Test Broadband or Internet speed and line quality.

Test Broadband or Internet speed and line quality.

Every one would be curious in understanding speed and quality of the internet that you are using.

Speed of the connection is measured in Upload and Download speed.
First we will understand unit of measurement for internet speed.

1 Mbps(megabits per second) = 1000 Kbps(kilobits per second) = 125 KBps(kilobytes per second)

Always pay attention to (b)Bits and (B)Bytes.
Generally service providers(Airtel, Tata Communications, Youtele) measure the speed in  Mbps or Kbps.
When you are downloading the file from the internet, most of the browsers measure the speed in KBps.
Attaching screen shot, where data is getting downloaded at 143 KBps, downloading at the speed of 1.144 Mbps.

Select this link to understand internet speed unit conversions.

Speed over the internet vary greatly from one location to another. Speed of contacting a server in Washington DC and a server in Tokyo would be different, so while calculating the speed, you need to select the nearest server and perform the speed test in order to get accurate results.

Speed Test Mini - Quick way of checking the internet speed. 

Speed Test Mini from www.WhatIsMyIP.com

I have used speedtest.net to calculate the speed, which has the facility to select the servers across the globe. It is free, you can test your connection now. Select "Begin Test" OR select a server in the globe and  select "Begin Test"

You can directly select the location from the screen or if you want to run the test repeatedly, under setting link, make sure you have selected correct "Preferred Server" and "Unit of speed measurement".
Attaching screen shot of the results.

There is "World Results" link on the top of the page that will provide global statics.
These reports will help you understand which internet service provider (ISP) is providing highest band width in your city (I have selected Hyderabad). Attaching the screen shot.

Line Quality can be measured using following items.


Ping - Amount of time taken by packet of data to travel from a computer to another computer and back. Time is measured in Milli seconds, less then 100 is acceptable.

Packet Loss - In internet terminology every communication is sent in terms of packets. Due to noise some packets are lost.

Packet Latency -Delay while receiving the data packets at receiver end.

Jitter - Time difference(variance) while measuring successive ping tests. Zero is good,

I have used pingtest.net to calculate the line quality, it is free you can test your connection now.

You can directly select the location from the screen or if you want to run the test repeatedly, under setting link, make sure you have selected correct "Preferred Server".
Attaching screen shot of the results.

Above concepts are useful in conducting application performance test over the internet, I will explain those in future posts.


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