Have you ever heard that Speedtest.net is "only for cable modems"

tankman1989

tankman1989

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I was on the line with my DSL tech support for a number of issues, one being speed, and when they asked me to run a speed test and I did on speedtest.net they told me that I couldn't use that site because it was "only for cable modems". I started to wonder if there is some new special internet protocol that is new to me or one that I've been ignorant of all this time. Can you think of any reason that a speedtest site would be modem specific because I sure can't.

For any of you that don't have a specific speedtest site that they like, I would recommend speedtest.net over speakeasy because it allows you to select servers that are not on your ISP's network more easily than speakeasy - and I would recommend setting up an account with them (free) as it logs all your tests to show the ISP if you have issues.
 
Nah, it's for any broadband.

On my brand new setup, the router is showing 8Mb/s but Speedtest is only registering as 2Mb/s. I guess it'll take a few days to settle, hopefully upwards! :)
 
You'll find most ISP techs want you to use a certain speedtest site and most times it will be one they control.

Speedtest.net is know for having an accurate test and if the ISP is fudging on your speeds, they don;t want you to use it.
 
Mercenary Roadie said:
You'll find most ISP techs want you to use a certain speedtest site and most times it will be one they control.
Click to expand...

Yup!

Just pick 3 locations near your location...average them, and there's your results!

DSL is behind, they'll "poo-poo" any speed test site. And then some will say "well, it's not testing you with an MTU of 1492..so it's not accurate". Well, it is representative...most of the internet doesn't run on that MTU.
 
tankman1989 said:
I was on the line with my DSL tech support for a number of issues, one being speed, and when they asked me to run a speed test and I did on speedtest.net they told me that I couldn't use that site because it was "only for cable modems". I started to wonder if there is some new special internet protocol that is new to me or one that I've been ignorant of all this time. Can you think of any reason that a speedtest site would be modem specific because I sure can't.

For any of you that don't have a specific speedtest site that they like, I would recommend speedtest.net over speakeasy because it allows you to select servers that are not on your ISP's network more easily than speakeasy - and I would recommend setting up an account with them (free) as it logs all your tests to show the ISP if you have issues.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a snow job to me. They dont want you to use it or will argue that its not factual for their DSL connection. I use speedtest all the time and see no reason not to use it for a DSL connection.

Makes you wonder what they have to hide. Perhaps they want you to just take their word for it and that you are getting "good" speed with your current connection.

coffee
 
tankman1989 said:
I was on the line with my DSL tech support for a number of issues, one being speed, and when they asked me to run a speed test and I did on speedtest.net they told me that I couldn't use that site because it was "only for cable modems". I started to wonder if there is some new special internet protocol that is new to me or one that I've been ignorant of all this time. Can you think of any reason that a speedtest site would be modem specific because I sure can't.

For any of you that don't have a specific speedtest site that they like, I would recommend speedtest.net over speakeasy because it allows you to select servers that are not on your ISP's network more easily than speakeasy - and I would recommend setting up an account with them (free) as it logs all your tests to show the ISP if you have issues.
Click to expand...



Question...........

If they didn't want you to use speedtest.net, what did they recommend?

Was it speakeasy?

Did you run both sites and compare the averages?

Speakeasy actually shows slightly slower speeds on my system. Not too much to make a difference. Verizon DSL, D-Link Modem/Router.

Just curious as to what they suggested and if it showed favorable results for them.

I personally have never had an issue with speedtest.net and pingtest.net.

Sounds fishey!
 
Speedeasy's test is run by ookla which is the same company running Speedtest.net. It is the same test just a different front end for it. You pay ookla enough they will brand a test site for you too.
 
nlinecomputers said:
Speedeasy's test is run by ookla which is the same company running Speedtest.net. It is the same test just a different front end for it. You pay ookla enough they will brand a test site for you too.
Click to expand...

Do you have any documentation on the fact that Ookla runs speakeasy.net? I'm not arguing but was just unable to find any reference to them on that site.

As to the other questions, I was directed to use Speakeasy when I told them I was testing on speedtest.net. The ironic thing is that the last 3 home visits by the ISP support team have directed me to use speedtest.net to do my speed test while they were at my site:rolleyes:.

I prefer to use speedtest.net because my account logs my test speeds. I have 2 ISP's currently, cable & DSL, both are 12/2 connection speeds. I have a server in Palo Alto as my test server because I know it is outside of both ISP's "network" meaning the speed tests show the rate I get once off my ISP's network which is a more accurate testing of true Internet speed.

My cable modem, provided by a relatively small local ISP, provides full 12Mbps to just about any server world wide while my National DSL provider gives me about 2-3Mbps to servers that aren't on their network. There are a TON of other speed issues with the DSL provider that I won't go into ATM but I am able to track the results very nicely with speedtest.net as it logs my IP (shows which ISP I'm testing with).

I've looked over the provided contract from the DSL provider and can't find anything limiting speed to only speeds on their network. I'd like to be able to have a "comeback" when I test the speed with my 20Gbps server in Palo Alto. Currently I tell them that my same speed package provided by my cable company is providing full bandwidth at the time when the DSL provider is only providing 1/6 of the speed, which is about 95% frequency for results. IMO this shows that there is no problem with the server or the network/Internet and the speed bottleneck is within the DSL provider. This is when they get very short in responses and try to push it off on a physical problem on "my line", a modem problem, or it must be my computers/phone/router.:mad: - Yeah, that's why I'm getting full speed on cable!

I'd love to hear if anyone else has eve had a side by side comparison like this and used it to support their speed issues. Any ideas on how to handle tech support and have them get things working?
 
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