what speed tests to use? Why is Wee96 wee-ed off?

[gordonm1]

Fairly new to the forum---a month-old newbie---I just noticed in one of the earlier discussions ("crap speed") that Wee96 says, for the 1000th time, not to rely on DSL' speed test.

Since I wasn't around for the 999 earlier warnings, I"d be grateful if 1) Wee would explain why, and 2) what sites he would suggest, other than the standard---download a long ftp file?

I also try 1) telus, and get extremely uneven results (sometimes close to DSL: where I regularly get 3.5mbs of throughput, and 280-300 uploads----which more or less matches, I add, my download of files in BYTES, that is around 400 KBs). 2) Toast---http://www.toast.net/performance/index.html, the Sunnyvale site, near to my home in Santa Barbara, whose throughputs more or less match DSL's too, and with consistency;. 3) And recently 3)http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest.html, whose version 2 uses a variety of downloading, and which also gives me results close to DSL.

Any illumination would be grateful.

I add that I also go to DSL forums about as much as these, and get useful information on both, though, regrettably, some of the regulars at each site seem to take pleasure in knocking one another. Is there some background feud here I'm not aware of.

Other than that, I'm grateful for all the useful tips, including tweaks and patches and other recommendations, that I've received here and at that DSL site.

Michael

[BlueJetta]

Yeah well, you get speed wars going on from time to time with all the neener-neeners thrown in just for grins.

There is NO perfect speed test. None, Nada, Nyet. The best thing, IMO, is to find a couple of servers, somewhere, where you get consistent connections and pings and use them as your speed 'touch-stone', if you will.

I have 7 sites that I use. A couple of fast FTP sites, DSL Reports, both East and West, telus, and a couple of @home based FTP sites.

Those sites work for me. If I think there are problems, I run all my tests, three tests at each site and then compare speeds, pings and tracerts.

That right there, in itself, is about 80% more customer service than @home has ever done for me. That way, when there is a problem, I actually guide that level-one tech through the process and I already have the answers before he can even think of the question.

So, a speed test is all relative. It's really all fluff and there to make you all warm and fuzzy. Do you test at sites that show slow speeds? Of course not!

But, the thing I DO like about DSL Reports is that they have diagnostics, in addition to the simple speed test, to assist in troubleshooting potential problems or if you are testing some new registry settings.

As for the feuding in the forums, well, anytime you go to a popular board, there will always be someone trying to pee on someone elses cornflakes.

There is waaaaay too much knowledge available here at SG to let some kiddies chase me off. I find it amusing really. http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/wink.gif

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

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-Jim
http://www.members.home.net/jimdeford/IndyCarLogo.jpg

[Beelzebub]

gordonm1,

I dunno, but DSLR's west coast server gives me a pretty good and consistent indicator of my throughput. My actual download speeds vary, of course, and I don't use the test numbers for anything but a subjective comparison. I find that I can often DL at speeds greater that the DSLR test reports. But I say again, the DSLR test, in my experience, is very consistent, and the best "speed test" for me. (other than actual DLs...)

I find the DSLR test very helpful in getting an indication of how well my tweaking is working. I could, after changing a tweak, go out and DL a large file. But I don't think it is necessary. I can trust that if the speed test says my throughput has dropped from 2800 kbps to 700 kbps, that my downloading is going to reflect the same drop in performance as well.

IMHO, if you can get a consistent low latency connection to one of their servers, the DSLR speed test is NOT meaningless. I have not found any other test that is as accurate and consistent.

It sounds to me like you have a decent grasp of what these tests do and tell you, and that you realize that actual downloading is the "ultimate test". So if you find, as I do, that the test works well for you, then you know what to do with other's opinions...

BTW - Welcome to the SG forum !


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despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage . . .