Speedtest.net - Is it broken?

Jimbo · Dec 12, 2009, 17:58:21

Hi all

Just been on to Speedtest.net as recently webpages have been loading slowly for me, even though my download speeds are good. So I've changed to OpenDNS to see if that helps and updated my NIC drivers. However, Speedtest.net gave me the below information:-

Now, that can't be right can it. My Router stats are below:-

SNR Margin - 7
Attenuation - 57
Downspeed - 2368000 (which I take it is roughly 2Mb/s...)

Thing is I've ran the test in 3 different browsers in case it was a "hickup" with Opera, and I still get roughly the same reading. Any ideas? Why does it report that I am less than 50mi from London when I live in the North East as well?

Finally, so many questions, what is a good ping (latency)? Is 456 ms good?

Thanks for the help!

Glenn · Dec 12, 2009, 18:05:56

Jimbo. what does a BT Speedtest give you?

456ms is a very poor ping figure, try pinging IDNet or another UK website.

Glenn · Dec 12, 2009, 18:07:37

I just tried Speedtest, it failed to complete the test, so there may well be a problem with their sites.

Rik · Dec 12, 2009, 18:09:16

Hi Jimbo

Speedtest.net doesn't appear to be broken:

That's with a 3M profile. Which server did you use? I recommend Maidenhead as being the most consistent, it gives results comparable to the BT test, however, we really need you to run the latter so we can find out what your profile is.

As to distance, don't worry about it, it's never very accurate.

456ms is a terrible latency. Were you doing anything else at the time, or was anyone else also using your connection?

Jimbo · Dec 12, 2009, 18:20:10

Hi, thanks for the quick response.

Just noticed they do a pingtest.net now. Tried that and got the below results:-

So I think the ping from speedtest.net for the London server is inaccurate. I will retry from the Maidenhead server as suggested....

OK the new results look spot on. Sorry for the time wasting!

Rik · Dec 12, 2009, 18:21:46

NP, Jimbo. Some of the servers they use are a bit variable. I stick to Maidenhead because it produces reliable, replicable figures which sit in the same range as the BT test, but without the BT hassle.

Jimbo · Dec 12, 2009, 18:23:52

Quote from: Rik on Dec 12, 2009, 18:21:46
NP, Jimbo. Some of the servers they use are a bit variable. I stick to Maidenhead because it produces reliable, replicable figures which sit in the same range as the BT test, but without the BT hassle.

I'll remember that, cheers.

drummer · Dec 12, 2009, 19:48:57

I got to wondering whether even the BT tester is entirely accurate when I got this result last month:

Download speedachieved during the test was - 19695 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 1000-99999 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :18129 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 1141 Kbps(UP-STREAM)

Or maybe the hamster had been drinking lots of espresso that day.

Rik · Dec 13, 2009, 10:59:58

The BT tester has got a bit optimistic of late.