BT speedtester

I've just run a BT speedtest, rubbish result as usual, but the list of items you now have to say "Yes" to before you can proceed is interesting:

Step 1:- Ensure your computer is plugged into the Broadband line to be tested.This speedtester will not work on iPads/Tablets,smartphones or other mobile devices.
Step 2:- Ensure your computer is directly connected to your modem/router via an Ethernet Connection (i.e. not via a wireless or powerline adapters).
Step 3:- Ensure that any wireless adaptor in your computer is switched off.
Step 4:- Close any programs that may be running on your computer.This in cludes any background programs such as anti-virus software (such as Norton McAfee, or NetProtect+) corporate VPN or Peer2Peer client.(Please ensure you re enable any anti-virus software after you have finished testing).
Step 5:-Reboot your modem/router by powering it off,waiting one minute,and then powering it up again.Wait for any lights on the modem router to stabilise before the starting the test.
Step 6:-Restart your browser.
Step 7:-Ensure that no other people or devices(eg. broadband-connecterd TV set-top box) are using the broadband line to be tested.
Step 8:-Ensure the 10 day stabilisation period has completed before reporting any suspected fault-this is how long it can take for your Broadband to train to its optimal speed.
Step 9:-For fibre customers please run the Beta test first (right-hand column below),ensuring you use the correct test for your line speed.

Please confirm that you have carried out the above steps. The speed tester may report an inaccurate result by failure to comply with the above.

Note number 8... the words "left and right hand" come to mind

I noticed the new wording earlier this evening. Wondering if this has has anything to do with the inconsistent and inaccurate results it has been giving recently and in particular the FTTC results.

See they are also recommending that you use the Beta tester for FTTC/P connections.

Edited by nelix01 (Thu 26-Apr-12 20:40:55)

It seems more to me¹ as though they're giving themselves as many reasons as they can think of to blame the user for poor performance.

Most of the things on there won't make the slightest difference, let alone a result of 2Mbps on an 80/20 line that I've just had



¹ Cynic? Moi? Naah...

there just trying to make it more difficult for end users to complain about speeds. basically buying time fore the poor network

I've had 80/20 for almost 3 months now and never had a decent test result using the vanilla tester. The Beta tester almost always gives me a result of 75Mbps.

Same here, I really don't see the point of the BT tester in its current form as it is totally incapable of giving sensible results; I get anything from 0 upwards on it and seems completely arbitrary. Yet this is the "official" tester.

Yes, the beta works OK for me, but it doesn't tell you what your IP profile is- I'm usually more interested to see what might have happened to that than in the speed.

I suppose it's the first step to blocking access to profile information

Edited by billford (Thu 26-Apr-12 21:05:41)

So in non-BT speak...

4. Please stop your anti-virus software (who needs it anyway, there aren't that many Chinese teenagers looking at hacking your ebay account. It'll be perfectly safe switching it off - we're BT, you can trust what we say).
5. Please reboot your Home Hub (as we all know how flaky they are).

They forgot 9,10 & 11...

9. Please power down the cheap Chinese modem and let it cool down for a few hours.
10. Please do a beta test to get your download speed (because the normal one is rubbish with FTTC).
11. Please do a normal test to get your upload speed (because the beta test is rubbish with FTTC uploads and often returns a figure around 40% of your actual speed).

Oh and 12...

12. Please forgot about speedtesters, they're all rubbish anyway. Just do a multi-thread download (using a download manager program) if you really want to know your download speed.

In reply to a post by billford:

Yes, the beta works OK for me,

Clearly the beta test isn't subject to whatever throttling and shaping BT are imposing at the moment (as it's giving a true download result of 74Mbps when all the other speedtesters get around 4-8Mbps).

In reply to a post by billford:

but it doesn't tell you what your IP profile is- I'm usually more interested to see what might have happened to that than in the speed.

I'm guessing it's just a regular java based speedtest (but one which bypasses BT throttling) and they haven't yet bothered to link it to the number database to give the profile figure (hoping they'll add it if it ever goes beyond beta - which would be gamma; no?).

I've not had any speed issues so far but have unlocked my spare modem today so I can keep an eye on the sync rates.

My line is due to go 80/20 on the 9th, but looking at the stats it will be more like 54/17 and probably start dropping as the cabinet starts to fill up.

Lets hope I never have to use the BT Speedtester. A pilots pre-flight checklist is probably less traumatic!