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Any value at all?

ArthurDent
Grafter
Posts: 170
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎25-02-2013

Any value at all?

In view of wild inexplicable variations, is there any point at all in looking at ping/latency figures?
For example, early this a.m., in quick succession:
- BTW        43
- Think       31
- Ookla      10    (a server approx. 5m away)
- BBC        16
- PlusNet   26

6 REPLIES 6
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
Thanks: 971
Fixes: 10
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: Any value at all?

Quote from: ArthurDent
Ookla      10    (a server approx. 5m away)

I hope by that you mean a server in London!
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
   Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!)   
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ArthurDent
Grafter
Posts: 170
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Registered: ‎25-02-2013

Re: Any value at all?

Nah, jelv. To use speedtest I opt for a link to one of the two just down the road in Maidenhead or, occasionally, to Newbury or sunny Slough.
WWWombat
Grafter
Posts: 1,412
Thanks: 4
Registered: ‎29-01-2009

Re: Any value at all?

Your traffic always pops out of PN's network in London - no matter where in the country you are.
Having said that, I always find the Vodafone server in newbury to give the most consistent results; certainly more consistent than any of the London-based servers.
Quote from: ArthurDent
In view of wild inexplicable variations, is there any point at all in looking at ping/latency figures?

Not really, no. Certainly not to compare between different sources.
Much better to pick one source, make sure it returns reasonable results, and use that one as a consistent reference over time.
I tend to prefer the TBB BQM, as it produces graphs for you; you have to remember to keep some, as they delete historical records without notice.
Plusnet Customer
Using FTTC since 2011. Currently on 80/20 Unlimited Fibre Extra.
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
Thanks: 971
Fixes: 10
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: Any value at all?

Quote from: ArthurDent
Nah, jelv. To use speedtest I opt for a link to one of the two just down the road in Maidenhead or, occasionally, to Newbury or sunny Slough.

If you are near Maidenhead that server is at least 60 miles away from you.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
   Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!)   
Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20)
Line rental: Pulse 8 Home Line Rental (£14.40/month)
Mobile: iD mobile (£4/month)
ArthurDent
Grafter
Posts: 170
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎25-02-2013

Re: Any value at all?

Thanks guys. I certainly hadn't realised that it was all routed via London anyway.
sjptd
Grafter
Posts: 494
Thanks: 4
Registered: ‎01-09-2014

Re: Any value at all?

You are lucky.  When I was on BT Infinity, all the traffic was routed from Winchester via Sheffield to London before leaving the BT network.  (and back to Sheffield if that is where the server was).