internet (city) speed tests

[Dabbler]

I have been in a unique situation the past few days. I have both Telus and Shaw (Rogers) internet hooked up at home, before I cancel one. I also have 2 types of VPNs. Here is my raw data for speed tests at my house.

... just a word, notice how much variance there is between tests. Telus has always inflated both download and upload speeds, for instance (has for years). That is why I do multiple tests. Each test was done until I got 2 consecutive results that were very close, in case of momentary congestion.

The colour code for the speed test name is: pink-low reliability, Blue- a good test, and green - the most consistent real world tests I can find.

 

[Susquatch]

I used to do this a bit differently.

If we are testing my provider, I like to manually select a speed test site that is close. Once the data gets beyond their control (usually the first server in the chain, it's not fair to rate your provider based on things outside their control.

I almost always do a trace route so I can see where the data is going. Again, this is to remove misleading results.

Many providers detect speed tests and give you higher priority. So I also time my own uploads and downloads without using a speed test server. These results outweigh speed test results and when dickered with count against them significantly.

I also test at different times on different days.

I do an average like you do, but I do not rule out flyers. They become high and low limits instead.

Final note - I would pay a kings ransom to have your worst result.....

 

[jcdammeyer]

I cancelled Shaw (Rogers) today. The difference between Telus fibre and what I was using with Shaw was quite remarkable. I'm supposed to have 1 Gbps download and upload but so far only measured close to 300 but that's in both directions. Shaw never got above about 15 in the uploads. So now I'm finally able to backup huge folders to box.com and it goes so fast.

At the moment I suspect either my existing router or one of the switches in the network is slowing things down. A proper speed test would only the the PC connected directly to the router which connects to the Nokia Fibre interface.

It's amazing how quickly and how low an offer came back from Shaw once I told them I already had Telus fibre running everything.

 

[Dabbler]

I used to do this a bit differently.

I do understand the exactness of separating what the provider is giving at raw line speeds, but I deliberately chose this approach:

1) the provider is giving much, much more than just a line with a certain speed. They have to have multiple gateways that provide a window onto the internet. The blue and green speed tests were all from servers in Calgary for the non-VPN tests. The VPN tests had servers all local to the portal, except for Rogers - they stubbornly served the test from Winnipeg, no matter where I was testing from as a VPN portal.

2) I initiated this move and exhaustive speed tests precisely because Shaw/Rogers has been very poorly performing when I am using a VPN. I suspect it has to do with the gateways they are using, rather than them nefariously slowing down VPN traffic over all.

3) I use these and-to-end tests to simulate normal internet traffic, and the entire suite of tests are all done in the same time, usually taking 20 minutes per pass. If more than 2 tests have a wide variance in susbsequent runs, all the test results are thrown out, and I retry a little later.

I think this is the fairest, open (real world) speed testing I can think of at the moment.

4) This all came about when the Rogers takeover of Shaw resulted in all the Shaw and Rogers cell phone towers being taken out of service in the West, and the very poor performance as a result. My cell phone went for crap, so I changed providers. If they were consolodating and saving money on phone, it was reasonable to check my internet performance . Tests showed that my internet speed had gone down from 89Mbps. Hence the sign up, and A/B speed tests.

 

[JustaDB]

I've got an irreconcilable hate for anything Telus. While that does limit my options some, they'll never see another dime of my money. We've been on Shaw for decades, love 'em or not. It's been a long time since I ran any speed tests so I couldn't even speculate what ours are. That said, last I checked, they weren't anywhere near even your worst case numbers.

 

[djberta]

I've got an irreconcilable hate for anything Telus. While that does limit my options some, they'll never see another dime of my money. We've been on Shaw for decades, love 'em or not. It's been a long time since I ran any speed tests so I couldn't even speculate what ours are. That said, last I checked, they weren't anywhere near even your worst case numbers.

I will never deal with Telus ever. Period.
2018 my dads profile including all financial information defrauded, including an attempt to change his name with equifax. Fraud investigation by rcmp pointed to Telus. Telus refused to cooperate. Citing, Fiop, even with my dad petitioning.
2023. My best man and his wife are defrauded, losing their savings. Even having a false mortgage against their home. Took months to sort out. Luckily they caught it in time.
2024 a family freind of ours. Widow. Lost her farm, all her savings and her retirement due to being defrauded. She did not catch it in time. She now lives out of a 30 year old van.

In each case it was found that the very initial fraud started from Telus. Not a third party or scam. The leak came from Telus directly. Telus refused to cooperate with police in each case. This is my dad, my best man and a close family friend. I will never use Telus or any of their products. Google Telus f-d me.