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Test Your Modem's Throughput
Test your dialup, ISDN, DSL or Cable modem for download throughput (data flow rate), in bits per second measurements.
There is some confusion as to what the difference is between your connect speed and your throughput rate and what the meaning of "baudrate" is.
The connect speed, which is often displayed by mousing-over the Dialup Networking icon in your Windows System Tray, or as indicated by your ISP's sign-on screen, is only valid at the moment when the connection is established.
Throughput, a variable, is the actual data flow rate, in bits per second at any given moment. It is a fluid measurement that varies depending on instant changes in phone, satellite or cable line conditions, web server loads, the compressibility of the files being uploaded or downloaded and the networking configuration of your operating system and any external modem that feeds the Internet signal to your computer(s).
The term baudrate or baud was used in the past by telegraph companies and by manufacturers of facsimile machines and older dialup fax-data modems, to indicate their maximum data transmission rates. The word "Baud" was named for Jean-Maurice-Emile Baudot, the inventor of the Baudot telegraph code in the late 19th century, and was originally a unit of telegraph signalling speed, set at one Morse code dot per second. What baud really refers to is modulation rate (the MO in MOdem), or the number of times per second that a line changes state. The term baud is sometimes misused to refer to "bits per second" (bps), which is the "data rate". Baudrate coincides with bits per second only for two-level modulation with no framing or stop bits. In modern modem technology one "Baud" may contain many signal bits, using special compression and coding techniques to increase throughput.
Read all about the issues affecting your baudrate in Modems 101
There are links below to various sizes of test files, with low compressibility (for accuracy), which can be used to measure your modem's throughput. These test files range from a tiny 15KB, which is best used to test dialup modems that are running at very slow speeds (28000 baud and under), up to 1MB, for testing DSL and cable modems. You should do muliple re-tests with the smaller files to get an average rating of your throughput, and one or two tests with the larger ones. The larger files will smooth out minor speed bumps and give a more accurate reading.
If you know all of this jump to the test links.
If the speed test results indicate consistently low throughput, you may benefit from a tweaking of your modem settings. If you want to try tweaking your modem yourself, there are many online sources of information available. Search Google, MSN or Yahoo under the keywords modem tweaking. For example, you can learn more about tweaking your modem settings, and the various initialization codes for different brands of modems, at Modemsite.com.
Dialup modem users can also benefit by signing up with one of the various accelerated Internet services (listed below the test links), that speed up the delivery of graphics and web pages, with improvements up to five times the normal speed of display being achieved by some users.
Select one of the links below to test your modem. Use the 15kb (less accurate, but quick), 50 kb or 100 kb files to test dialup modems, and the 250 kb, 500 kb, or 1 mb files to test DSL and cable modems. Please note that a Javascript enabled browser is required for running and measuring these tests. Remember to hit the "Retest" button on the test pages to obtain an average baudrate.
If the reports vary widely each time, or are consistently very low, you will probably benefit from a modem tweak.
Read this note first if you are using a web accelerator, or accelerated ISP:
Our tests require that you get a fresh test page everytime you run or rerun a speed test, and we have added certain codes to try to make that happen.
While these codes usually ensure that you will get a fresh result everytime with a standard (non-accelerated) ISP and typical browser settings, the same is not true for people using accelerated web services.
These services or programs work by caching (saving a copy) of the web pages you visit in a special (non-standard) folder on your harddrive and in their own remote web caches, which prevents our tests from giving you a realistic readout, especially if you rerun the test or revisit the same page.
This will cause your reported baudrate to show as much higher than it actually is, possibly even indicating "infinite baudrate."
If your ISP offers a means of disabling the accelerator we recommend doing so before running the speed tests.
Close this and proceed to test links.
If you don't use a web page caching service, but you find that you are not getting a fresh page when you try to run a test, your browser is probably the culprit. It is probably saving the test pages to your hard disk (caching). To change your browser's caching behavior you should go to its options, or preferences, and change the cache settings to "check for a newer version every time" a page is requested. Show me how to change my browser's cache settings. You can always change them back after the tests.
- Changing your browser's Cache settings:
- If you are using Internet Explorer, with a browser open go to the top menu item Tools. Under Tools, move down and click on Internet Options. Under the General tab click on the button in the Temporary Internet Files section, labeled Settings. Click the selection at the top labeled "Every visit to the page." Click OK twice and you are ready to browse web pages without comparing them the your browser's cache files.
- Other browsers may have their Cache control settings under the Edit or Tools menu item, in Options or Preferences > Advanced > Cache. If there is an option like "Every time I view the page" select it while running these tests. This should give a fresh result each time. Hide these details and go on to the test links.
Test page links:
Dialup modem tests:
Use this 15kb testfirst, for slow or problematic dialup modems (up to V90/V92).
Use this 50kb file to test typical dialup modems (up to V90/V92) (more accurate).
Use this 100kb link to test fast V90/92 or ISDN modems (very accurate, but takes longer to load).
Broadband modem tests
Use this 250kb test file for extremely accurate V90/92 readings (have a coffee), or for slow speed DSL modems - below 384 kbps.
Use this 500kb link to test medium speed DSL (768 kbps), or heavily loaded cable modems, using a 500 KB file.
Please use only twice in 1 day, to conserve my bandwidth. Thanks!
Use this 1mb link to test high speed DSL, or cable modems, for more accurate results.
Please use only once in 1 day, to conserve my bandwidth. Thanks!
Want a second opinion? Try using our Bandwidth Meter Test.
Read all about the issues affecting your baudrate, in Modems 101.
Accelerated Dialup ISP and busy phone line solutions:
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Broadband ISP solutions:
Want more speed than you are getting on dialup? Verizon now offers broadband Internet Service over your phone line, at download speeds ranging from 8 to 50 times faster, and uploads from 3 to 20 times faster than dial-up ISPs, depending on your distance from the DSL remote terminal or sub-station. Verizon Online DSL offers unlimited high-speed Internet Services plans starting at just $17.99/mo (768 kbps/128 kbps), which includes a cable modem at no extra charge, based on a 1 year agreement ... about the same as you are now paying for your slow speed dial-up connection.
Verizon's most popular DSL package features download rates up to 3 mbps and uploads reaching 768 kbps, depending on your distance from the remote terminal nearest your location, priced at $29.99/mo. with the first month FREE. Annual plans now have rates as low as only $12.99/mo. (months 2-6), then $17.99/mo. (months 7-12), with your first month FREE, when ordered online through our links. This is about the same cost as your average 56k dialup ISP. Higher speed plans are available at a higher monthly rates, depending on your distance from the nearest Remote Terminal.
The owner of this website is a DSL customer (annual plan) and can vouch for it's speed and consistancy of high speed connectivity. Check here to see if Verizon DSL service is available in your area, and what speed ranges they can offer you.
If you are fortunate enough to live in an area that uses Verizon Fiber Optic Cable, brace yourself for the new, blazing fast, Verizon FiOS Internet Service. Get connection speeds ranging from 5 Mbps up to 30 Mbps! Get the 1st month free when you order online.
If DSL is not available at your location, but Comcast Cable is, they can provide you with Broadband Internet Service download speeds of 4 to 6 MB; over 70 times faster than dial-up, and 3 to 6 Times Faster Than DSL!
Comcast's blazing-fast 100% Pure Broadband™ brings you scorching speeds through a connection that's always on. Plus, it comes with tons of special features like click-and-play video clips, exciting games, Disney kids' activities, digital music and so much more. In addition, you get a total of 175MB of online storage for your photos or other files.
Comcast is currently running this special deal: High Speed, always on, Cable Internet Service, including a Free Wireless Router & Cable Modem AND $$$ Cash Back, for only $19.99/mo. for 6 months.Order Now from Comcast.
More Cable and DSL speed tests can be found at dsl-providers-internet-access.com DSL Modem Tests
Compare and choose from the top 20 Broadband ISPs, with the click of a mouse
Thank you for visiting Wizcrafts website and for making use of our modem test tools. If you have comments or questions about your throughput results, or wish to hire us to assist you with your modem problems on a personal basis, please use our Comments and Inquiries Form. Our Rates are on this page.
Use Google to search the Web for answers to your questions about modem problems and tweaking.
