Ways of speed testing Broadband connection?

[Ethnod]

So I am having this small but consistent argument with my ISP, they have promised me 18 meg but I am averaging 8-10. I have tested it from time to time and its always around the same. I got through to someone who said they would do something and while I think there was a small improvement for a while I think that is now gone. I have used a website (http://testmy.net) that while you leave on it will test your internet connection and keep a log while the browser is open that I have sent to my ISP but they argued the point with me and then told me that their tests reveal that my internet connection is fine.

 

So, I was wondering... How can I test my connection consistently? Is there a computer program I can install that will run periodic tests on my connection? And keep logs so when my ISP comes back to me and tells me XYandZ I can show them proof that they are wrong?

If not, is there any router firmware that I can get that will do this?

[Excon]

I prefer to use Speedtest. My ISP has one built into their website. so they cant argue with me over my speeds.

[iAsuno]

speedtest.net

 

you should also watch this video

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnd28lQHquU

[X1XNobleX1X]

Probably the best way to test your speed is Speedtest. The only internet speed tester I would use. 

[Ethnod]

Sorry guys, I seem to have not been as specific as I needed to be

 

What I am looking for is something that will test my connection without a prompt from me. A piece of software that I can set to test the connection once an hour, or once every 15 mins and that it will then keep a log for me so I can then email it to my ISP.

 

Speedtest.net and so on only do it when I actually click on it and that would entail me being awake for a week straight if I wanted 15 min tests for a week, not sure I'd physically survive that

 

I've been on other forums and talked to other nerd buddies and the question has never been answered so I know its a tough one

 

Any thoughts?

 

PS

I know the difference between bits and bytes

[brownninja97]

 

Sorry guys, I seem to have not been as specific as I needed to be

 

What I am looking for is something that will test my connection without a prompt from me. A piece of software that I can set to test the connection once an hour, or once every 15 mins and that it will then keep a log for me so I can then email it to my ISP.

 

Speedtest.net and so on only do it when I actually click on it and that would entail me being awake for a week straight if I wanted 15 min tests for a week, not sure I'd physically survive that

 

I've been on other forums and talked to other nerd buddies and the question has never been answered so I know its a tough one

 

Any thoughts?

 

PS

I know the difference between bits and bytes

 

http://addgadgets.com/network_meter/

 

I use this network meter which motors your network every second. You can change the time it monitors, if you wanna test you download speed then download something and record it. no viruses.

[linusforsell]

In Sweden, we have a convenient tool called TPTEST which can be set to repeat test with custom timings. The speeds are measured against Swedish servers, so you'd have to factor in some delays, but it could work.

 

Link to binary: http://www.bredbandskollen.se/download/tptest5_0_2_setup.exe

 

 

Some translations/pointers:

http://i44.tinypic.com/303ivex.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/eb3p74.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/anez2t.jpg

 

 

*Edit: Changed to links instead of including the images, cheers*

[LAwLz]

Read your ISP's ToS and the actual dataplan you signed up for. My guess is that it says "up to 18Mbps", in which case they got the right to give you 10Mbps if they feel like it. It sucks, but that's how it works.

The easiest solution I can think of would be to use a program that record actions and then repeat them (like Mouse Recorder). Have it press the mouse button once an hour, then after a minute or so (giving the test more than enough time to finish) take a screenshot and save it somewhere. Just have that running on a computer that's not used for anything else. It's not as elegant as for example a BASH script, but it should be very easy to make. You can use FRAPS to save the screenshots.

 

http://addgadgets.com/network_meter/

 

I use this network meter which motors your network every second. You can change the time it monitors, if you wanna test you download speed then download something and record it. no viruses.

That would still require him to start a download to test his speed.

[brownninja97]

Read your ISP's TpS and the actual dataplan you signed up for. My guess is that it says "up to 18Mbps", in which case they got the right to give you 10Mbps if they feel like it. It sucks, but that's how it works.

The easiest solution I can think of would be to use a program that record actions and then repeat them (like Mouse Recorder). Have it press the mouse button once an hour, then after a minute or so (giving the test more than enough time to finish) take a screenshot and save it somewhere. Just have that running on a computer that's not used for anything else. It's not as elegant as for example a BASH script, but it should be very easy to make. You can use FRAPS to save the screenshots.

 

That would still require him to start a download to test his speed.

He cant test his test without using the internet in some way which means he must download or upload. Its impossible to do it another way. That is how speedtest works.

[LAwLz]

He cant test his test without using the internet in some way which means he must download or upload. Its impossible to do it another way. That is how speedtest works.

Of course we would have to use access the Internet to test his speeds, but what he want is something that does it automatically. Your solution requires him to manually start a download.

[Ethnod]

http://addgadgets.com/network_meter/

 

I use this network meter which motors your network every second. You can change the time it monitors, if you wanna test you download speed then download something and record it. no viruses.

 

Nice little app but its not what I am looking for tbh. I need something that will do the tests on its own without me prompting it and also will save a log for me, preferably in text form so it can be emailed to the ISP

 

In Sweden, we have a convenient tool called TPTEST which can be set to repeat test with custom timings. The speeds are measured against Swedish servers, so you'd have to factor in some delays, but it could work.

 

Link to binary: http://www.bredbandskollen.se/download/tptest5_0_2_setup.exe

 

 

Some translations/pointers:

http://i44.tinypic.com/303ivex.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/eb3p74.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/anez2t.jpg

 

 

*Edit: Changed to links instead of including the images, cheers*

 

Almost exactly what I am looking for. Firstly its in Swedish and not ideal but usable thanks to your translations, thanks for that. However, it only runs them for 24 hours I was hoping to run a week or 2 every 30 mins or so and then once my ISP has gotten their sh!t together I would run it once an hour or 2 permanently probably. or maybe for a week every month or so. 

Due to the area I am in I am kind of stuck, these guys are actually not bad but they dont own the physical lines so they cant control the quality so I have to work with them on that bit. But I know it can be improved so thats what I am hoping for.

 

Read your ISP's ToS and the actual dataplan you signed up for. My guess is that it says "up to 18Mbps", in which case they got the right to give you 10Mbps if they feel like it. It sucks, but that's how it works.

The easiest solution I can think of would be to use a program that record actions and then repeat them (like Mouse Recorder). Have it press the mouse button once an hour, then after a minute or so (giving the test more than enough time to finish) take a screenshot and save it somewhere. Just have that running on a computer that's not used for anything else. It's not as elegant as for example a BASH script, but it should be very easy to make. You can use FRAPS to save the screenshots.

 

That would still require him to start a download to test his speed.

 

I have read it, and yes its up to 24 meg. They agreed to provide me 18 meg and if its lower than 10 meg or at 10 meg I get a discount, and its been consistently either at 10 or lower

And your idea would mean I could not use the machine unfortunately so I'd either loose the ability to use my PC for a week or I'd have to stop the tests while I was using it. Either way not what I was hoping for.

 

He cant test his test without using the internet in some way which means he must download or upload. Its impossible to do it another way. That is how speedtest works.

 

The point of the excessive is not to have to do all that. I mean I can go to speedtest.net or a multitude of others and run the tests myself but there is no consistency in that.

 

 

Oh and thanks for all the ideas and feedback so far btw

[ygohome]

I've used speedof.me

 

most of my linux machines do not have flash