Internet Speed tests

[ZDL]

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[Volucris]

There are so many variables which influence your second-to-second internet connection speed that it's generally best to take online speed test results with a grain of salt. Test your connection to various nationwide server locations on www.speedtest.net during low use hours when only you are utilizing your internet connection and you will get a pretty good idea as to how close you are to the speeds you're paying for.

Even then real world testing is going to give you the most satisfactory results. Online gaming, movie and television streaming, Youtube-like services, downloading files, etc.

[chadbag]

Why is there such a consistent and large discrepancy in online internet speed test? Is there a suggested one that is most accurate? Never do I even get close from one to the other.

besides conditions on your connection changing, the test server also has varying loads or the different servers are at different locations. You use speedtest.net for example and change the server, you could change the results drastically. I test mine during the day and I get close to 20mbps down. At night when everyone is home from school and work I get 2-4mbps down. Strangely, the daytime and evening upload rates are not that far apart.

[Preferred User]

SpeedTest is good when not busy. You can also go directly to speakeasy (http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/) and run your test there.

Also, how are you connecting? Are there other computers on your network?

[Belmont31R]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/733865234.png

[KS Trekker]

Most broadband connections are not guaranteed bandwidth, meaning they are best-effort from the ISP. Your mileage my vary. ;)

[JonnyVain]

Most broadband connections are not guaranteed bandwidth, meaning they are best-effort from the ISP. Your mileage my vary. ;)

Yeah, I'm paying for 12mbps, but never seem to get over 8. I'll be saving $15/month as soon as I remember to call and change it during the day.

KS Trekker your avatar reminds me of Flight of the Conchords song 'the Humans are Dead.' The binary solo.

Binary solo starts at 1:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvrva8NoMLM&feature=PlayList&p=DA8C76EEA4CF5BF2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

[chadbag]

Just as an example, tonight, just now, I got 2.0-2.2 mbps down and 2.4-2.6 mbps up over several tests using 2 different servers using both speakeasy directly and speedtest.net

During the day when people are at work and kids at school, the same tests show 20mbps down.

All on Comcast. If on cable, it depends on how many customers of the cable company in your neighborhood are using it for internet access and how many are on at that moment. Amongst other things.