Samknows ISP monitoring

deklan99

Sam Crawford of Samknows Broadband has set up a public pilot of a performance monitoring network using modified Linksys routers in volunteers homes. The routers "are checking latency, packet loss, DNS query times and failures, as well as the obligatory suite of speed tests. The goal is to provide a statistically sound measurement of overall broadband quality...." which should expose naughty ISPs traffic shapping and poor performance which speed tests alone can't provide.
Pity it's taken a private individual to take this up but if anyone is interested then take a look and see what you think.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I've just had an e-mail back from SamKnows about this.

I was asked to run a speed test and provide contact details. If suitable they will send me a box to monitor line speed. It's apparently being run in conjunction with OFCOM.

Anyone else taking part? Is there a more up-to-date thread?

Inner_Zone

Been part of the Virgin Media cable trail for about eighteen months now. You get access to their website so you can also see the results of the tests on your IP address.

Don't know about other ISP's by with VM there is a prize draw every so often to encourage you to keep the modified router connected 24/7. I won a small prize last year, and this years prize includes I-Pads.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I've just had an e-mail back from SamKnows about this.

I was asked to run a speed test and provide contact details. If suitable they will send me a box to monitor line speed. It's apparently being run in conjunction with OFCOM.

Anyone else taking part? Is there a more up-to-date thread?

Just received my "White Box" today after waiting over a year; these things certainly take their time to materialise.

Looking forward to seeing some results.

bod1467

I took part in the ThinkBroadband testing this year (for use as input to the ISPA awards I think). This meant installing an app on my main PC so they could run periodic speed tests. The trial has now ended and I have removed the app.

Something which was completely unobtrusive got me 6 months free broadband with my ISP (BE).