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2017/11/22.png

Re: Speed Tests Vary. Why?
 

We dont have our own speedtest, not for a long while now.