Network Speed Tests - Inaccurate?

MattBro · 08-17-2007, 06:01 PM

I quite regulary check my connection speed with a few sites, usually just to make sure my bandwidth hasn't been reduced. My upload speed indicated is usually 18KB/s (I have a 256Kbps || 32KB/s uplink).

Recently I've been working on a high-performance server application and decided to test out it's capabilities with someone from America (I'm Australian), to give an idea of a worst-possible-scenario.

Well, it seems my upload speed to them is exactly 31.93KB/s. Which I figured was strange in comparison to the results I usually get from those speed-test sites.

After some invesigation, the several sites I used to test my speed were all hosted geographically very close (infact, one in the next suburb over).

So it just goes to show, these website-based speed tests aren't a very good indication of your actual speed. Maybe try doubling the results, and you'll get a better insight to your real speed :)

ebackhus · 08-19-2007, 01:26 PM

I hear ya! When I do speed tests I do them repeatedly and using many servers/connections. I know the one from DSL Reports is rubbish as my real-world speeds are far beyond what they report me having.

08-17-2007, 06:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
MattBro Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 202 OS: WinXP-Home	Network Speed Tests - Inaccurate? I quite regulary check my connection speed with a few sites, usually just to make sure my bandwidth hasn't been reduced. My upload speed indicated is usually 18KB/s (I have a 256Kbps \|\| 32KB/s uplink). Recently I've been working on a high-performance server application and decided to test out it's capabilities with someone from America (I'm Australian), to give an idea of a worst-possible-scenario. Well, it seems my upload speed to them is exactly 31.93KB/s. Which I figured was strange in comparison to the results I usually get from those speed-test sites. After some invesigation, the several sites I used to test my speed were all hosted geographically very close (infact, one in the next suburb over). So it just goes to show, these website-based speed tests aren't a very good indication of your actual speed. Maybe try doubling the results, and you'll get a better insight to your real speed :)

08-19-2007, 01:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Asst. Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,731 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 25	Re: Network Speed Tests - Inaccurate? I hear ya! When I do speed tests I do them repeatedly and using many servers/connections. I know the one from DSL Reports is rubbish as my real-world speeds are far beyond what they report me having. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.