Speed Tests

wonderfullife_2

Hi
f2s. 2mb/256 broadband
When I do a speed test http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedchart.asp?id=cad9714b108e45008b4bc6a0f7d it shows download speed 623kbs, not very good. And yet when I'm downloading I am maxed out at 2360kbs (I see this from my downloader and also my diagnostic tool.
At the moment I'm downloading a 422mb file and its showing just under 28mins to download it, which I believe is excellent.
I was on the verge of emailing f2s to complain about my speeds, but now I don't believe I will. Personally I would rather have a faster download speed, and slower browsing, although I would like the two if I could get it.
So what I'm asking is if anybody knows why do these 2 speeds do not correspond?
And should I be bothered about speed tests

Thanks

smckay

speed tests can be very unreliable and dependant on factors that can majorily affect the outcome.

the speed you download at via ftp say from microsoft when getting a file is better.

the best way i feel is to use my ISP's newsgroup to download a file. I max out my connection straight away. as you say if you are getting 2360Kb/s via ftp then this is a better indication.

jackbremer

I'm on Zen broadband - this is how I do a perfect speedtest through my BT line:

log into my router, change the username to:

speedtest@speedtest_domain

Then let the router reconnect. Then navigate your internet browser to http://217.35.209.142 and follow the instructions.

After you have the results simply change the username back to what it was orginally (tell me you wrote it down!?!?!?!)

wolfman

I'm on F2S too, and from what we've experienced so far, it's not very good. Go on the AdslGuide.org.uk forums and you'll see quite a few people having problems. The same on freedom2support.co.uk.

We get packet loss, slow downstreams (under 1mb despite being on the upto 8mb package). In fact today my upstream is faster than my downstream!?!?!

I'm gonna go back to Eclipse when I have the chance. I'm paying £19.99 at the moment with a 10gb usage, where I could be paying £24 for 1mb (or £30 for 2mb) but with no packet loss, constant speeds, no usage limit, a static ip, and lower blood pressure.

djohn2002uk

jackbremer wrote:

I'm on Zen broadband - this is how I do a perfect speedtest through my BT line:

log into my router, change the username to:

speedtest@speedtest_domain

Then let the router reconnect. Then navigate your internet browser to http://217.35.209.142 and follow the instructions.

After you have the results simply change the username back to what it was orginally (tell me you wrote it down!?!?!?!)

I don't think that tests your ISP but only the BT line part of your connection as far as the exchange.
It is a good way of determining who is to blame for any slowdown by eliminating (or not) BT.

intel

djohn2002uk wrote:

I don't think that tests your ISP but only the BT line part of your connection as far as the exchange.
It is a good way of determining who is to blame for any slowdown by eliminating (or not) BT.

Im pretty sure your right there dj I use adsl guide.. very trustworthy results.

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Thanks for the replies, just did a speed test gain at adsl guide, its now 2021kbps, but it is 6.0clock in the morning, so there you go, I'll do all my browsing now!!!
I have read the forums on f2s, not very many people happy at the moment, but someone did mention that their browsing was slow but downloads were fine, the same as me.
As long as I'm getting my download speeds then I'm fine, I'll put up with the slow browsing, I use to be on Tiscali, :eek: so you'd think I'd be use to this by now, as they really are the pits.

Thanks anyway
PS Wolfman just looked on the f2s forum, and found this,
we will be undertaking additional work tonight in relation to this network upgrade.. This work will only affect a portion of customers whos ADSL usernames end with @f2s.gw5 or @f2s.gw6. A short disconnection, up to 5 minutes is expected.. Anyone with connection problems after this time may need to reboot your ADSL equipment to get back online.
Now I'm on gw5 so hopefully they'll get this fixed.

peter_the_piper

Wolfman
Just be cautious about Eclipse, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them but there are an awful lot of negative comments on ADSLguide.
Things may have changed a lot recently.

NellyLock

From reading the adslguide forums and f2support forums there are a lot of complaints about f2s - they are talking about introducing traffic shaping which may be interesting. Since being bought over by pipex it seems that service has gone down. Fingers crossed it will go back to what it was before because i have been on f2s for almost 3 yrs now and couldnt give it a negative.

wolfman

peter_the_piper wrote:

Wolfman
Just be cautious about Eclipse, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them but there are an awful lot of negative comments on ADSLguide.
Things may have changed a lot recently.

There'll always be complaints about any ISP. Eclipse along with Zen is still, in my opinion one of the better services. I was still with them only back in November, and have done about 3 years with them (with Bulldog and F2S in between).

With regards to F2S, I got a MAC code from Eclipse to switch. Something went wrong at F2S's end, so I had to request a fresh MAC code from Eclipse. Luckily it all got done just before the MAC code expired (as I'd cancelled Eclipse) as I would have been charged a connection fee. To top things off I had signed up with F2S during an offer period when there was free connection and upgrade to 8mb. They still charged me. I had to phone up and point out I signed up during the offer period, but they had taken ages to get things sorted.