Um... 20mb Speed test

[jonathan_phang]

Hey all,

quick one here. Yesterday I realised that I was payin Virgin Media the same amount for 10Mb as it costs for their 20Mb connection, so a quick call later and its been activated. I go through the usual procedure or rebooting the modem, then router, then switch (prob not needed) and then just wanted to test.

I've tried speedtest and giganews speed tests and none get me near 20mb (I'm getting 14-15) BUT when i actually go and download a large demo from Gamershell then I get a full 2MB/s so I know the hardware must be fine etc and that the line to my house is good etc...

So - how come the standard speed tests wont fully utilise it? Any ideas? I'm sure I've seen people with sigs where they go very high on speedtest, so why not me? Just want to make sure the VM havent forgotten something, or that there isnt something that I need to sort out on my computers...

PS same behaviour on 3 computers...

[smargh]

Because speed test sites are all crap for fast connections. Stuff can only go so fast with a single connection. Generally it's best to test a connection by downloading from a fast source (i.e. a nearby sunsite) with multiple simultaneous connections.

[blueball]

This one is reasonably accurate but as already stated, you have to treat them with caution.

[Hicks12]

Isnt it because 20mb/s is actually 2.5MB/s, 16mb/s is 2MB/s.

So your getting about 16mb then yeh? Thats not bad really at all.

[jonathan_phang]

Like i said in the OP - I can actually get a 2MB/s +/- 0.1/0.2 when downloading, but just wondering. Its just that I've seen people on this very forum with speed test plaques in their sigs with 20Mb+ shown, so I was wondering if there was something wrong with my configuration. Seeing as I am on cable, as good as 16mb is - I would definitely think something was up.

But just a query - nothing major

[jetfire]

im on virgin and get 10mb.

[jetfire]

the mofos were charging me 25 a month for 10mb

rang um went ape at being over charged for a service that should have been upgraded free long ago as its 20 a month for 20mb now.

got free router and one month free Internet and now 20mb

[jonathan_phang]

Jetfire - nicely done... thats what I was expecting to see on my speed test - but as stated, it must be related to the server I was using to test on. Glad I kicked you into action

[daniel_owen_uk]

2MB * 8 = 16Mb not 20

You should get 20/8 = 2.5MBs

With overheads, probably about 2.2ish

Get 9.375Mb average at my parents with newsdemon (10Mb) line.