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Testing speed and quality of broadband residential line
Posted by Tammy (482 days ago)
I've just changed my broadband plan with my ISP and they promise to give me 8mbps (upgraded from 3mbps). So far, I haven't seen any changes and speed seems to be still sluggish.
Anyone know how to test the max downstream of my broadband line? How do I know that I'm getting what was promised?
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by ldldjr (481 days ago)
since you are getting a wave of replies I will toss this out. You can do a web search (google, hotbot, whatever your preferred search engine is) using "broadband speed test" and probably get a whole slew of sites that will test your connection for you.
(I am based in Vietnam)
Posted by Tidings 2 (481 days ago)
I don't see any other replies here, am I missing something?
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by ldldjr (481 days ago)
I was attempting to be facetious (about the wave of replies) whilst trying to point how to go about getting information that would respond to the question. Sorry.
(I am based in Vietnam)
Posted by toto_222 (480 days ago)
I found this one : http://www.speedtest.net/
Speed test can be done with a server in Hong Kong, which gives better results.
But even with a test server so close I couldn't get more than 5Mbps from my 8Mbps connection (or so they promise).
I guess 8Mbps is the max speed we can get from our computer to the isp server when all the other computers in the city are off.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Tammy (480 days ago)
Hi 222, thank you for the link, it is really useful! What ISP are you using to get 5Mbps? Pm me, I think the Ed is a little overzealous if we mention another company publicly
I've been testing my HK ISP all week and I get a constant download reading of roughly 2mbps.
Feeling ripped off...grrr
I understand that the rate is due to external factors but it seems that there is no difference from when I upgraded my plan from 3 to 8. So whats the point apart from chargin me more
Now they've tied me up for another eighteen month plan.
Can the ISP 'release' more bandwidth if I complain more or will this be the best I have to deal with?
Does anyone have any experience?
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by toto_222 (480 days ago)
Hi, I have no clue how to send pm here.
My ISP is NOW. It's not like mentioning a small size restaurant business, and they will probably survive after this post.
I don't believe any ISP actually provide the bandwith they advertise anyway.
What can be tried :
1- Call the hotline to have them confirm that they actually activated your bandwith upgrade.
2- Complain more and they may give you a way to have a better speed by changing some parameters in the connection properties, My company did that once with another ISP and it improved the speed, not sure if they would for a private user though.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Tammy (479 days ago)
Hey Toto, thank u, appreciate your feedback
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by BigDon (479 days ago)
You can try adjusting the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) and TCP/IP parameters to tweak a bit of extra speed from your computer's connection.
A good, and free, utility for doing this is "TCP Optimizer" which you can download over at:
http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
There's also a lot of other useful information at that site.
Once you run the TCP Optimizer utility, you can have the option to Customize the settings.
Before making changes, make a note of all of your current settings in case you need to revert back to any previous settings.
I use NOW broadband in Hong Kong, and from the "General Settings" tab form that program, I select the "Custom settings", check the "Modify all network adapeters" box, in the MTU field I put a value of 1500, TCP Receive Window a value of 256960, MTU Discovery to Yes, Black Hole Detect to No, Selective AKCs to Yes, Max Duplicate AKC's to value of 2, TCP 1323 Option have Windows Scaling checked. Apply Changes and exit. The program also allows you to run various tests and makes some other changes (such as some useful option from the Advanced tab, but agian I suggest to make note of your current settings before making any changes).
Computer may need a re-start before any of the changes take effect.
Hope that may help.
Good luck.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by BigDon (475 days ago)
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that if you do try that TCP Optimizer utilty program I mentioned, you may also want to adjust the Connection Speed slider to a higher setting as well.
Onemorething: Hey, thanks for the local speedtest link, I ran a few tests with it. Well, even after all my tweaking, the best speed I'm able to manage via Now broadband is at 5.1568 mbps (megabits per second), which for my purposes is good enough. ;)
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Tammy (475 days ago)
You guys love to jest huh! Where does Big DOn live? Right next to the netvigator server?
I like to have a survey from everyone here? Who gets a consistantly over 3 mbps??
Oh btw, thanks for the discussion and links :)
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by onemorething (474 days ago)
I have a Netvigator 6Mbps line in the Mid-levels. Constantly over 5Mbps in the test. (8Mbps not available in my building)
I haven't found a reliable upload speedtest yet. But from my observation it does not exceed 500kbps, which I find annoyingly slow for my Slingbox.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by tmk (474 days ago)
Tammy,
Are you also using Broadband TV? If so, turn off the TV box and try your speed test again.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by BigDon (474 days ago)
No jesting Tammy, what I posted is true.
And I consistantly get just over 5mbps download speeds.
But yeah, Tmk had a good suggestion about turning off the TV box before connecting to internet.
Did you try that TCP Optimizer utility yet?
You may get a bit more speed if you tweak some settings as I suggested as well.
You can always call their tech support too and bug them about it and see if they can do anything more to help you.
Good luck.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by aussieinhk (474 days ago)
I have an 8Mb connection with NOW for Internet and Broadband TV. I live in Sai Kung and consistently get 5Mb when I test it. I believe that the NOW Broadband TV service uses 3Mb of the 8Mb link, so that would imply I am getting the full 8Mb.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by onemorething (474 days ago)
NowTV only uses bandwidth when your digital TV coder is switched on. It is not like a reserve capacity.
There are many variables that may effect internet connection performance, but in densely populated areas, you should be able to achieve your nominal connection speed most of the times.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Tammy (474 days ago)
Hi Big Don, I used the app as you suggested and I really was surprised that I could get a faster download rate ;) thanks.
Tonight, when I tested it (link from 1morething) I got over 4mbps which was way better than the 2 I was getting.
Don't know if it will last so we see.
Yes, I know that Now should be off
(I am based in Hong Kong)
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