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Question

Significance of speedtest results

Apr 24, 2019 5:42AM PDT

I'm confused about speedtests. My problem is: at home, in my bedroom, I have trouble watching streams like Netflix and Youtube (movie even stops once in a while). However, when measuring with speedtest.net (and others like it) I get values between 30 and 60 Mb/s, which should be more then enough, I'd think. In my shop I have only a 'slow' connection; speedtests measure it between 7 and 10 Mb/s. Yet, there I have no trouble at all watching Netflix and Youtube! (But of course that's not what I'm supposed to do at my shop.)
So, how can this be explained?
I'd be glad to give more details about my home setup, but I'm afraid it would confuse my question, which is essentially about the value of speedtests and the possible reasons why they come up with such confusing results.
Thanks for any answers!
Mabel

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Just observations.
Apr 24, 2019 10:24AM PDT

I've found other issues with Netflix be traced to other areas.

Be sure to check the following (I've noted this in the Networking forum before at https://www.cnet.com/forums/post/1afd26ff-3aad-4279-9dd6-c575cfd4c5a2/ )

Date and time on routers and TVs.
Try another DNS.
Be sure the TV firmware is current.
Be ready to get a Roku or Amazon Fire stick or box as those so far beat many Smart TVs on performance.

Netflix writes they need 5 megabit for HDTV viewing which creates troubles for folk that demand Smart TVs benchmark well. Smart TV makers do not need to put more than is needed in their network components which has made some owners upset.

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What about those speed tests?
Apr 25, 2019 9:42AM PDT

Thanks for advice on how to get better streams from Netflix etc., but my question was about speedtests. As you mention 5Mb/s, the values I measure should be more then sufficient but they are not and I wonder why.
And, by the way, I have no TV-set. But thanx anyway!

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Since I don't know what the playing device is
Apr 25, 2019 9:55AM PDT

I can't comment. I've had clients trying to run Netflix on old Celeron machines and sorry folk, that may not work. You also encounter PCs that should be fine but the owner's has installed VPNs, heavy or interferring antivirus suites and again you have a PC that's not performing.

"It's always something."

The speedtest only tests one area of playback. Think about the rest of the system.

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Once again: what are 'speedtests' measuring
Apr 26, 2019 10:28AM PDT

OK, you're right, I should have made it clear that I'using my notebook in my bedroom and in my shop; therefore all considerations regarding my computer, or any software installed, seem to me irrelevant for my question.
You say: "The speedtest only tests one area of playback." and that is precisely the subject of my question: what area and how come they come up with values which so drastically differ from practical experience with (notably) streaming sources like Netflix.

Post was last edited on April 26, 2019 12:25 PM PDT

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OK, what happens next.
Apr 26, 2019 12:30PM PDT

If you have a client that tells the ISP that they are having buffering issues and does not reveal details is that the tech goes out with a company laptop to show everything is fine with the ISP gear and network.

At that point the client can't fault the ISP gear or network. I wish that folk would work with us a bit more but sometimes it happens and you do what you can.

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So what about those speedtests?
May 1, 2019 6:36AM PDT

I'm not faulting anyone; in fact, it may very well be that my trouble at home stems from components in my home system. But in this posting I didn't seek help to resolve that; I was merely trying to get a better understanding of what speedtests measure and how the apparent contradictions (good Netflix on a 'slow' connection; bad netflix on a 'fast' connection) can be explained.

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Speedtests test what they test.
May 1, 2019 9:15AM PDT

What a speedtest does, varies with different speedtests.

The ISP's speedtest is (most of the time) from your PC to their network. This really has little to do with Netflix. I hope you get that.

Then you have other speedtests that go from your PC through your ISP to their location. This is slightly better.

Finally you have Netflix. Now Netflix is a whole other ballgame as the ISP could be throttling or have a small pipe to their servers or you have a PC or other issue. To figure that out I usually have to bring my laptop and now I've upgraded by carrying an Amazon Fire Stick with me as well.

Over half the time my laptop and Fire stick works fine. When it doesn't I do the usual checks about router firmware, date+time and DNS choices. If the link is DSL we check the speed test and try it with just their TV or player with no other devices connected.

Post was last edited on May 1, 2019 9:21 AM PDT

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Let me answer why YouTube and Netflix work on 5+Mbps.
May 1, 2019 9:49AM PDT

If you look at what is needed to play Full HD 1080p Netflix it's 5 megabits per second. So if you can play Netflix and YouTube on a speedtested 7 to 10 Mbps then they were right.

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306 for reference.

Post was last edited on May 1, 2019 9:50 AM PDT

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think about it
Apr 26, 2019 1:05PM PDT

depending on the speed test you are using, it gives the location you are testing the speed to. it is usually close to you. for example, when I do the speed test it is testing speeds between me and a target about 100 miles away. Now if I change the location to across country, then the speed will be different and much lower because of distance and equipment it has to go through to get there and back.

as far as play back like netflix, you have to include how busy their servers are at the time you are streaming, the size of the file, traffic between them and you and yes, your own equipment/software. It is NOT irrelevant to your question. there is a big difference between pinging and sending large files.

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Getting confused now
May 1, 2019 6:36AM PDT

I may be a bit dim, but I really can't see how what you are saying is relevant to my question, sorry. Sure, "if I change the location to across country, then the speed will be different" but that doesn't explain why a lower (measured) speed gives me a better (Netflix) performance.
The timing is not relevant; I've been observing this for a long time at any time of the day. Also I still don't see what it could be in my computer that makes it behave so differently at home and in my shop; could you at least give me a clue?