[Ham-Computers] RE: Broadband tests - Was: WooHoo, it's fast!

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

DSLReports added the domain name "BroadbandReports.com" a while ago to
better identify themselves.  I use DSLReports as it's a shorter name.  It is
*THE* site for anything broadband related, included tests, tweaks, and even
customer support for some companies (including SBC).  The speedtest applet
there will work with any type of connection, not just DSL.  The "tweaktest"
(use /tweaktest instead of /stest) will test if you're getting every last
bit out of your connection and will make recommendations.  Be careful
though!

The 2Wire "bandwidth meter" should also work with any type of connection.
In fact, just about any bandwidth test should work with any type of
connection.  The exception is satellite connections (eg. DirectWay) as the
latency can throw things off.

Cable is difficult to benchmark as the connection rates are electronically
imposed by software as opposed to DSL which is limited by the actual link
rate set by the ISP.  Cable connections have a fixed link rate to all
equipment, just like Ethernet, and the rates are "controlled" by timing how
much data is reaching you at any given moment in time.  Cable "rates" are
typically "averages" rather than a set limit.  Cable is also "bursty" in
nature...you'll see bursts of increased bandwidth (almost max) when you
start downloading something, but once the rate "controller" notices you're
exceeding your bandwidth profile, it puts the breaks on.

A better way to test any connection is to download something *large* and
time how long it takes to download it.  By large, I mean something that will
take at least a couple minutes to download.  A good example is to download
Netscape 7.2.  Here's a link...

ftp.netscape.com/pub/netscape7/english/7.2/windows/win32/sea

Download the 24 Meg "NSSetup-Base.exe" file - it should take a few minutes
to download.  It's best to use a "real" FTP client for this, but you can
also use a browser if you don't have an FTP client (or know how to use one).
If you're using Firefox, you should start timing immediately after you click
on the filename - Firefox starts downloading in the background even while
you're choosing a location to save the file on your PC (if you have this
option set).  When the download finishes, divide the filesize (24MB) by the
time in seconds to get your Bytes/sec rate.  Then multiply by 8 to get the
bits/sec rate.  You should run this test a few times and take an average.
If you're using a browser, clear the cache each time before testing.  While
you're at it, set the cache size to 8MB (or 8192KB), especially if you're
using IE and it's default setting of approx 15% of drive size!

Oh, and BTW, the DSLReports bandwidth meters are connection limited and
sometimes go down.  So if it doesn't work (and it seems it was down
yesterday afternoon), try again later.

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] RE: WooHoo, it's fast!


Aaron,

Do you or anyone else have any benchmark sites that aren't DSL specific?  We

use cable (SWB promised for years DSL would be available just next week but 
never came through).  The second link runs but results vary from just over 2
to 
over 7 MBPS.  Mostly around 4.  The others won't run.

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