CA3LE

When you're seeing ~ 6 Mbps, how sure are you that your computer or someone else on your network isn't transferring anything at that time? That could explain those dips. Most of your results looks great. Try running more linear (single thread) tests to Dallas TX so we can get a better understanding about your connection. Multithread can usually achieve higher results but the classic test is still best for troubleshooting. If you get a much lower result with that test it shows room for improvement. Both test types should have fairly comparable results if the connection is healthy.

Of course soon after you post two runs that look like this. https://testmy.net/db/AD90ymY3t.LUYSDX16n ... that's more like it. But the hours when your slow, you're really slow.

Your bandwidth to China appears to be degraded. Switch to Dallas or California. Also change the minimum to 10 MB download no minimum upload. We'll let the upload auto resize. You first want to be selected on the server that's giving you a favorable result. If you're getting better results against a server that's further away... you should definitely test against the further server. Unless your goal is to to test to mainland China because you visit a lot of sites or servers hosted there. The servers in California are about 3 times further away from you but you're getting better results from there. Traffic to China could be slower for a number of reasons. Part of which may be the government. Do an extended test against China as well, it's good information to know. I just think that for the test you're really trying to conduct, it may be better to test against the server that you've been able to achieve the highest results from.

Have you tried a different server? https://testmy.net/mirror or multithread --- does the upload test run?

I think you're going to like it.

Now you'll have to let ME know how it goes. :-P

Sorry, I haven't upgraded the mini yet. It's been turned off since my Son brought it back to me.

30 minutes is 30 minutes... except when the computer tells you that you have 30 minutes left.

What's holding you up from accessing them right now? TMN works on all devices. The only thing you can't do on your mobile device is Auto speed test. Just visit testmy.net in your browser like you do on your computer.

So you are using the auto test. Have you ever been at the computer when this happened? It's reporting the speed that it experiences. If your result is 20 Kbps on a 256 kB test... it had to take over 100 seconds to load to log a result that way. The programming is straight forward and doesn't work any other way. I think you're having an issue during those times or your bandwidth is in use... that would definitely cause that to happen. Like if you're downloading something, then the auto test pops off... the end test result will be minus the speed of any transfers in process. If you do find for some reason that you have issues with the 256 kB test you can always manually select your test size. Selecting 'nfw' checkbox on the Auto test will force it to not forward you... there are still some minimum requirements. Certain circumstances will always force a forward to a larger test.

That's what it's supposed to do if your connection is fast enough. If it allowed you to test with only 512 kB when you have, say, 20 Mbps... the end result would be far from an accurate picture of the connections true capability. TMN's seeing that you're too fast for that size so it's forwarding you on to what it believes is a more appropriate size.

You're fast enough right now that it wants to force a large size on you. We can override that... but I feel like we got the information we needed out of those tests. You're in the Philippines, right? Have you tried testing against the server in China? Select other speed test servers. Can you also run another 256 kB download test? If it gives you a super low score again run the 20 MB test above. Have you been running into this while running the Auto Test only or does it do this all of the time with the 256 kB block? I think what's happening is that you're having a very slow start, followed up by much faster speed. When it's spread over a much longer test the pause at the beginning has less affect on the result. I assume that you're seeing a pause of some kind before the test rockets off... right?

That would be a first. What happens with a 512 kB download test? I was just looking at your results before you posted, thinking... geeze, going off his worst result... it would take this guy 85 minutes to download a 5 MB file. What happens with a 512 kB download test, 10 MB download test or 20 MB download test? Do those test around the same time. No need to post the results just tell me when you're done.

Great to hear! Thank you for keeping me updated on the situation.

I see what you're saying. Maybe in the future there will be a timeline layout option. Thank you for the suggestion.

I remember this too :)

When you factor in the cap on the satellite... they really NEED to switch. They'll definitely love you when it's all said and done.

Wow, makes me feel fortunate. Sounds like they should just tether a mobile hotspot or something. If the 3G didn't have a data cap... what am I talking about, at the speed they have now they can't even do anything. Who cares about the data cap. Actually... @ 256 Kbps you can download 112.5 MB per hour. So you could theoretically push about 80 GB per month on that connection if it was consistently downloading. @ 7.2 Mbps you could download 3168 MB per hour. So if you have a 5GB data cap and you don't control your use it could get out of control quickly. Consistently downloading at that speed for a month would theoretically result in 2.18 TB of transfer. Now the upload... they can only upload 7 MB per hour. Ouch. It's like they have dial up, except it's 2015 and the Internet is more bandwidth hungry. At a constant 2 kB/s, it could theoretically transfer 4.9 GB per month. ((2*86400*30)/1024)/1024 Keep old TMN [removed] in mind if you ever have a problem running the current version of TMN on older computers or slower connections. Besides while the test was running, did TMN load faster for you than most other websites on that connection?

This makes me wonder if they only fixed it for you. Leaving the rest of the customers who haven't complained to enjoy their current level of service. "Tell us who you are..." --- "okay, now we can discriminate your SIM since you're asking too many questions." --- they're saying it was due to an outage... how? I'd expect if there was an issue like that affecting you, it would affect every protocol equally. If you were to try another customers SIM an prove that it's still acting that way for other people... then we really have an interesting situation. IMO it would prove their intention.

Many more posts on the Three forum... but are the two companies the same size? Who's more popular?

What city are you in? What are your contract terms? I got out of a contract with CenturyLink once, fairly easily. First I made sure that I knew an address that they didn't service. I then called them and told them I was moving and wanted to check to see what they offered in my "new area". Gave them the bunk address and she said, "I'm sorry, we don't offer service at that address." --- "Oh well, then I guess I'm going to have to get service with someone else. You'll let me out of my contract, right?" --- they have no choice really. They can't hold you to a service contract if they can't deliver the service to your "new address". -- after they've let you out, and they will, they may want to forward the final bill to that address. Tell them that you're not exactly sure when you'll be in there and you're just having the post office forward your mail, you don't want your final bill sent to someone else... but really, if you did... who cares. May make the story more believable. In my case I had them send my final bill to a friend in California outside their area. The problem is that AT&T is pretty much everywhere that there's phone service. If you have a hard time finding an address that they don't service you may also be able to get them on a technicality if you give them an address that they have service at... but doesn't offer comparable levels of service to what you have now. (or in your case, what they SAY you have). For instance, if you have a 10 Mbps package and the area you're "moving to" only has 1.5 Mbps offered you can tell them that you want to seek comparable service with someone else. They have to let you out of your contract if they can't deliver comparable levels of service at the new address... even if they service the address. Look to rural areas, in the mountains and forests. Use their own website to check the serviceability. Next time you get service with anyone... don't go with a company that has a contract. Unless you're a business you should never be under contract for Internet service. The companies who want to lock you into a contract are usually the weaker choices in terms of speed. If you have cable in your area... you usually can't go wrong. Cable is almost always the best choice in any area. They don't have to put you in a contract because they know that they're the best. Let me put it this way... In my area, if I wanted something comparable to what I have with cable, I'd need to get at least 5 of the fastest DSL connections offered by CenturyLink and combine them. Even if they were both at the same level of speed... cable is superior technology and makes for a more stable connection.

Been watching that topic... I like your quote, I bet they just want you to leave now... because you're asking too many questions. Disturbing the status quo. Or are they helping you in PM? I'd hope they would have responded since Friday. "Oh no Boss, they have a way to test and prove that we're ripping them off now!"

Hi cncdude5x! Welcome to TMN. Check out this post >> WIFI Is slow and sometime not there... Frustrated There's a link at the end entitled "Wireless Fung Shui" - read that too if you have time. It may help you think of a better placement strategy for your router. Being right next to the router, believe it or not, isn't always ideal. Especially if you have interference in the area... could be other wireless devices or it could be a fan sitting next to the router. Seriously. Having said that, if your router is right next to the computer and you can wire it... then wire it. You can get comparable speeds on some AC routers but wired is almost always the best choice. If you have other devices on wifi I'd definitely address the wifi issue first... make sure that your other devices aren't getting degraded speed as well. Then, after wifi has a clean bill of health, if the router is still placed near the computer I'd do ethernet to that computer. I wouldn't even think about it if the option is there. Thanks for the kind words, I've worked very hard to build this site and it means a lot to hear positive feedback. I especially like the insinuation that you hadn't really tested your speed until you came here. I'm glad you found us too. If you like what we're doing help by directing your friends here.

I just wanted to make sure your numbers were comparable between the two tests. Slightly higher one way or another is okay. It raises an alarm if one is much faster than the other. Yours looks great.

Sweet! Glad it's working for you. Curious, what do you get in single thread?