Speed tests, I know! Please bear with me...

Hello, am new to Thinkbroadband, was referred here by my ISP Orange for the speed checker.
Could you please explain why the values for speeds from different checkers vary so much?
I use the Orange Livebox., using speedtest.bt shows:-


Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.
Your DSL connection rate: 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3995 kbps

If I use the thinkbroadband spped checker I get:-
Speed Test Results
Date 20/07/08 14:05:56
Speed Down 3706.42 Kbps ( 3.6 Mbps )
Speed Up 370.66 Kbps ( 0.4 Mbps )
Port 8095
Server speedtest2.adslguide.org.uk
IP Address 84.68.208.149

Using Internetfrog I get:-
Download: 774,112 bps
Upload: 174,768 bps
QOS: 94%
RTT: 176 ms
MaxPause: 136 ms


My Livebox shows the following:-
ADSL firmware version : A2pBT009c1.d17d
Connection mode : G.DMT
Type : Fast
Noise margin (dB) : 14.8
Attenuation (dB) : 12.0
Attainable download rate (kbps) : 10720
ADSL status : Connected [0]

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 8128 448

So, is this good, bad, fair or what? And is there anything I could do to improve it?

Really grateful for words of one syllable answers.
Rich

these show the speed of your connection to the telephone exchange :

Your DSL connection rate: 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 8128 448

which is as fast as an "up to 8M" connection can connect. As one would expect from your low attenuation Attenuation (dB) : 12.0

The IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps limits the test results to a potential 6800 kbits/s or so, perhaps only seen between 0100 and 0700

Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3995 kbps
Speed Down 3706.42 Kbps ( 3.6 Mbps )

are fairly similar and just over half what's possible. This may be a busy time but you might also like to research RWIN and find out what your value is in case it is limiting you (follow link in sig below)

The 8128/448 figures are the speed between your modem and the exchange hardware (downstream/upstream). The other figures are the end to end rates between your PC and the testing web-sites. The end to end speeds depend on lots of factors but are a maximum of 87% of your sync speed (approximately). The better ISPs approach the maximum figures more often.

Your actual speed seem fair rather than good.

Try optimising your pc as the throughput on the connection is at its max 7150kbps.
This should be the speed that you are getting.