Line Speed Tests

David Dorn discusses broadband speed tests

Are you getting the best speed out of your Internet connection? Is your modem doing its all for you? Here are some useful sites that provide speed tests for you to excercise your connection and find out just how much of that broadband performance you are really getting for your money.

www.dslreports.com/stest?loc=97

www.speed-test.net

www.mediaroad.com/products/speedcheck/

Here's how to interpret your results:

Over 512,000bps (512Kpbs)

You're cheating! You're looking at the page via either a T1 or a T2 line. You're permanently connected at very high speed to the Internet and we're jealous! Either that, or you've got one of the best ADSL setups we've come across, probably a 1 megabit.

Between 400,000bps and 512,000bps (400Kbps - 512Kbps)

You're on ADSL, and the speed looks about right. You might like to consider a tweak or two if the speed is any lower than 400,000bps, or maybe you've just got an RADSL line, which can adapt its speed to suit the conditions. The other alternative? You've got a cable modem, and the rest of the street has just signed on to get their email!

Between 120,000bps and 400,000bps (120Kbps - 400Kbps)

This is probably an ISDN setup using both channels bonded together and using compression. If you're towards the top end of this section, you're doing very well. Indeed, if you're in this section, you're doing very well (unless you've got an ADSl line, in which case we'd be on the phone to the technical people!)

64,000 to 120,000 (64Kbps - 120Kbps)

More than likely ISDN, but maybe a very fast V90 modem that's got the fastest connection it's ever had, towards the bottom of this section.

50,000 to 64,000 (50Kbps - 64Kbps)

Single channel ISDN or a very good V90 connection. If you're on ISDN, then you're about right. If you're on a V90 modem, be very happy!

38,400 to 50,000 (38.4Kbps - 50Kbps)

A V90 modem will be somewhere in this range under normal circumstances, unless, of course, the Internet - or AOL - is very, very busy. If it's 7pm, don't be too surprised if your modem's a little slower - everybody else in the UK is also reading this page!

33,000 to 38,400 (33Kbps - 38.4Kbps)

Modem speeds. You might want to consider a V90 modem if you haven't already got one. If you are using a V90, then it hasn't negotiated the best possible line. If you keep getting results in this range, at all sorts of times in the day, there may be a teeny little problemette with the quality of your line.

Under 33,000 (33Kbps)

This is starting to look seriously slow, unless, of course, you're using a slow modem. It may be a WinModem in a machine that hasn't really got the get-up-and-go to keep it running at its best speed. If it is, dump it in favour of something that has its own processor - a proper modem, in other words. Alternatively, you may be connecting over your cellphone (in which case expect around 9,600bps, and be thankful you're getting that!)

Honestly.

No matter what speed you see, you'll see a different one next time you give the speed test a try. There are so many variables affecting line and connection speeds that there's no way on the face of the planet you can guarantee to get the same results twice. You can take a test now and get a shocking speed, then come back in half an hour and find it's off the scale, it's that fast. Why not try different tests or see just how it varies over time?

 

David Dorn