We live in a condo and have no choice on our internet service provider (we used to have choice, and we had and individual contract with comcast and were quite happy, but the board decided to provide internet to all and the new provider disconnected our comcast).
Anyway, service is awful. Every time we get a service appt we are told our service is actually great (ha!) because they run a speedtest that shows how great they are. They also use this same service to convince, repeatedly, our board that they are meeting service requirements.
But, it's horrible. I know just enough about networking to be slightly more than ignorant. ;-) We do need consistent connection for work, and that simply doesn't exist anymore (and neither of us have computers with ethernet connectivity, bleh!). However, we're using ethernet connection for our TVs, but even that is spotty - trying to stream a movie at night is horribly frustrating. Basically, we can't have multiple devices utilizing bandwidth at the same time, so we are constantly censoring our usage, which is not ideal, especially working remote.
I ran 4 basic speedtests -testmynet, google, fast.com and speedtest.net (service provider utilizes this one). As you can see in the screen shots, the first three show approx the same result - speedtest.net is the outlier, but also, interestingly, speedtest.net is defaulting to a direct connection TO our service provider (Network Communications). If I change the server on speedtest.net, then I get results in line with the other three (11.7 this morning on download - not shown in the screen shots, though.) Also note, I ran these sitting about 4 feet from the router. If I move, it drops to about 2-5 Mbps. We do have two separate routers - one for upstairs and one for downstairs. Both have similar speeds, though.
When I mentioned this to our rep I was told that the only true test was using speedtest with their server (and they've told some board members and our GM this as well, which makes it difficult for me to debate since this is the narrative everyone is using).
So, can someone help me with my ignorance on this? I don't know enough to credibly argue, but intuitively, this seems like total BS to me? Our connectivity isn't always routing to "their server", right? So seems to me that a true measure of speed shouldn't be predicated on just that. Or am I wrong? Help!
Thanks!
Anyway, service is awful. Every time we get a service appt we are told our service is actually great (ha!) because they run a speedtest that shows how great they are. They also use this same service to convince, repeatedly, our board that they are meeting service requirements.
But, it's horrible. I know just enough about networking to be slightly more than ignorant. ;-) We do need consistent connection for work, and that simply doesn't exist anymore (and neither of us have computers with ethernet connectivity, bleh!). However, we're using ethernet connection for our TVs, but even that is spotty - trying to stream a movie at night is horribly frustrating. Basically, we can't have multiple devices utilizing bandwidth at the same time, so we are constantly censoring our usage, which is not ideal, especially working remote.
I ran 4 basic speedtests -testmynet, google, fast.com and speedtest.net (service provider utilizes this one). As you can see in the screen shots, the first three show approx the same result - speedtest.net is the outlier, but also, interestingly, speedtest.net is defaulting to a direct connection TO our service provider (Network Communications). If I change the server on speedtest.net, then I get results in line with the other three (11.7 this morning on download - not shown in the screen shots, though.) Also note, I ran these sitting about 4 feet from the router. If I move, it drops to about 2-5 Mbps. We do have two separate routers - one for upstairs and one for downstairs. Both have similar speeds, though.
When I mentioned this to our rep I was told that the only true test was using speedtest with their server (and they've told some board members and our GM this as well, which makes it difficult for me to debate since this is the narrative everyone is using).
So, can someone help me with my ignorance on this? I don't know enough to credibly argue, but intuitively, this seems like total BS to me? Our connectivity isn't always routing to "their server", right? So seems to me that a true measure of speed shouldn't be predicated on just that. Or am I wrong? Help!
Thanks!