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How can I test that I am downloading at my correct speed?

There are many speed tests of varying accuracy available on the Internet.

However, a simple and more accurate way to test your bandwidth is to simultaneously download three or four very large files from UK websites, such as those given on the left, and monitor the result with a Traffic Monitor programme, called NetMeter. NetMeter is a small, customizable network bandwidth monitoring program for Windows.

Slow connection?NetMeter will allow the real-time monitoring of your download speeds in the form of a constantly updated on-screen graph. After installing NetMeter, click on each Download Test File link in turn and select the option to save the file to disk.

(There is no need to worry about filling up your disk with unwanted programme files; when you have checked your true download speed with NetMeter for a minute of so, you can cancel each of the downloads in turn.)

The resulting simultaneous downloads will give you a more reliable indication of the total bandwidth available; one which will not be affected by slow websites or servers, or international congestion.

Bear in mind that the advertised bandwidth may not be the maximum achievable. Typical maximum download/upload speeds are given below:

ADSL Speed

Typical Download

Typical Upload

512 Kbps

460 Kbps

200-240 Kbps

1 Mbps

920 Kbps

200-240 Kbps

2 Mbps

1840 Kbps

200-240 Kbps

8 Mbps

7300 Kbps

400-756 Kbps

NOTE: MaxDSL and 'up to 8Mbps' products may report varied downstream speeds depending on how fast your line can actually connect. Upstream speeds may vary with rate adaptation. Other factors may affect the reported speed including ISP network congestion and shared users/programs on your connection.

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