Friday 28 January 2011

Broadband speedtests that don't need flash or java

Look, I don't want to install flash or java just to find out how fast my internet connection is. I just want something that downloads a file and gives me a result. Here are some websites that do this basic thing.
1) Tracert.org
http://www.tracert.org/bandwidth_meter/

For me the best one, almost magical in fact. You just click 'start test', and it works. Works in old versions of firefox without flash, and seems to produce results that agree with other tests.

2) Ten Meg
http://tenmeg.myby.co.uk/

Yes, it requires you to watch a couple of images downloading and click a button when they're done, but it works in browsers without flash, java, activex, siverlight, perl, ruby, php, gtk, etc, etc, etc, etc.


3) ISP GEEKS
http://www.ispgeeks.com/wild/modules.php?name=Bandwidth_Meter_DSL

Described as their 'Mobile Speed Test', doesn't seem very accurate (perhaps because they're in the USA and I'm in the UK), but it gives a rough idea and doesn't need flash etc.

4) Broadband speed checker
http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/

Seems to work in I.E. without flash, though it says it would like to have flash 8. Unfortunately seems to be broken in earlier versions of firefox.

5) Toast.net
http://performance.toast.net/

Again, not massively accurate, but simple and kinda fun waiting for the picture to download!

6) Mobile test
http://i.dslr.net/iphone_speedtest.html

Aimed at mobile phone browsers, but if you click the 'wifi' option, it seems to give a fairly accurate result (but that could be a co-incidence).