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Thread ID: 70040 2006-06-20 03:40:00 How fat is your pipe? Chris Keall (10417) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
464696 2006-06-20 03:40:00 Take a speed test (blogs.pcworld.co.nz) then share your comments on Geoff's blog (blogs.pcworld.co.nz), and be in to win a copy of Norton Save & Restore (pcworld.co.nz) (winner to be announced on Geoff's blog Monday June 26). Chris Keall (10417)
464697 2006-06-20 04:06:00 lol does Geoff of PCworld not realise, the problem with these speed tests is they are only as accurate as the available bandwidth of the speed test site itself. In other words if there are 2000 people all running the test, the result will not be accurate (low).

I have noticed this on a number of speed test sites and in many ways they are near useless especially for measuring connections much over 10MB.

Real world testing is far more accurate.

I bet if he downloaded a large file from a known fast FTP with multiple sources his true speed would probably be far in access of what his speed test result showed (knowing Telstra Cable).

Its no wonder why I don't buy this magazine lol
Master_Frost (9951)
464698 2006-06-20 04:23:00 Did you actually read this, from the Consumer test Geoff linked to?

www.consumerspeedtest.org.nz

"How does this test work?
Firstly, you select your ISP and broadband plan from the drop-down menus. This information does not identify you in any way. Consumers? Institute will use this information to build up a database of what speeds New Zealanders are really getting.

Then you run the actual test. We perform very small upload and download tests prior to the real tests to estimate the speed of your connection. That way we do not attempt to upload and download very large files to slow connections. Based on these results we then use one of several test sizes to accurately measure the bandwidth, by sending and receiving files of varying sizes.

Note depending on how busy the internet is at the time, there can be a fair degree of variance of the results that you get from this speed test even when you run several tests back to back. You may wish to run the speed test a few times and average out the results to get a more accurate reading."
Biggles (121)
464699 2006-06-20 06:40:00 If the speed test site is overloaded which they often are, then the results appear slow which is often the case. I Suspect Geoff may have forgotten to cross check his results with another site or manual download to see if this was indeed the case. A bit of a noob mistake I have to say!

Real live speed testing via manual downloading is far more accurate.
Battleneter (60)
464700 2006-06-20 08:13:00 Well my pipe was disgusting, but hopefully it will change as I am leaving Xtra and going for Telstra's package.

Will be interesting to do the test again and see what has changed in a couple of days!
mantermite (9652)
464701 2006-06-20 08:56:00 My pipe is so slow must be kinda blocked. Which ISP provides the best pipes? MTLance (6768)
464702 2006-06-20 08:59:00 My pipe is so slow must be kinda blocked. Which ISP provides the best pipes?

:groan: :rolleyes: :annoyed: Search PressF1 for why that is ;)
stu161204 (123)
464703 2006-06-23 19:19:00 Last Result:
Download Speed: 3160 kbps (395 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 133 kbps (16.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

I've been useing this test off and on for quite a while. Todays result ,above, is about my average.

3.5 plan with Ihug
JJJJJ (528)
464704 2006-06-23 19:52:00 Last Result:
Download Speed: 3160 kbps (395 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 133 kbps (16.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

I've been useing this test off and on for quite a while. Todays result ,above, is about my average.

3.5 plan with IhugJack, you are supposed to post your results into the comments under Geoff's blog. Especially if you want to be in the draw for the prize. :D

Post it here (blogs.pcworld.co.nz) :)
Jen (38)
464705 2006-06-23 23:03:00 Yeah Jen, I did that after posting here and then reading the directions.
Thanks for looking after me.
JJJJJ (528)
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