True Speed Test........?

peacey · 25-01-2006, 16:31

Hi All,

I know there has been many arguments, disputes and differences in opinion about NTL's 10MB service I have been reading about them over the past weeks......

I too have had these problems with my service before now I was getting between 1-2.5Mb on my so called 10mb service.....

I have now changed from STB to the NTL:250 Cable modem today, what is the best way to find out the true speeds from my new modem?

Peacey

DocDutch · 25-01-2006, 16:32

download something like SP2 from the microsoft website...then you can see how fast you go. at least thats what I do as most of the speed test sites arent that reliable

patrickp · 25-01-2006, 19:02

There are several different approaches you can take to this, peacey. First you can check your modem settings: point your browser to http://192.168.100.1/ (this won't work if you have a proxy set, unless you enter that IP in exceptions for the proxy), log in with 'root' as the username and password, and look at the Operation Configuration page. For the 10 Mb service, it should read 'Maximum Downstream Data Rate: 10240000' and 'Maximum Upstream Data Rate: 512000.'

Next, there are a couple of speed tests within the ntl network - in other words, you are not including (by and large) WWW conditions in your test. One is the Cable Forum test: just scroll up and click 'Speed Test.' The other is Robin Walker's test: try http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...speedtest.html

And then, venturing outside into the WWW, there are any number of tests: try the Irish Speed test, for instance.

Stuart · 25-01-2006, 19:26

The most accurate one I have found is Dan Elwill's speed test (http://www.broadbandspeedtest.net).

Site hosted tests have the disadvantage that if the server is heavily loaded, any tests hosted on that server will underperform.

25-01-2006, 19:36

...which shows approx 2.6 MB from uk server, 2.1 from European and 1.1 from US. Sounds about right for NTL's 10MB service in its current state in this area (South Manchester).

PS there's a spurious ) at the end of your hyperlink, Stuart.

Stuart · 25-01-2006, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

PS there's a spurious ) at the end of your hyperlink, Stuart.

Not now.

Thanks.

beavertron · 27-01-2006, 02:11

just use the windows network monitor and download something big from somewhere fast. Itl show you the exact speed. I tested my m8s 10 meg and was getting 1250k or 10meg exactly from ibm.

**Paul** · 27-01-2006, 02:55

We have speedtest on the navbar which is about as accurate as any other. The files are on the ntl network as well so there are no external network factors involved.

APS · 27-01-2006, 18:25

Has anyone noticed that the Speedtest in the navbar gives different, more pessimistic answers, than Robin Walkers on ntlhellworld. This is not due to the different files sizes but the calculations from bytes per sec to bits per second which are different by 10% or so. Example:

Robnin Walker

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:14:45 UTC
1st 128K took 719 ms = 182298 Bytes/sec = approx 1517 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 703 ms = 186447 Bytes/sec = approx 1551 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 718 ms = 182552 Bytes/sec = approx 1519 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 704 ms = 186182 Bytes/sec = approx 1549 kbits/sec

Cableforum a little later:

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:20:17 UTC

1st 512K took 2827 ms = 181.1 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
2nd 512K took 2828 ms = 181 KB/sec, approx 1376 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
3rd 512K took 2858 ms = 179.1 KB/sec, approx 1361 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps
4th 512K took 2875 ms = 178.1 KB/sec, approx 1354 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1367 Kbps, 1.3 Mbps

Look at the figures around 182 KB/sec which are translated to 1520 for RW and 1370 for Cableforum.

Who has the maths wrong?

APS

KevAmiga · 27-01-2006, 18:40

If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

27-01-2006, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevAmiga

If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

Nice one. Downloads at 185 - 200 K/Bs on my 'up-to 10MB' (actually 'up to 5MB', as it's an STB) service with 54g router on 'good' signal strength.

Chrysalis · 28-01-2006, 01:12

problem is kevamiga it is http download and subject to proxy server performance.

I have many times been able to beat the ntl internal speedtest from a external non http site because my proxies are so bad.

KevAmiga · 28-01-2006, 23:18

True, well if your getting proxy issues, thats something different again i guess.

Still, i can pull full whack off it so its worth checking.

Hom3r · 28-01-2006, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevAmiga

If you want to test the raw connection speed (ie a file from the NTL network), there is a nice 50mb txt file here > http://proxycheck.ntl.com

#

not working for me??

KevAmiga · 28-01-2006, 23:22

Oh well, i guess its a proxy issuse

Works from here OK.