BandwidthTesting

Speed Testing

If your ISP didn't provide you with your connection speed, then you can either ask your ISP or test your connection. Speed testing is a free, 5 minute test that you run in your web browser to rate your speed.

1. Close Internet Programs - To properly measure speed, you need to close all applications that may be using your bandwidth. This includes Shareaza!
2. Find your Speed- Broadband Reports has generously provided Speed Tests to the public that test from many locations. It records how fast you download a simple file, and how fast you upload it back to them. Click on one of the speed tests and click start.
3. Record the Data - Look at the end of 'Your Download' and jot that speed down. Also, write down the number at the 'Your Upload' Bar.
4. Do it again - Repeat steps 1-3 using a different speed test on the Speed Tests page. For example if you used the 'LinkLine' test just now, you should now try the 'Speakeasy' Test or the 'MegaPath' test. This is a crucial step, so don't skip it.
5. Compile the Numbers - Now you should have two different 'Your Download' and 'Your Upload' numbers. Take the larger numbers in each category and forget the smaller ones (Example - If my download numbers were 752 kbps and 957 kbps, I'd take 957 kbps). Do the same for the upload results.
6. Analyze the Results - Your Download number is your 'Inbound' or 'Incoming' connection speed and your Upload number is your 'Outbound' or 'Outgoing' speed. Now, if you would like to configure Shareaza, you should be sure you don't put those number in there directly, since Shareaza would take up all of your speed, leaving none for you to surf the internet or check eMail. So, you should put ~80% or so of each number into Shareaza, giving a lot of preformance, but some bandwidth left over.