How to accurately measure b/b speed?

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Hi

Am with Virgin, and every evening, we seem to have issues with our internet dropping off. Have tried various devices - laptop, XBOX, android tablet, but no wifi access at all.
I turn the modem & router off/on again which normally solves the problem. But, last night, no wifi at all for around 3 hours!

Before I start trying to diagnose a fault with either the modem or router (both of which are at least 7 years old), is there an accurate way of testing what speed I am getting?

Many thanks

Figment

Your speed will vary depending on time of day, how many others VM customers local to you are accessing the net at the same time etc etc.

To get an idea of the speed, I use SpeedTest - but this is only a guide.

Bear in mind that your internet speed will have no bearing on your loss of wireless connection, as this is the connection between your laptop (or other wifi enabled device) and the router.

Your wireless dropping out is likely to be wireless channels conflicting with other routers nearby. To investigate, use inSSIDer on a laptop or PC with wireless connection. It will show you details of all wireless connections in your vicinity, including the wireless channel they are using. Setting your router to use a different channel should help

Figment

Just FYI, in simple terms:

Your computer and other devices (wired or wifi) talk to the router
The router talks to the cable modem
The modem talks to the internet

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Hi,

Just changed my channel number on the Router - Will see if that makes a difference.

Have also used the link to test my speed -

37ms 4.46Mbps(download) 0.99Mbps(upload)

No other wifi devices are on in the house - I am paying for the 'M' package, which should provide speed upto 10 MB

Should I complain to Virgin?

roadster1

Try JDs Autospeed tester. http://www.gmwsoftware.co.uk/ Set it to run every 10 minutes or so and monitor your speed over a weekday. Mine is fine during the day then drops off at 3:30 when the schools kick out all the kids! Capacity issues seem very difficult to resolve with BT. Try your luck with Virgin.

Figment

SnowWhiterThanWhite wrote: »

Hi,

Just changed my channel number on the Router - Will see if that makes a difference.

Have also used the link to test my speed -

37ms 4.46Mbps(download) 0.99Mbps(upload)

No other wifi devices are on in the house - I am paying for the 'M' package, which should provide speed upto 10 MB

Should I complain to Virgin?

Any wired devices??

Jakeandme

I get the same problem with wired VM from time to time, last night at 22.45 i was only getting 1 meg of the 10 i pay for.

This seems to be an ongoing problem if you read the comments on the VM forum, as it seems to be a known issue and only happens very occasionally i just put up with it.

Total waste of time contacting them by phone about the problem as the people on the phone are basically sales orientated, and by the time they respond and look into it on the forums things are usually back to normal.

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Figment wrote: »

Any wired devices??

No, all devices are wi-fi. Nothing wired.

Figment

What's the speed like if you test again now?

SnowWhiterThanWhite

figment wrote: »

what's the speed like if you test again now?

d/l 9.88 u/l 0.99

Figment

Which is pretty close to the "up to 10Mb" you're paying for.

As a comparison, I'm on VM 60Mb. I tested last night just after you posted your figures and was getting ~44 d/l, ~2.1 u/l.

This morning I'm getting a more healthy




More importantly, did your wifi connection hold up last night?