Which is the best way to check the internet speed that we are getting? Any website?

[ajayritik]

I have recently upgraded from 64 Kbps to 128 Kbps speed. This connection is provided by our local cable operator. I want to measure the internet speed. Is there any website which can give an approximate if not accurate measure of my internet speed. When I try to search in google most of the sites come up with servers in US which I dont think may not give the correct results. My connection is fluctuating so I want to make sure I'm getting the speed for which I'm paying.

 

[zyberboy]

*speedtest.net/
select a server near u

 

[Choto Cheeta]

My opinion Speed test sucks any other speed testing web site sucks..

SO what I do, I run download from 2 / 3 major known to have high bandwidth servers...

Like I would download (using any free Download Manager) from Microsoft Server WMP 11 or IE 7 to see whats the speed I am getting... I would also download from Nero FTPs and From Kaspersky FTPs or from Symantec addresses (Their Virus Defination files)... these usually gives a pretty good Idea on argv whats ur speed

 

[Ponmayilal]

*myspeed.visualware.com/speedtest/speedtestjs.html ---- Java based. you can email the results to yourself or anyone. Handy to shoot dataone guys if performance is abysmal.
*www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ ---- Flash based. You can connect to servers based in various U.S. cities and run the speed test.

I agree with Choto Cheeta that downloading a large file and noting down the time is the best way of ascertaining the speed. But you can't be downloading a huge file everytime to test the speed and waste your limited quota. Shorter speed tests like the ones given above should be sufficient to regularly monitor the speeds and can act as a reference to check whenever you feel that the speed is low.

 

[ajayritik]

Chota cheeta I know this is something not related with this thread. But the other day you had given me the help link about how to convert DVD to AVI using Auto GK. I want to ask you something regarding that. We use the DVD Decrypter software to compress a dual layer DVD from 8.5 to 4.7 GB however if I have a movie of size 4.7 GB then how should I compress it I guess I dont need DVD decrypter. What is the input file that I should give in Auto GK? Should we give the First VOB file from the list or the first IFO file?

 

[Choto Cheeta]

But you can't be downloading a huge file everytime to test the speed and waste your limited quota

True... but think it in this way that if you dont have a bigger quota whats the point of testing ur download speed ?? for normal browsing like foruming chatting or emailing, even u have a stedy 128kbps or a 2 mbps connection, result will be same...

u will need Higher Bandwidth for YouTube or such major Bandwidth hungry Web Services or simple fact downloading

So if u have a smaller Datacap connection so i assume u r not downloading or accessing such service as youtube hence My personal views no need to test the speed under 1st place

and I am sure u know SpeedTest is it self also eat up some ammount of Data

 

[Ponmayilal]

Oftentimes it becomes necessary to check the speed even if you do not download large files as a matter of routine.I have practically experienced such situations. It so happened once that my emails will be sent fast but no emails will be received.Websites were taking abnormally long time. I conducted a quick speed test and do you know what it revealed? The download speed was good but upload speeds were abysmally low. Guess what? in the range of 8 to 20 bps. yes bits per second.With this data I bombarded Dataone guys till they rectified the problem on their side.A download huge file method will not yield this data.Short tests like this do help here.Hope you will agree.

 

[din]

May be of help - *speedtest.dslreports.com

 

[Choto Cheeta]

Hope you will agree.

Well we will have Differnce of opinion for sure... and thats good, thats how we can learn from each others...

anyway on topic... yes certainly its ur Right to know what speed u r getting, and certainly downloading a Large file is also not an option every time...

But what I didnt agree is with speed testing web sites... rarelly they give any accurate picture....

for instance I never get more than 400 kbps from any speed test servers at us.. but from the same data center where speed test server is located I can download at full 2mbps from another site which is also hosted at there !!! or in similier regions...



and as i said we will have differnce of opinion... in Kolkata DataOne people only understand their own speedtesting service or Downloading WMP 11

but in case of downlaoding files dont download a full file.. just download around 2/5 MB MAX in that time u would know how fast u r, once agian we will have differce in opinions... so as personally I alredy said, at non free time to me whether its 256 kbps or 2 mbps, doesnt matter, I will care about exact speed at free time

but the buttom line is, I dont like these speed testing sites only because their in-accuracy

 

[Ponmayilal]

yep, for simple guys and girls like me the simple speed tests that do not devour too much data is sufficient. And I do have on my links
*www.tampabay.rr.com/aroundtampabay/?event=download_test
from which I can download large files and check ( suggested by Dataone guys) but I seldom use it. As you said the bottomline -- use the one that best suits you. Personal likes and dislikes apart, each one is best suited for a specific purpose and so choose the one as appropriate.