Connection and speeds.....

Spacec0wb0y · 12-11-2012, 02:51 AM

Hi
Im not sure if I can post this here. I hope so.
I recently upgraded my internet package. Im with Virgin. They were dragging their heels regarding the free upgrade, "doubling' speeds for all clients.
After the work, the engineer showed me my speeds; download and upload. Both were significantly better..
But heres my query. A macbook Pro, hardwired to the router. It depends which site I use to measure my speed.
Both measure upload to within a close margin. Download differs however: @25Mbps or 63mbps, depending who you believe ! Is there a site I should depend upon or perhaps, there are isues I should consider like location...?
Obviously, I was shown the faster speed but which is correct?
Hope I m okay asking this here. I usually get a sensible response that sticks to the script on this forum...
cheers
Tim.

acme.mail.order · 12-11-2012, 04:01 AM

Internet speed is rather etherial, and any numbers you get from providers are "theoretical maximum". And of course the slowest link in the chain takes precedence.

Is it, in general, faster than before?

agentx · 12-11-2012, 04:44 AM

What service you on ?

I have lots of Virgin cable connections and they are pretty much +/- 5% what the advertise.

speedtest.net works OK for general tests.

Spacec0wb0y · 12-11-2012, 11:55 AM

Ok...well. Speedtest.net measures the connection at twice the speed ( or more) on back to back testing with broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk
Something aint right !!?

DeltaMac · 12-11-2012, 01:11 PM

You didn't say what speed is 'advertised'
But, comparing one speed testing service to another will often give ambiguous results.
This is mostly because there is no agreed-upon method to actually do that measurement - so each site decides how to do the testing.
And, there's other factors involved with deciding if your speed is OK.
I probably need to replace my router. When I run a test with speakeasy.net, the speed is a nice 25 Mbps. If I run a test immediately on speedtest.net, I get 7 Mbps. Then, I restart my router, and run the same speedtest.net - and I then get in the range of 25 Mbps. Something about that speakeasy.net test causes some kind of blockage, every time, and blocks at that same speed to 7Mbps. Never happens on speedtest.net
I can't explain it (no one that I have asked can explain why only on that test), but I have tried a different router, and it doesn't happen.
Just saying that there's many variables that affect your connection speed, and even the methods a site uses to test that speed, will affect the results. All you can hope for is a general result, to tell you that your connection is, in general, working.
You get to decide if you are comfortable in your particular corner of the internet, and that you get satisfactory loading of web pages, and that perceived "slow" performance is NOT the result of "issues" with your computer. A trip to the speediest site will help you decide how well your connection is working, generally. You _could_ ask tech support at Virgin, as they may have a particular test site that they might use for customers with similar questions.

Are you actually having "issues" with your connection, that _could_ be related to poor performance?

Spacec0wb0y · 12-11-2012, 01:59 PM

Mmm...well ! Its funny that Virgin, after installing new equipment, including an out dated modem, and a new router, use the site that reads the 60Mbps measured speeds.
Yes, I was having issues. The modem was out of date according to the engineer who installed the new service.
The issue is that I paid for this upgrade !
I was unable to use Apple TV.
It would simply fail to stream, giving error codes in >50% of requests made.
Clearly not good.
It has been upgraded. I just want to know before I buy another Apple TV unit, what my speed is. 60Mbps ( as advertised) or a measly 20Mbps ( 60% slower)
Cos, as a natural born cynnic, I hate getting ripped off, I dont like liars and as we have seen in recent years, theres far too much of saying one thing and doing another goes on with peoples money in this country whilst we sleep walk in blind ignorance !!
I tries speaking with all the parties concerned. ISP's, Websites & Apple. They all blame someone else godammit !!
Hey hoe. I guess if there is no simple answer, I just have to suck it up !

agentx · 12-11-2012, 02:21 PM

Goto a high bandwidth site Apple for example and download a big file. A 60meg connection should be downloading at about 7-8MB/sec....TOTALLY unscientific. !

FYI the AppleTV should function fine on an 8Mb connection anyway and 16Mb is ideal. When possible wire into router using Ethernet. The Virgin Hubs are OK for the price (part of upgrade fee) but no replacement for top notch routers and good quality wireless gear.

You may find your issues were more related to your WiFI bandwidth rather than your WAN ( internet) bandwidth. It is certainly a weak link in streaming based situations.

I have had clients running AppleTV off 6-10Meg connection no problems for ages but i did install good wifi gear.

12-11-2012, 02:51 AM	#1
Spacec0wb0y Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 129	Connection and speeds..... Hi Im not sure if I can post this here. I hope so. I recently upgraded my internet package. Im with Virgin. They were dragging their heels regarding the free upgrade, "doubling' speeds for all clients. After the work, the engineer showed me my speeds; download and upload. Both were significantly better.. But heres my query. A macbook Pro, hardwired to the router. It depends which site I use to measure my speed. Both measure upload to within a close margin. Download differs however: @25Mbps or 63mbps, depending who you believe ! Is there a site I should depend upon or perhaps, there are isues I should consider like location...? Obviously, I was shown the faster speed but which is correct? Hope I m okay asking this here. I usually get a sensible response that sticks to the script on this forum... cheers Tim.

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12-11-2012, 04:01 AM	#2
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,046	Internet speed is rather etherial, and any numbers you get from providers are "theoretical maximum". And of course the slowest link in the chain takes precedence. Is it, in general, faster than before?

12-11-2012, 04:44 AM	#3
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,809	What service you on ? I have lots of Virgin cable connections and they are pretty much +/- 5% what the advertise. speedtest.net works OK for general tests.

12-11-2012, 11:55 AM	#4
Spacec0wb0y Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 129	Ok...well. Speedtest.net measures the connection at twice the speed ( or more) on back to back testing with broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk Something aint right !!?

12-11-2012, 01:11 PM	#5
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,958	You didn't say what speed is 'advertised' But, comparing one speed testing service to another will often give ambiguous results. This is mostly because there is no agreed-upon method to actually do that measurement - so each site decides how to do the testing. And, there's other factors involved with deciding if your speed is OK. I probably need to replace my router. When I run a test with speakeasy.net, the speed is a nice 25 Mbps. If I run a test immediately on speedtest.net, I get 7 Mbps. Then, I restart my router, and run the same speedtest.net - and I then get in the range of 25 Mbps. Something about that speakeasy.net test causes some kind of blockage, every time, and blocks at that same speed to 7Mbps. Never happens on speedtest.net I can't explain it (no one that I have asked can explain why only on that test), but I have tried a different router, and it doesn't happen. Just saying that there's many variables that affect your connection speed, and even the methods a site uses to test that speed, will affect the results. All you can hope for is a general result, to tell you that your connection is, in general, working. You get to decide if you are comfortable in your particular corner of the internet, and that you get satisfactory loading of web pages, and that perceived "slow" performance is NOT the result of "issues" with your computer. A trip to the speediest site will help you decide how well your connection is working, generally. You _could_ ask tech support at Virgin, as they may have a particular test site that they might use for customers with similar questions. Are you actually having "issues" with your connection, that _could_ be related to poor performance?

12-11-2012, 01:59 PM	#6
Spacec0wb0y Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 129	Mmm...well ! Its funny that Virgin, after installing new equipment, including an out dated modem, and a new router, use the site that reads the 60Mbps measured speeds. Yes, I was having issues. The modem was out of date according to the engineer who installed the new service. The issue is that I paid for this upgrade ! I was unable to use Apple TV. It would simply fail to stream, giving error codes in >50% of requests made. Clearly not good. It has been upgraded. I just want to know before I buy another Apple TV unit, what my speed is. 60Mbps ( as advertised) or a measly 20Mbps ( 60% slower) Cos, as a natural born cynnic, I hate getting ripped off, I dont like liars and as we have seen in recent years, theres far too much of saying one thing and doing another goes on with peoples money in this country whilst we sleep walk in blind ignorance !! I tries speaking with all the parties concerned. ISP's, Websites & Apple. They all blame someone else godammit !! Hey hoe. I guess if there is no simple answer, I just have to suck it up !

12-11-2012, 02:21 PM	#7
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,809	Goto a high bandwidth site Apple for example and download a big file. A 60meg connection should be downloading at about 7-8MB/sec....TOTALLY unscientific. ! FYI the AppleTV should function fine on an 8Mb connection anyway and 16Mb is ideal. When possible wire into router using Ethernet. The Virgin Hubs are OK for the price (part of upgrade fee) but no replacement for top notch routers and good quality wireless gear. You may find your issues were more related to your WiFI bandwidth rather than your WAN ( internet) bandwidth. It is certainly a weak link in streaming based situations. I have had clients running AppleTV off 6-10Meg connection no problems for ages but i did install good wifi gear.