Test Your Modem Speed - Max Performance!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to test the maximum speed of a modem, specifically focusing on the modem's data transfer capabilities rather than internet connection speed. Participants explore various methods and considerations related to modem performance, including theoretical limits and practical testing approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using online bandwidth tests, such as those from 2wire.com and dslreports.com, to gauge modem performance.
  • One participant notes the difficulty in isolating modem performance due to factors like the phone line's impact on transfer rates and data compression techniques used by modern modems.
  • Another participant raises the question of whether the inquiry is about the modem's designed speed or its actual performance, mentioning that products like ModemTest can provide low-level testing independent of ISP settings.
  • Several contributions discuss the variability of modem speeds, with anecdotal evidence of different transfer rates experienced under various conditions, including the influence of network usage and distance from telephone switching stations.
  • One participant explains that advertised modem speeds are in bits, leading to confusion regarding actual transfer rates in kilobytes per second, and discusses the limitations imposed by physical line characteristics.
  • Another participant questions the feasibility of achieving high speeds over traditional phone lines, referencing their own experience with DSL over the same infrastructure.
  • A participant shares a personal experience of fluctuating modem speeds and seeks advice on improving their current performance, prompting another to suggest searching for specific modem drivers online.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on how to test modem speed and the factors influencing it, with no clear consensus on the best approach or the feasibility of certain testing methods. Disagreements arise regarding the interpretation of modem speeds and the impact of external factors on performance.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on various assumptions about modem technology, the influence of external factors like line quality and distance, and the lack of definitive methods for isolating modem performance from other variables.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in modem performance testing, technical support for internet connectivity issues, and those exploring the nuances of data transfer rates in telecommunications.

darkar
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Hello,

How do i test the maximum speed of my Modem?
Note: i don't mean the internet connection speed, purely how fast my modem can transfer the data.

Thx
 
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it depends on what type of connection you are using but I think www.2wire.com has some bandwidth tests that are free and fast. Go to their site and click speed meter at the top.
 
It would hard to isolate the modem itself for such a test. The phone line, for example, has a lot to do with the maximum transfer rate of the entire system.

Even a theoretical number would be hard to get, because modern modems do quite a bit of data compression, so the transfer rate depends also on the type of data you're feeding it.

- Warren
 
darkar said:
Hello,

How do i test the maximum speed of my Modem?
Note: i don't mean the internet connection speed, purely how fast my modem can transfer the data.

Thx
If you aren't wanting to test the connection speed, are you asking what speed your modem is designed to offer? (56k is the maximum for dial up modems) or are you asking about trying to determine how well your particular modem is performing? I am not aware of anything on line that tests for that. There are products that you can purchase for this type of analysis however.

Here is one company that sells a product that sounds like it does what you want. I have no idea how good the product is and I am not endorsing it. I would shop around.

http://www.passmark.com/products/modemtst.htm

"ModemTest is an easy to use Windows based application that allows users to test their dial up modem. ModemTest performs low level testing that is independent of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the TCP/IP settings on the computer. It allows the modem to be tested in addition to the phone line the modem is connected to."
 
Hard to say honestly.

For instance, my friend used to have a 56k modem...usually transferred data at around 3 kb/s or so.

One strange morning, however, the network must have been used by no one but him or something, but he could connect/transfer at 128 kb/s, on a modem. Very odd indeed...only ever happened once though.
 
gonpost said:
Hard to say honestly.

For instance, my friend used to have a 56k modem...usually transferred data at around 3 kb/s or so.

One strange morning, however, the network must have been used by no one but him or something, but he could connect/transfer at 128 kb/s, on a modem. Very odd indeed...only ever happened once though.

That is unlikely through a modem, even cable modem hardly get that rate of the internet unless the server you connected to is very fast and not busy. It's probably bits rate you are seeing not bytes.
 
gonpost said:
Hard to say honestly.

For instance, my friend used to have a 56k modem...usually transferred data at around 3 kb/s or so.

One strange morning, however, the network must have been used by no one but him or something, but he could connect/transfer at 128 kb/s, on a modem. Very odd indeed...only ever happened once though.

Modems advertised at 56k speeds are actually advertised in bits, 56000 bits ~ 7 kb/s actaul transfer speed. FCC Law limits the maximum speed to 53,000bps, which is the absolute maximum you can obtain for dialup. The highest I've gotten is 51,666bps.

The transfer speeds you see on your download windows are almost always in kilobytes per second. a 3kb transfer rate is equivalent to 3000 * 8 = 24000kbits, thus your connection is running at a little less than half its capacity.

The experiment as you've labeled it doesn't really seem possible. Chroot and evo's advice pretty much explain why.
 
whozum said:
Modems advertised at 56k speeds are actually advertised in bits, 56000 bits ~ 7 kb/s actaul transfer speed. FCC Law limits the maximum speed to 53,000bps, which is the absolute maximum you can obtain for dialup. The highest I've gotten is 51,666bps.

The transfer speeds you see on your download windows are almost always in kilobytes per second. a 3kb transfer rate is equivalent to 3000 * 8 = 24000kbits, thus your connection is running at a little less than half its capacity.

The experiment as you've labeled it doesn't really seem possible. Chroot and evo's advice pretty much explain why.

the reason for the maximum speed on the modems is due to the size of the phone lines physically, you can only push so many electrons down them at one time before they will melt the lines from the friction. another thing that determines your line speed will be the distance that you are from the main telephone switching house, i think it was every 5 or 10 miles the line speed is reduced by 1/2. so a 56k modem about 10 miles away let's say would actually be running at 28.8 even if it said u were connected at 56k.
 
  • #10
the reason for the maximum speed on the modems is due to the size of the phone lines physically, you can only push so many electrons down them at one time before they will melt the lines from the friction.

hmmm... So why do I have 8M dsl over a normal pstn analougue line if this is correct, with is exactly the same telephone line as a dial up works through...

FYI in telecoms we say b = bit and B = Byte
 
  • #11
hello all

well I remember at a period of 6 months when i first got my computer it was running just above 100 kbps then my computer crashed lost everything now it runs 28.4kbps when i called the technical support of my server they told me that it can happen in some cases with particular drivers for modems, when I tried to look for the driver I realized that the computer company i bought my computer from did not give it to me when i bought it, I have to admit i really miss my fast internet, does anybody have any suggestions on how to make my internet faster than what it is? or does anybody know of any good drivers? please help thanxs

steven
 
  • #12
Steven, do u know what is ur modem brand and model no?
If Yes, then try to search it in google with ur brand and model no as the search term.
 

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