A week ago, I purchased a ZyXEL C1100Z ADSL/VDSL modem, that I'm very happy with, from a
CenturyLink store. Although this modem connects at about 95% of the maximum speed of my
T1.413 ADSL connection, my connection feels considerably faster when I'm surfing the web than
with the other modems that I've owned! Not only that, but the Internet speed tests that I've
performed support this observation! Now, for my questions:
1) With all of my previous modems, the cnet.com speed test has the slowest results, typically
about 4.4Mbps download, which is over 1Mbps slower than the other speed tests. However, with
my C1100Z, it's the runaway winner and I've seen nearly 8Mbps download speeds with this test!
Note that the results of the tests here on speedguide.net are over 2Mbps slower than cnet.com.
Why do my new modem and CNET work better together than the other modems that I've owned?
2) The CNET speed test download results are faster than the Downstream Rate, which is currently
6816Kbps, shown on my modem's Connection Status web screen. How is this possible?
Can anybody explain these anomalies?
Thanks!
DeepDiver
I have two questions about Internet speed tests!
All web speed tests will show different results, depending on the server capacity at the moment, congestion on the line between you and the test server, distance, time of day, etc.
The SG speed test will only show the speed of a single connection to one test server. Some other sites employ multiple connections, etc. I suggest using speedtest.net for a somewhat reliable web-based speed testing.
It is possible that your connection syncs at slightly higher rate than what your ISP advertises, they may be downplaying the actual speed to avoid complaints. It could also be due to catching on the way to you, etc.
The SG speed test will only show the speed of a single connection to one test server. Some other sites employ multiple connections, etc. I suggest using speedtest.net for a somewhat reliable web-based speed testing.
It is possible that your connection syncs at slightly higher rate than what your ISP advertises, they may be downplaying the actual speed to avoid complaints. It could also be due to catching on the way to you, etc.
I believe that this issue is more complicated than you think since I'm too far away from the Central OfficePhilip wrote:It is possible that your connection syncs at slightly higher rate than what your ISP advertises, they may be downplaying the actual speed to avoid complaints. It could also be due to catching on the way to you, etc.
to have a downstream speed faster than 7060Kbps, because my Downstream Attenuation is 39.5db!
What explanation is there for the over 3Mbps speed increase with the CNET servers, compared to the
Actiontec C1000A modem that I was using a few days ago?
Although I'm very happy with the performance of my new C1100Z modem, I can't account for the improvement
that I'm experiencing! My instincts tell me that whatever caused the CNET speed test results to dramatically
improve is also boosting the speed of my daily web activity. My results have lead me to believe that
there's more to speed of my DSL connection than the Downstream Speed that my modem has synced at.
I look forward to the day when CenturyLink upgrades their network here to ADSL2Plus!
What is your speed when using speedtest.net (both from a server close to you, and a distant one). Does the modem show actual downstream attenuation and sync rate, what is it syncing at ? (the attenuation can vary btw)
Different modems may be setup differently.. For example they all allow for some type of fluctuation in the signal, and the smaller this tolerance is, the higher rate they sync at.
Ultimately, if you are happy and getting good speeds, don't change anything, enjoy !
Different modems may be setup differently.. For example they all allow for some type of fluctuation in the signal, and the smaller this tolerance is, the higher rate they sync at.
Ultimately, if you are happy and getting good speeds, don't change anything, enjoy !
Since I'm an insomniac, I often wake-up at 1-2AM and I use this as an opportunity to experiment with my
DSL connection! During this morning's episode, I got my new C1100Z to sync-at 7136/896Kbps, which is
the fastest speed that I've ever seen! My modem won't be able to hold this speed during prime time later
today, but I like the fact that I hit a new record!
Here are the results of some speed tests with this temporarily screaming fast connection:
123facts.com: 4849/617Kbps
speedguide.net: 4849/373Kbps
mcvps/waw.pl: 4215/676Kbps
speedguide.net2: 6067/681Kbps
centurylink.com: 5000/1160Kbps
cnet.com: 7240Kbps
This isn't the first time that I've observed an inverse-correlation between the speed that my modem synced-at
and the results of my speed tests! Maybe the network in my area is less congested than the wide area network?
Here's an update:
According to my modem's DSL Status web page, at 6:17AM this morning my connection reset and the download
speed dropped to 6752Kbps. This happens every morning at about this same time, which is why it's pointless for
me to try speeding up my connection by resetting it during the wee hours of the morning! The only modem that
I've seen this regularly scheduled connection reset happen with is my new ZyXEL C1100Z! Does anybody know
why this is happening?
When I was using my Actiontec C1000A, after I left my connection running for several months, it magically
increased to 7072Kbps! However, after a couple of months, this modem wouldn't run at this speed anymore.
So I'm going to let my C1100Z "soak" for a while to see what happens!
DSL connection! During this morning's episode, I got my new C1100Z to sync-at 7136/896Kbps, which is
the fastest speed that I've ever seen! My modem won't be able to hold this speed during prime time later
today, but I like the fact that I hit a new record!
Here are the results of some speed tests with this temporarily screaming fast connection:
123facts.com: 4849/617Kbps
speedguide.net: 4849/373Kbps
mcvps/waw.pl: 4215/676Kbps
speedguide.net2: 6067/681Kbps
centurylink.com: 5000/1160Kbps
cnet.com: 7240Kbps
This isn't the first time that I've observed an inverse-correlation between the speed that my modem synced-at
and the results of my speed tests! Maybe the network in my area is less congested than the wide area network?
Here's an update:
According to my modem's DSL Status web page, at 6:17AM this morning my connection reset and the download
speed dropped to 6752Kbps. This happens every morning at about this same time, which is why it's pointless for
me to try speeding up my connection by resetting it during the wee hours of the morning! The only modem that
I've seen this regularly scheduled connection reset happen with is my new ZyXEL C1100Z! Does anybody know
why this is happening?
When I was using my Actiontec C1000A, after I left my connection running for several months, it magically
increased to 7072Kbps! However, after a couple of months, this modem wouldn't run at this speed anymore.
So I'm going to let my C1100Z "soak" for a while to see what happens!
Since I woke-up at 2AM this morning, I couldn't resist the temptation to play with my DSL connection!
At 2:06, I got my ZyXEL C1100Z to sync-at 7168Kbps, which is 100% of the downstream speed
of my primitive T1.413 ADSL connection! Too bad that my modem won't be able to hold this speed
for very long! I tried a number of speed tests, but the results aren't outstanding.
At 2:06, I got my ZyXEL C1100Z to sync-at 7168Kbps, which is 100% of the downstream speed
of my primitive T1.413 ADSL connection! Too bad that my modem won't be able to hold this speed
for very long! I tried a number of speed tests, but the results aren't outstanding.
The telephone network in my house is pretty simple because the only device connected to my phone line
is my DSL modem! My modem has an internal DSL filter and the base station for my wireless telephone
system is plugged-into the modem's telephone jack. Therefore, there's no need for any additional DSL
filters! Since my network is wired end-to-end with Cat5e Ethernet cable, I can rule-out bad wiring,
too! According to my modem's DSL Status web screen, the Estimated Loop Length is 6888ft and the
Downstream Attenuation is 39.0dB. With this much attenuation, my connection speed is limited to
7114Kbps.
Does anybody have a theory why, nearly every morning between 6:17 and 6:23AM, my DSL connection
momentarily drops and my modem reconnects at the fastest speed that it can? This morning, at 6:21AM,
the connection dropped and my modem connected at 6848/896Kbps 12 seconds later. The modem status
log is tricky to read because the time stamps don't match real time, even though the modem is configured
for the local MST time zone. However, all the log shows is that the connection dropped and was
re-established 12 seconds later. This is the only modem that I've used that has a nearly regularly scheduled
connection reset! Can this be related to the distance that I live from the Central Office?
is my DSL modem! My modem has an internal DSL filter and the base station for my wireless telephone
system is plugged-into the modem's telephone jack. Therefore, there's no need for any additional DSL
filters! Since my network is wired end-to-end with Cat5e Ethernet cable, I can rule-out bad wiring,
too! According to my modem's DSL Status web screen, the Estimated Loop Length is 6888ft and the
Downstream Attenuation is 39.0dB. With this much attenuation, my connection speed is limited to
7114Kbps.
Does anybody have a theory why, nearly every morning between 6:17 and 6:23AM, my DSL connection
momentarily drops and my modem reconnects at the fastest speed that it can? This morning, at 6:21AM,
the connection dropped and my modem connected at 6848/896Kbps 12 seconds later. The modem status
log is tricky to read because the time stamps don't match real time, even though the modem is configured
for the local MST time zone. However, all the log shows is that the connection dropped and was
re-established 12 seconds later. This is the only modem that I've used that has a nearly regularly scheduled
connection reset! Can this be related to the distance that I live from the Central Office?
Shortly after I got online at 8PM on a Saturday night, my DSL connection went haywire! According to
my modem, my Internet connection was active, but I was unable to view any web pages! I tried
rebooting Windows 7, but this didn't help. Then, the connection dropped, but my modem was able to
reconnect at 7168Kbps downstream, with a Downstream Attenuation of 39.0dB!
This is the second time that my ZyXEL C1100Z has maxed-out my primitive T1.413 ADSL connection
and this is the only modem that I've used that can do this! This speed probably won't last long, but
this experience supports my theory that, if I leave my connection running, my DSL modem and the
DSLAM learn to work well together over time!
By the way, I'm at home tonight because my knees are bothering me!
my modem, my Internet connection was active, but I was unable to view any web pages! I tried
rebooting Windows 7, but this didn't help. Then, the connection dropped, but my modem was able to
reconnect at 7168Kbps downstream, with a Downstream Attenuation of 39.0dB!
This is the second time that my ZyXEL C1100Z has maxed-out my primitive T1.413 ADSL connection
and this is the only modem that I've used that can do this! This speed probably won't last long, but
this experience supports my theory that, if I leave my connection running, my DSL modem and the
DSLAM learn to work well together over time!
By the way, I'm at home tonight because my knees are bothering me!