Broadband Speed Test

If you are testing your broadband speed with the intention of using Skype, it's better to use the Skype call testing service instead.

Add the contact 'echo123' to your contacts, and call it when you log on. It will say something to you, ask you to say something back and then repeat back to you what you said.

This has the advantage of being an end to end test - checking that bandwidth is sufficient and the connection isn't too laggy, but also that your headphones/mic are both hooked up and working properly.

Yes, this does work in a way, however it does not tell me the top limits of speed.

I guess I could chart it.

Do this test.
See what the Broadband speed was.

Then start to find the high and lows of functioning proper.

I need to find places quicker with the and EXTRA high broadband speed so when it slows to other guest in the Hotel I can still use skype.

Skype doesn't use much bandwidth anyway - sub dial up levels typically. It will be lag and intermittent connection breaks that kill your conversation. Bandwidth will correlate with that, but won't necessarily dictate it.

I guess by checking out the bandwidth and seeing that there's enough for you and everybody else in the hotel who could potentially use the connection you can call knowing that your conversation won't die when somebody else logs on.

Some newer routers have special rules that give priority quality of service to SIP (the standard voice protocol) so it might be worth trying out some SIP software as well as skype. When I go traveling I plan to take both.

Also, Skype has a tendency to do all sorts of funny wrangling to disguise its traffic - that usually serves to make it work in almost all cases, but often at the expense of call quality/reliability.

Hi,

The thing about broadband speed tests is that they just give you a snapshot for the brief time that you run the test. Obviously broadband speed depends on lots of factors; any of the tests should give you a fair idea of speed, but not much more than that. For what it's worth, here's another one that we wrote that we think is pretty accurate:
http://speedtest.broadbandgenie.co.uk

Let me know what you think.

Ciaron

Ciaron
I tried it, it does not appear to work in Thailand.

I am startting to feel that all of these test do not work, I think they more or less PING the servers and the speed of return is measured. Now because I am in Thailand this is not going to work good with a British company.

I am starting to think, I must take the longer time and get on Skype and make a telephone call at about 8:00 PM or 2000 hour when the local conditions are busy to test my speed ability.

I have found the Connection speed of my internet on the site named www.ip-details.com All the Details are very fast ..like the downloading speed domain search etc..

see the difference from this interesting FREE speedo tests to external servers http://bit.ly/sptester