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Broadband forum: Comparing Speed Tests

by: xctruckee October 18, 2011 11:37 AM PDT

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Comparing Speed Tests

by xctruckee - 10/18/11 11:37 AM

So, here at work, it "felt" like our internet speeds are not up to what they're advertised to be. We have AT&T Elite, which advertises 3 mbps to 6 mbps.
So, I tried FOUR different internet bandwidth test sites, and got 4 different results: AT&T Speed test gave me 3-4 mbps (download times), CNET gave me .7 mbps (710 kbps), DSL Reports gave me .65 mbps (650 kbps), and BandwidthPlace gave me 1.5-2 mbps. I tried each a few times on two different computers, both my laptop (via wireless router) and desktop (via ethernet). Obviously, a HUGE difference in results, so I have no clue who to believe. Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks,
Mark


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Widely discussed.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 10/18/11 11:57 AM

In Reply to: Comparing Speed Tests by xctruckee

Not to duplicate prior discussions but it is supposed to vary. Every time you run the test plus as you change machines.

This always results in folk asking and if you haven't read prior discussions you may feel shortchanged.
Bob


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Depends on where the other end of your test is

by EdEllks - 11/8/11 6:54 AM

In Reply to: Comparing Speed Tests by xctruckee

AT&T will likely always give the highest number since you're not leaving their backbone. When you try other sites, keep in mind that you may be hitting a number of routers to get to the host, and each will affect your speed test to some extent. Not quite the extreme difference you mentioned, but different.

One that I've found very reliable is http://speedtest.net/

If that one shows less than your minimum 3Mb/s speed using a wired connection, then open a ticket with AT&T. I had done that in the past and they resolved some performance problems that came about shortly after they bought SBC. It took a couple of months, but they did get it resolved. Wireless opens a whole different set of issues, and it's very easy to get slow performance. Do all your testing using a wired connection.

Of course, make sure that absolutely nothing else is running on the line when you're testing. No background downloads, no VOIP, no Netflix streaming, nothing.


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