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Broadband ADSL Connection Tips article

Mel

0
6. Run a “BT” speedtest.
<snip>

http://speedtester.bt.com

It is also possible to exclude your ISP’s network from the test by temporarily switching your username to “speedtest@speedtest_domain” and reconnecting. Once complete you should attempt to visit the same webpage again and run the test. The results could help to diagnose how much of an impact your ISP has on the connection.

Remember, this is only useful if you’re running off an ISP that utilises BT Wholesale’s ADSL network, not unbundled (LLU) ISP’s or different broadband technologies (satellite etc.).


Mark,

The above will only work with fixed rate connections.

Also, it might be a good idea to provide a link with the tests IP address in case the user has his DNS servers configured manually (as only BT's DNS servers will be accessible while connected with the test login).


On ADSL Max connections, I understand that if you connect using the @speedtest_domain login, thehttp://speedtester.bt.com test will refuse to run and instruct you to reconnect with your normal login, unless you have been instructed to use the test login, having got a fail (<400kbps I think) in test1 with your normal login and a second fail in test2 (bt_test_user@your_isp_domain login ) and haven't navigated away from the test page.


Perfomance tester handbook or end user version here

It is possible to run the old fixed rate test on IPstream Max connections while connected using the @speedtest_domain login (or the startup@startup_domain login ) by using a direct link to the old BT speedtest below.

http://217.35.209.142:50302/cgi-bin/home.page.pl

The old fixed rate test is probably less accurate than the new test, but it should be good enough to confirm if a speed issue is cured by bypassing the ISP.

As I've never been on max, I've not had the opportunity to look for a way of skipping the first two parts of the new test if you connection is very slow but not awful enough to fail test 1 & 2. :)
 
Last edited:
Excellent info. thanks Mel, didn't spot that at all.

Last time I needed to exclude my ISP for the test was on an older 1Mbps link.
 
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