Speedtest.net

Anyone any comments on this site which offers Broadband speed testing and Computer testing. TIA.

 

It's fine for speed testing though not the only site that offers the facility and once you've registered you can compare your speed with that of others in your locality who are using the same or other ISPS. I've not used the computer testing modules so can't comment on that.

 

There are a number of websites that help you test your broadband connection speed. If you have doubts about what you're actually getting from your ISP, or even just for debugging your connection, its worth trying a few of them.

The thing to remember is that they can't give you a precise figure. There are numerous reasons for this, the main ones being:

1. Your connection speed will fluctuate based on loads of factors including the health of your computer, how busy it is, who else is sharing your connection, how strong your signal is (wireless only).
2. It will fluctuate based on how busy the exchange is, and how busy your ISP is.
3. It will fluctuate based on how busy the speed test site is. Assuming the speed test site has a reliably 1 gigabit connection to the world, and 1000 people hit it at exactly the same time, the speed test site itself will only be able to give you 1 megabit (1g / 1000).

The moral of the story, try several different sites, several times. Take the best 3 results, average it, and that's roughly your connection speed.

 

Thanks. I was more worried about importing anything nasty than anything else. No-one else round here can get Broadband and the only way we have it is through a Satellite connection with little choice of ISP's.