BT's speedtester

Hi All

When performing a speed test using http://speedtester.bt.com/, where does
the data actually originate from? There's not equipment at the local
exchange is there?

The problem I'm trying to get a solution to is that the BT test repeatedly
shows a download speed of 4250kbps (which is normal for my line), but
thinkbroadband (and others) show speeds which vary from 800-4200kbps. I'm
thinking that the BT side of things is ok, but my ISP is having bandwidth
problems. Does this sound a fair assumption?

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:24:16 +0100, "Grumps"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi All
>
>When performing a speed test using http://speedtester.bt.com/, where does
>the data actually originate from? There's not equipment at the local
>exchange is there?

Hi, I don't have any knowledge of BT's equipment (someone else most
likely will post with further details), but when I used the
speedtester when my BRAS profile got stuck on 2Mbps - I noted that it
is recommended that you reconnect your router using different signon
credentials (speedtest@speedtest_domain) I think.

Also, there was a bt_test@startup_domain - these rule out your ISP,
as they connect you to to various parts of BT's network.
You will note that the IP addresses you get are not in your ISPs
allocation, and are BT's network.
Should your results be significantly lower when connected via your
ISP, then it's *possible* that the ISP has something to do with the
reduced speed.

Regards

Steve

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:24:16 +0100, "Grumps"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi All
>
>When performing a speed test using http://speedtester.bt.com/, where does
>the data actually originate from? There's not equipment at the local
>exchange is there?

No there isn't any equipment of this type at the local exchange. The
speedtester is located at the BRAS "level" - as contention occurs
prior to that on the BT IPStream products.

>The problem I'm trying to get a solution to is that the BT test repeatedly
>shows a download speed of 4250kbps (which is normal for my line), but
>thinkbroadband (and others) show speeds which vary from 800-4200kbps. I'm
>thinking that the BT side of things is ok, but my ISP is having bandwidth
>problems. Does this sound a fair assumption?

Yes. It sounds like your ISP is overcontending their BT Centrals.
--
John Naismith

<SteveC> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:24:16 +0100, "Grumps"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Hi All
>>
>>When performing a speed test using http://speedtester.bt.com/, where does
>>the data actually originate from? There's not equipment at the local
>>exchange is there?
>
> Hi, I don't have any knowledge of BT's equipment (someone else most
> likely will post with further details), but when I used the
> speedtester when my BRAS profile got stuck on 2Mbps - I noted that it
> is recommended that you reconnect your router using different signon
> credentials (speedtest@speedtest_domain) I think.
>
> Also, there was a bt_test@startup_domain - these rule out your ISP,
> as they connect you to to various parts of BT's network.
> You will note that the IP addresses you get are not in your ISPs
> allocation, and are BT's network.
> Should your results be significantly lower when connected via your
> ISP, then it's *possible* that the ISP has something to do with the
> reduced speed.
>
> Regards
>
> Steve

This is probably a very silly question (well, I am blonde) but in the
bt_test@startup_domain is the word "domain" actually used or should it be
(say, for instance) @startup_tiscali.co.uk?

John

John wrote:
> <SteveC> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Also, there was a bt_test@startup_domain - these rule out your ISP,
>> as they connect you to to various parts of BT's network.
>> You will note that the IP addresses you get are not in your ISPs
>> allocation, and are BT's network.
>> Should your results be significantly lower when connected via your
>> ISP, then it's *possible* that the ISP has something to do with the
>> reduced speed.
>
> This is probably a very silly question (well, I am blonde) but in the
> bt_test@startup_domain is the word "domain" actually used or should it be
> (say, for instance) @startup_tiscali.co.uk?

The username is literally "bt_test@startup_domain".

John Naismith wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:24:16 +0100, "Grumps"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> The problem I'm trying to get a solution to is that the BT test repeatedly
>> shows a download speed of 4250kbps (which is normal for my line), but
>> thinkbroadband (and others) show speeds which vary from 800-4200kbps. I'm
>> thinking that the BT side of things is ok, but my ISP is having bandwidth
>> problems. Does this sound a fair assumption?
>
> Yes. It sounds like your ISP is overcontending their BT Centrals.

Overcontending? Depends on their business model. 800kbps is still only
10:1 on upto 8Mbps MAX.

"Paul Cupis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:460acc1d.0@entanet...
> John wrote:
>> <SteveC> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Also, there was a bt_test@startup_domain - these rule out your ISP,
>>> as they connect you to to various parts of BT's network.
>>> You will note that the IP addresses you get are not in your ISPs
>>> allocation, and are BT's network.
>>> Should your results be significantly lower when connected via your
>>> ISP, then it's *possible* that the ISP has something to do with the
>>> reduced speed.
>>
>> This is probably a very silly question (well, I am blonde) but in the
>> bt_test@startup_domain is the word "domain" actually used or should it be
>> (say, for instance) @startup_tiscali.co.uk?
>
> The username is literally "bt_test@startup_domain".

Thanks very much Paul

John

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:13:20 +0100, Paul Cupis <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Overcontending? Depends on their business model. 800kbps is still only
>10:1 on upto 8Mbps MAX.

Indeed, however the contention everyone refers to is really supposed
to happen at the ATM section of BT's network. I suppose it matters not
at all now as there are no contention figures (like the old
20:1/50:1).

Zen at one time said that less than 800kbps on a premium max account
would be considered a fault, but I have no idea whether that was just
them or even whether they still consider this to be true.
--
John Naismith