Another Silly Question For The Experts

[quandam]

My connection is superb and when using the internet everything runs smoothly and quickly. Clearly not a problem, and I should be very happy with events. However, when I do the usual speed tests (varied) my speeds show up as average or below. How can this be?

I am very happy with how things pan out but how do I get reasonably poor speeds showing up on the speed tests? I was advised to (via IDNetters)  switch interleaving off and since then the speed tests have dropped dramatically.

I know I can be accused of 'what is the problem then'? but it is a puzzle why my speeds via testers (varied)  do not reflect my everyday useage experience?

Any ideas?

[Baz]

that looks ok to me

heres my result from that site you posted

Im not an expert but the speed test sites are not that reliable.What do you get using the tester on BT site and what are your router stats showing

[Glenn]

The only test BT take notice of is their own, here is the site that you used on my poor line

[gizmo71]

The only test BT take notice of is their own, here is the site that you used on my poor line

"poor"?! That's nearly twice what I'm getting on my wet piece of string!

[Glenn]

Dave, I said poor, not bad 

[David]

what is the problem then

As far as I am aware Q all speed sites are correct although they may not tally up with each other I found the best results is to use one site like TB or whoever and carry out your tests over a week or how ever long you wish to torment yourself and you will get an average I think thats as close as it gets.

The problems or uncertainties arise when we compare a speed from one site with another and although the results may differ they are in all probability correct.

I don't know what I'm talking about.......but I think I m correct in this answer 

[Dopamine]

Ever since thinkbroadband.com made available their test files for download (http://www.thinkbroadband.com/download.html) I've stopped doing speed tests and used those files instead in conjunction with Netmeter. That allows me to see a continuous real-time speed graph. Speedtests, even the best, only download a limited amount of data, whereas I can set a large download running and watch it for many minutes. Ideal for tracing intermittent faults, or wireless signal problems.

[Simon]

Sounds like good advice, Dopamine. 

[Sebby]

Speedtesters are notoriously inaccurate and variable. The results often have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

I've also found the Namesco tester to be consistent and accurate.

As Dopamine suggests, downloading a file is often the best way to test your line, or I find a well-seeded torrent does the trick (such as OpenOffice).

[quandam]

Thanks All. As I said earlier I really have very little to moan about but it did seem odd that the tests didn't match up to the 'feel' in actual use.

[Rik]

I think there are too many variables with speed tests, Q, your AV software can affect the results, for example. Downloading a reasonably large file is about the only reliable method, and even that's dependent on the server load at the time you do it.

[bobleslie]

The only reason I use speed tests nowadays is that they occasionally show that, on download speed at least, I am on ADSL2+.

It's somehow reassuring to know that I can actually get there. Sort of.... 

[Rik]

Have you been WBC'd then, Bob? If so, how did it go?

[bobleslie]

No....that's the point. 

The speed tests are so inaccurate that they occasionally record download speeds of the ADSL2+ variety.

For example,



But the upload always gives it away.

[Rik]

Ah. It's just that I'm thinking about making the move, so am looking for people who have done it.

[bobleslie]

Not available is it?

[Rik]

Soon.

[bobleslie]

Aaaahhh! 

I was going to say. I go away for a few days and look what happens. 

I've already inquired some time ago just after I got de-interleaved. Told them to put me on the list.

Can't do any more ATM. I don't mind being a pioneer just so long as I get a faster connection.

[Rik]

Remind me of your line stats, will you, Bob?

[Sebby]

No....that's the point. 

The speed tests are so inaccurate that they occasionally record download speeds of the ADSL2+ variety.

For example,



But the upload always gives it away.

That'll be your antivirus/security suite causing that. Try turning it off then running a test.

[bobleslie]

Remind me of your line stats, will you, Bob?

Here's a freshly minted one, Rik:

/bin/cat /proc/avalanche/avsar_modem_stats=
AR7 DSL Modem Statistics:
--------------------------------
[DSL Modem Stats]
   US Connection Rate:   448   DS Connection Rate:   8128
   DS Line Attenuation:   23   DS Margin:      11
   US Line Attenuation:   14   US Margin:      30
   US Payload :      28389648   DS Payload:      176321232
   US Superframe Cnt :   7252209   DS Superframe Cnt:   7252209
   US Transmit Power :   11   DS Transmit Power:   19
   LOS errors:      0   SEF errors:      0
   Errored Seconds:   0   Severely Err Secs:   0
   Frame mode:      3   Max Frame mode:      0
   Trained Path:      0   US Peak Cell Rate:   1056
   Trained Mode:      3   Selected Mode:      1
   ATUC Vendor Code:   414C4342   ATUC Revision:   1
   Hybrid Selected:   3   Trellis:      1
   Showtime Count:      1   DS Max Attainable Bit Rate: 10720 kbps
   BitSwap:      1   US Max Attainable Bit Rate:   n/a
   Annex:          AnxA   psd_mask_qualifier: 0x0000
   Power Management Status: L0   DS HLINSC: 0
   US ACTPSD:       -345   DS ACTPSD: -365
   Total init. errors:    0   Total init. timeouts: 0
   Showtime init. errors:    0   Showtime init. timeouts: 0
   Last showtime init. errors: 0   Last showtime init. timeouts: 0
   ATUC ghsVid:  0f 00 41 4c 43 42 00 00
   T1413Vid: 00 00      T1413Rev: 00      VendorRev: 00
   ATUR ghsVid:  b5 00 54 53 54 43 00 00
   T1413Vid: 00 00   T1413Rev: 00   VendorRev: 00

   [Upstream (TX) Interleave path]
   CRC:    0   FEC:    0   NCD:    1
   LCD:    0   HEC:    0

   [Downstream (RX) Interleave path]
   CRC:    0   FEC:    0   NCD:    0
   LCD:    0   HEC:    0

   [Upstream (TX) Fast path]
   CRC:    1   FEC:    0   NCD:    0
   LCD:    0   HEC:    0

   [Dow
stream (RX) Fast path]
   CRC:    85   FEC:    0   NCD:    0
   LCD:    0   HEC:    0

[ATM Stats]
   [Upstream/TX]
   Good Cell Cnt:   591451
   Idle Cell Cnt:   129674642

   Tx Packets Dropped Count:   0
   Tx Bad Packets Count:   9

   [Downstream/RX)]
   Good Cell Cnt:   3673359
   Idle Cell Cnt:   2359725648
   Bad Hec Cell Cnt:   108
   Overflow Dropped Cell Cnt:   0
   Rx Packets Dropped Count:   0
   Rx Bad Packets Count:   0


[SAR AAL5 Stats]
   Tx PDU's:   118742
   Rx PDU's:   176412
   Tx Total Bytes:   23808401
   Rx Total Bytes:   171832189
   Tx Total Error Counts:   0
   Rx Total Error Counts:   1


[OAM Stats]
   Near End F5 Loop Back Count:   0
   Near End F4 Loop Back Count:   0
   Far End F5 Loop Back Count:   0
   Far End F4 Loop Back Count:   0
   SAR OAM Ping Response Drop Count=0

It's a 7150 profile under ADSL.

[bobleslie]

That'll be your antivirus/security suite causing that. Try turning it off then running a test.

Thanks. I usually just do another test.

It doesn't happen all the time, but it makes for a great conversation piece. 

On a 'normal' day,  I reckon to get 6700 - 6900kbps, which is what I would expect for my 7150 profile. Remarkably this has been extremely consistent on the two separate occasions I've been with IDNet.

[Sebby]

That's what we like to hear.

[Rik]

You're in line for very good speeds, Bob, 20-24M I would say.

[bobleslie]

Hope you're right, Rik.

I'd be happy with that.