ADSL Speed Tests - An Overview
Many of us will have settled down to our freshly installed, high-speed broadband rubbing our hands with glee. We have read the promotional literature that promises "up to 16MB" broadband speeds, and happily shelled out for that new router that holds the keys to this new, faster world. We fire up our first download, see the lights blink fitfully on the front of the modem and look on in mute horror when the speed is nowhere near what you think it should be, maybe even half or less of the advertised speed.
This is where the qualifying "up to" that you saw in the advert comes back to haunt you. Broadband speed is not simply a case of the right modem or computer setup, but is as much, or even more, about other outside factors. For one, the quality of wiring in your area could sludge up speeds, and so could your distance from the exchange. So, how do you test to find out just how quick the internet is through your connection in your area? Simple, use an online ADSL test.
There are a huge number of websites offering ADSL tests, but it is important that, to get a good reading, you use one in the UK, as speed results can become skewed if you are testing it from the other side of the globe! The process works as follows. First, you usually just install a small applet that acts as the software to test your connection; this is usually done in your internet browser and takes a few seconds. You must close all other non-essential programs and anything that might be using the internet connection, including other browser windows. With these closed, you commence the test and, after entering a few details, you`ll be presented with the speed of your connection.
Put simply, the test works by calculating the upload and download speed of your connection by sending a certain amount of data (called a packet) to and from the server and seeing how long it takes to both send and receive that information. Although completely accurate speed results are not really available, these are still very useful, to both business and personal users.
Firstly, for both these users, knowing their top speed is essential. For a business, knowing how quick people can access work systems and download data is essential in fine-tuning the efficiency of a business; for the home user, you can check that you are not paying way over the odds for a speed you can not actually receive due to your location. By using this information you can decide, using a price comparison site, whether it might be worth your while in switching providers, possibly saving money into the bargain.
So, whether you are a business user or a home user, do a broadband speed test today and see if you are getting the service you need.
|