Differing speed test results

Last week I did a speed test on my FTTC 60/20Mbps broadband using speedtest.net and I got a download speed of 24Mbps which sort of worried me, thinking that my ISP has reduced my speed because of Covid-19 but then I did a test using fast.com and it showed my speed as 64Mbps.
I have done a few other speed tests on other sites and this is the downloads they give me:
mybroadbandspeed.co.uk 64Mbps
thinkbroadband.co.uk 43Mbps
uswitch.com 55Mbps

I'm on a desktop pc connected using ethernet cable on latest Firefox browser.
I have also tested using Chrome and Edge with nearly the same results.
Is there something wrong with my router, pc, or maybe speedtest.net?
BTW I am getting 64Mbps on WIFI all the time
Thanks for any advice.

"BTW I am getting 64Mbps on WIFI all the time" What is saying you are getting 64 Mbps all the time?

A link to the thinkbroadband test might be useful since the graphs can hold more info than just the single figure.

Reasons for difference may be a mixture of maths and variable performance of the connection

Hi Mr Saffron,

How do I link the test?

Is this it?

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/15867670765...

MrSaffron,

Sorry missed the first part of your question.

I'm using the WIFI on my iphone of course not on my pc and the speeds are usually between 55 and 64Mbps.

The graphs are not pretty, very few samples and fairly high latency.

How is the PC connected via an Ethernet cable or its own wireless,

The same speed test will also run on your phone in the browser, so doing that would be a comparison. If the phone gives better looking graphs e.g. https://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/15867161275... which is similar speeds but notice how once test reaches top speed it stays there and the graphs have a lot more data points.

So if phone gives decent graphs you might be looking at a slow PC, or poor wireless card in the PC e.g. 802.11n only or something is busy using the CPU on the PC e.g. anti virus scan slowing it down.

Speed test on my iPhone is 63Mbps

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/15867734938...

I’m connected via Ethernet on my computer

I think maybe there’s a problem with the network card.
I haven’t got WiFi on it.

So the speeds are good/as expected using your iPhone ?

Then the issue seems likely to be due to something with the desktop itself. Antivirus software maybe ?

In reply to a post by ukmexicano:

I’m connected via Ethernet on my computer

What is the computer? Windows (10, 8, 7) or Mac ?
Do you have another Ethernet cable you could swap to see if the cable is faulty?

Windows 10 pro with latest updates . Using windows defender No other av

Ethernet cable swapped Friday with same results

Btw upload speed is ok at around 16Mbps That hasn’t dropped it’s still within the 20Mbps limit The only problem is the download speed

Edited by deleted (Mon 13-Apr-20 12:37:43)

ukmexicano

Have you got Onedrive, Google Docs, BT Cloud, other remote backup storage etc. It looks like your PC is doing something else while you are testing. (Even being logged into Google or Microsoft can effect the speed as they have a horrible tendency to track everything you do. ( Likewise Alexa, Siro, Cortana etc)

Planet hunters or other volunteer search programs will also have the same effect.

In reply to a post by ukmexicano:

Btw upload speed is ok at around 16Mbps That hasn’t dropped it’s still within the 20Mbps limit The only problem is the download speed

Great! Windows 10 has the Task Manager, you can get this by right click the bar at the bottom, or you can press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to bring it up.

Once you have task manager, click on the Performance tab, and click on the Ethernet option, you should see a screen like this: https://i.imgur.com/af9z6Ei.png - this will show if you computer is downloading or sending something, and the speed, in the text on the lower right corner. My example shows Send 0 kbs and Receive 24 kbps which is nothing.

If you can keep this open and try to download a large file from Thinkbroadband, e.g.one of the very large files from this page: https://www.thinkbroadband.com/download

I'm not using any of those apps mentioned except Microsoft. As my pc is running on Windows OS then I have no choice about being signed in to Microsoft.

But as mentioned in my first message I'm only getting the low download speed when I use speedtest.net

Should I just stop using speedtest.net and only use one of the others? Which one is correct?

Ok I’ve downloaded a file from thinkbroadbank and the task manager showed 57Mbps download speed. So that confirms that there is something wrong with speed test.net?

You could download Speedtest.net as an app on your iPhone ... if it’s all good on that, then again, it’s the PC.

It seems OK for me when I test like that

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/i/3821196518

It shows 65Mbps on my iPhone on WiFi. So I guess there really is something wrong with my network card. I can’t swap it cause it’s intergrated with my mb. Any suggestions on buying a fairly cheap WiFi dongle so I can get my 60Mbps download speed?

You have done a file download and speeds look good, so unless there is something in terms of your use of the PC that is bad then I'd hang back from spending money.

I have no choice about being signed in to Microsoft.

Running Windows does not require you to sign in to Microsoft. I have a number of PCs and laptops here all running Windows 10 (a couple still running Win 7) and none are signed in to Microsoft.

I can't see that anyone else has mentioned it, but if it were me I'd check on the PC's NIC drivers and install any available updates. If that didn't help I'd delete the device in Win Device Manager and then re-boot. Not saying it will work, but it won't do any harm.

In reply to a post by MCM:

I have no choice about being signed in to Microsoft.

Running Windows does not require you to sign in to Microsoft. I have a number of PCs and laptops here all running Windows 10 (a couple still running Win 7) and none are signed in to Microsoft.

Same here, but you must admit MS do a very hard sell on using an MS Account to log in to windows, and the other options are in small print

Yeah I know, create and use a local account instead and just switch to the admin account whenever I need any Microsoft stuff. But staying logged in wouldn't really interfere with the download speed too much?!
As I said my speed problems only began about 10 days ago before that it was going to 60Mbps just like the WIFI speed.
I've deleted the NIC driver and re-installed it too but still nothing.
As I said maybe get an external WIFI dongle and try that to get 60Mbps like my iphone?

The admin account is no different, you do not need to sign in to Microsoft, it can be a local account and you don't have to be signed in to obtain Windows Updates. Of course you can't use the Microsoft Store but then I've yet to meet anyone who does. Similarly there's no need to either run or use OneDrive all the time.

In reply to a post by MCM:

The admin account is no different, you do not need to sign in to Microsoft, it can be a local account and you don't have to be signed in to obtain Windows Updates. Of course you can't use the Microsoft Store but then I've yet to meet anyone who does.

Actually you can, because you can sign in locally to each "modern app" including the store. I've found a couple of free games in there, and Windows Subsystem for Linux is in the store.

Similarly there's no need to either run or use OneDrive all the time.

Unless you want to / have an Office 365 subscription which gives a lot of space.

Actually you can, because you can sign in locally to each "modern app" including the store

Thanks for that. In truth I've never tried to sign in to the store as I'never felt the urge to look for anything it might contain. Being long pretty long in the tooth I've never felt the need for any of what Microsoft refers to as "modern apps" despite having been a Microsoft Windows MVP during the naughties.

In reply to a post by MCM:

Thanks for that. In truth I've never tried to sign in to the store as I'never felt the urge to look for anything it might contain. Being long pretty long in the tooth I've never felt the need for any of what Microsoft refers to as "modern apps" despite having been a Microsoft Windows MVP during the naughties.

As an NT4 MCSE, I'm positively ancient, but I found the game Lemmings in there for free earlier! The new Windows Terminal which looks quite impressive as an alternative SSH or Powershell console is also in beta in the store.

OT, my apologies to the OP
I must grab a copy of the new MS Windows Terminal and give it a spin although I'm no longer up for much in the way of beta testing. I've done my fair share over the years having used and programmed computers daily since first using one as a final year undergrad 55 years ago.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

You have done a file download and speeds look good, so unless there is something in terms of your use of the PC that is bad then I'd hang back from spending money.

Hi,

I would agree with MrSaffron. However I have a couple of USB 3 Gigabit adapters that I use that are, IMHO, excellent. I got them from Amazon. This could be a good alternative to wireless. Might even get faster than your phone....

HTH,

had same kind of issue with my grandsons laptop,it would only use slower 2.4Ghz band and only got about 30mb with the internal network card,so bought a tp-link archer t3u(ac 1300)dongle,now he gets over well 200mb,cost £21 from amazon,and came next day(last week)

I like your suggestion mking. I found 2 that I like the look of, can you tell me which would be better, as you seem to have the experience with these things?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YOKMKE6/ref=a...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rankie-Network-Adapter-Giga...

Sorry Steve but I don't like those thumbnail USB adapters.

Hi,

The first one is similar in spec to the one I use but I can't say without actually using it. The second link didn't work and as such I can't say if it's any good.

HTH,

Does this work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010SEARPU/ref=o...

Also sorry but: I guess they're both backwards compatible to USB 2.0?

Edited by deleted (Mon 13-Apr-20 18:19:29)

In reply to a post by ukmexicano:

I like your suggestion mking. I found 2 that I like the look of, can you tell me which would be better, as you seem to have the experience with these things?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YOKMKE6/ref=a...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rankie-Network-Adapter-Giga...

Sorry Steve but I don't like those thumbnail USB adapters.

if you have usb 3 you can get the full potential 1gb(more infact),if you have only usb 2 most you can ever get is about 400-480mb,usb 1 down to 12mb

In reply to a post by ukmexicano:

Does this work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010SEARPU/ref=o...

Also sorry but: I guess they're both backwards compatible to USB 2.0?

yes they will be

I'm only signed up to 80/20 so I'll be happy to get 60Mbps or 65Mbps like I get on my iphone

Hi,

The link works. I did use it but had to return it as it didn't work. Can't remember what was wrong with it but I think it didn't work at gigabit speed. IMHO I would stick with the Amazon Basic that I use. I can not fault it in the least. Definitely worth the money. So good I bought 2 which mean something in my book.

HTH,

OK mking so the TP-Link is it
Thanks