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story category PC Mag Ranks ISPs By Browsing Speed
Optimum Online, FrontierNet top magazine's ratings...
(old news - 09:03AM Wednesday Dec 03 2008)
tags: business · bandwidth · stats
PC Magazine has unveiled the latest data on broadband ISPs collected by their surfspeed application, which, unlike most speed tests measures the browsing speed of an ISP connection. When the application first launched you'll recall many of you took issue with PC Mag's data and their methodology, which they've since expanded to include tests from 17,000 IP addresses. We'll let them explain their system and let you make up your own mind:
Click for full size
The SurfSpeed application was designed to measure the real-world speed of your browser—the speed at which you surf the Internet—not the absolute speed of your Internet connection. Most line tests measure speed by sending you large files, and seeing how long it takes you to download them. ISPs cite numbers based on abstract mathematics—the number of users divided by the theoretical line speed. Instead, the SurfSpeed application measures the time it takes your computer to visit several popular Web sites, giving you a real-world measure of your connection speed. As such, that result will differ, in some cases dramatically, from the number quoted by your ISP.
PC Magazine's tests unsurprisingly show that satellite carriers Wild Blue and HughesNet come in at the bottom of the rankings, while FTTH-based systems like FiOS, Utah's Mstar and New Mexico's CityLink Fiber scored the best.

The study also found cable to be faster than DSL, with user's able to browse at 688 Kbps, compared to 469 Kbps for DSL. The data suggests that among cable operators, Optimum Online tops the list at 839 Kbps, while interestingly, small rural telco FrontierNet tops the speed list for DSL providers at 724 Kbps.

The report also breaks down speed by geography, noting that users in the west (565 Kbps) browse slightly more quickly than users in the south (551 Kbps) -- as well as browsing speed by State,

Related:
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  2. Friday Evening Links
  3. Global Broadband Prices Plummet
  4. Backbone Analysis Puts Exaflood Myth To Bed
  5. Once More With Feeling: There Is No Exaflood
  6. Wednesday Evening Links
  7. WildBlue Passes 400,000 Customers
  8. Sandvine: P2P Now Just 20% Of Internet Use
Forums » PC Mag Ranks ISPs By Browsing Speed
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Jodokast96
R.I.P Bassman442
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Erial, NJ

FIOS?

Optimum Online, FrontierNet top magazine's ratings...
And FIOS smokes them both at 931.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:11:17 · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Oh Sure don't put the new Clear..

They must be scared.. lol
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:11:53 · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC

Re: Oh Sure don't put the new Clear..

Oh Sure don't put the new Clear..
What are you talking about?
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:41:52 · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Re: Oh Sure don't put the new Clear..

Clear/XOHM is an ISP and they are not listed.. It was a joke my friend.. Have a nice day.. RELAX...
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:52:30 · Reply to this
mlundin

join:2001-03-27
Lawrence, KS

Hmmm...

I see that Comcast has a fairly high speed, yet an extremely low satisfaction rating. I wonder why.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:12:16 · Reply to this

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

PC mag sucks

They force you to register if you want to see the PDFs. WTF? Nice way of getting me to NOT to continue to visit your site PC mag.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:21:54 · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Re: PC mag sucks

That's how consumer reports is... I just go to Barnes and Noble and sit in cafe and read the mag's and drink coffee.. lol
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:42:04 · Reply to this

Shamayim
I already have a Messiah.
Premium
join:2002-09-23

Re: PC mag sucks

said by Smile__ See Profile :

That's how consumer reports is...
Consumer Reports accepts no advertising. It derives its income solely from subscriptions and services.
--
Who is Jesus? and Why it matters (to YOU).
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:54:47 · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD
·XOHM WiMAX

Re: PC mag sucks

It gets a lot of money from the comapnies who pay them to advertise that they write a good article on that companies product. Just like JD Powers awards.. You can't as a company say that someone said you had a great product without buying the rights to the article.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:59:29 · Reply to this

ScottMo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-15
Stony Brook, NY

Re: PC mag sucks

Except Consumers' Reports doesn't do that. They accept no advertising and do not allow their reports to be used in advertising.
From their website:

CONSUMERS UNION
NO COMMERCIAL USE POLICY

We accept no advertising and we are not beholden to any commercial interest. ...Such information may not be used by others in advertising or to promote a company’s product or service. In addition, this policy precludes any commercial use of any of Consumers Union’s published information in any form, or of the names of Consumers Union®, Consumer Reports®, or any other of Consumers Union’s publications or services, without our express written permission. If Consumers Union learns that this policy has been violated, it will take all steps necessary to prevent the misuse of its names or of any of its materials, including legal action where appropriate.
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:18:50 · Print · Reply to this
emptywig
Huh? What?
Premium
join:2002-08-05
Pasadena, TX		 Huh?
permalink · 2008-12-03 18:35:43 · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
said by Smile__ See Profile :

That's how consumer reports is... I just go to Barnes and Noble and sit in cafe and read the mag's and drink coffee.. lol
While I always appreciate frugality, keep in mind that PC Magazine is ad supported. Consumer Reports is not.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:43:22 · Print · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Re: PC mag sucks

Okie Dokie Smokie.. Not sure why your being so defensive over this blurb... Nothing against anything here... But thanks for pointing somethings out.. Have a great day my friend..
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:55:06 · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype

Re: PC mag sucks

Defensive is a strange charge, since I had nothing at stake to defend. (Of course, now I'm defensive ).

But remember I'm the P2P guy who tells other P2P fans to support the art they like. I guess I feel the same way about CR.

No biggie.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
permalink · 2008-12-03 15:19:14 · Print · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Re: PC mag sucks

permalink · 2008-12-03 15:42:23 · Reply to this
emptywig
Huh? What?
Premium
join:2002-08-05
Pasadena, TX		 I subscribe - I pay them money each year - and its the best money I spend on any publication.

wig
--
Please keep your f---ing religion to yourself.
permalink · 2008-12-03 18:37:33 · Reply to this

Smile__
Premium
join:2008-10-10
Baltimore, MD

Re: PC mag sucks

Huh? What?
permalink · 2008-12-03 19:11:28 · Reply to this
JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL

Speed_By_State.pdf
.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:50:37 · Reply to this

evilpeppard
Always Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2003-08-20
Aurora, CO
clubs:

Re: PC mag sucks

Thanks for attaching this.
permalink · 2008-12-04 10:13:25 · Reply to this

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

Comcast, 33% of satisfied users

Not too surprised.
permalink · 2008-12-03 09:43:51 · Reply to this

mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY

Speeds

Why are they all under 1000 kbps?
permalink · 2008-12-03 10:32:25 · Reply to this

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: Speeds

said by mrchris See Profile :

Why are they all under 1000 kbps?
Try READING the article before commenting.
permalink · 2008-12-03 20:37:31 · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

4 edits

Skewed?

Click for full size
Click for full size
Click for full size
Some people must have some seriously hosed computers/lines or fried routers!



2345.48kbps using THEIR tool - on Comcast.

EDIT: Full Size Image.

*NOTE*: See speedo needle burried?

EDIT2:
A few more screenies/test runs.

--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 10:58:07 · Print · Reply to this

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Re: Skewed?

I assume Powerboost would give Comcast an edge in this test as well?
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:21:14 · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

Re: Skewed?

said by Karl Bode See Profile :

I assume Powerboost would give Comcast an edge in this test as well?
One would think, huh?
Using their own "tool" I blew everything out of the water.
... and considering most Comcast subs also have PowerBoost, why are their numbers so low?

I call Bullshit on PC Mag!
Browsing is not bandwidth intensive, and PowerBoost will last for 40MB...
There is no way browsing will run PowerBoost long enough to drop back.

Test results at PC Mag are wack!

Yet another PC Mag Red Herring.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:31:06 · Print · Reply to this

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Re: Skewed?

I'll have to fire them an e-mail inquiring why cable operators who've deployed Powerboost didn't score higher....that does seem odd.
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:39:22 · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

Re: Skewed?

said by Karl Bode See Profile :

I'll have to fire them an e-mail inquiring why cable operators who've deployed Powerboost didn't score higher....that does seem odd.
Yes! Thank you!

Several cablecos are using it and they all score low?
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:41:48 · Print · Reply to this

GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

3 edits
said by Karl Bode See Profile :

I assume Powerboost would give Comcast an edge in this test as well?
A lot of the Browsing Speed depends on the users computer and its speed in resolving all the various links on a web page and how fast it can complete calling them up. Line speed makes up only a small portion of what Surfspeed measures. Also, the locations of the servers used by Surfspeed (mostly East & West coasts) can skew the results by region.

My results on a powerboosted Comcast link in NJ, which has short distances to some of these servers, but many servers are on the West Coast.



More info on a post from yesterday:
»RE: The Fastest ISPs for BROWSING - not file transfers
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:54:28 · Print · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

Re: Skewed?

NJ?

CA here...


--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 12:02:53 · Reply to this
JoelC707

join:2002-07-09
Tucson, AZ
clubs:
said by GOLFnSUN See Profile :

Line speed makes up only a small portion of what Surfspeed measures. Also, the locations of the servers used by Surfspeed (mostly East & West coasts) can skew the results by region.
Exactly. This whole test is a good idea but they're reporting it wrong. They're reporting it as if it were still a basic speed test. I wonder how many users got pissed because they scored low on DSL, saw cable was much faster, switched and their score never went up? If they really want this to be effective they need to report all the other factors and show the user exactly what is the slow point. Perhaps the DNS servers you use are slow/bogged down. Perhaps your computer is slow or your router is limiting you. If you don't fix any of those, you can switch providers all you want and never gain anything.

This test shouldn't be about the ISP at all. They need to report it like Vista's scoring system. Give you a score for each component and an overall score. If you've got an old single core CPU, adding a 4870 GPU will give you a nice score in that category but won't do anything for the overall score. It certainly won't let you play Crysis any better (hell if at all in that scenario). So why would changing the ISP (as they seem to indicate) make your surf speed any faster if your computer is riddled with viruses or you still use a router with a 10Mb WAN port?
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:12:34 · Print · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
said by Karl Bode See Profile :

I assume Powerboost would give Comcast an edge in this test as well?
It would, but higher latency would also hurt them in time from the first HTTP "get" until the final resource finishes loading.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:46:22 · Print · Reply to this
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

SurfSpeed tests differently...but logically...

The tool likely takes DNS resolution, latency and other such issues into account. People with slow computers using IE will register lower than a properly tuned system...
permalink · 2008-12-03 11:38:35 · Reply to this

MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform

join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
·Skype
·magicjack.com

No Embarq

I wondered why Embarq, the 3rd(?) largest DSL provider in the country wasn't shown in the results.

After downloading the program, I found out. Embarq isn't even included in the ISP list in the program (and you can't type it in, either). Fail, PC Mag.

My connection tests at 1916 kb with a very busy machine (running DVD and XVID encodes and several browser tabs open) at nearly 1 PM.
--
"It is absurd to say that our country can issue $30 million in bonds and not $30 million in currency. Both are promises to pay, but one promise fattens the usurers and the other helps the people."-Thomas Edison
permalink · 2008-12-03 12:56:47 · Print · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

Re: No Embarq

said by MrMoody See Profile :

I wondered why Embarq, the 3rd(?) largest DSL provider in the country wasn't shown in the results.

After downloading the program, I found out. Embarq isn't even included in the ISP list in the program (and you can't type it in, either). Fail, PC Mag.

My connection tests at 1916 kb with a very busy machine (running DVD and XVID encodes and several browser tabs open) at nearly 1 PM.
Yeah, PC Mag is a joke.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 13:20:43 · Print · Reply to this
joeMI

join:2006-08-15
Mcmillan, MI

worthless!

IMO, PC Magazine ISP speed tests are WORTHLESS!!!

Why? Because they don't break it down by plan speeds.

For example, they show an average speed of 733Kbps for TimeWarner/RoadRunner. If that's on 1Mbps plan, it's not too bad. If that's on a 10Mbps plan, that's awful.
--
HughesNet | Business Internet plan | HN7000S | .98m/2W | G17 91W:1050MHz | 88 sig | ACP 99 | 1.5Mbps/385Kbps
permalink · 2008-12-03 13:40:35 · Reply to this
Lazlow

join:2006-08-07
Saint Louis, MO

Uverse?

I found it interesting that there was no Uverse listed, unless I missed it. One would expect it to be significantly different from regular ATT Dsl(from non uverse areas).
permalink · 2008-12-03 13:42:43 · Reply to this
joebarnhart
Paxio evangelist

join:2005-12-15
Santa Clara, CA

No Paxio choice :-(

I guess it's not a household name yet, but I can't even type in "Paxio" for my ISP choice. Bummer!

Oh well, I like DSL Reports tool best anyway.

permalink · 2008-12-03 13:46:23 · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

Re: No Paxio choice :-(

There's Joe!
Wassup neighbor!

Beat them down!
permalink · 2008-12-03 14:30:06 · Reply to this
joebarnhart
Paxio evangelist

join:2005-12-15
Santa Clara, CA

Re: No Paxio choice :-(

What's that thing with red glowing eyes, Dadkins? I think it's gonna give me nightmares... It looks sorta like an angry Aibo wearing a Santa hat.
permalink · 2008-12-04 02:31:22 · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype

The only chart that matters -- your own

I'm in Portland, OR, and my choices are Comcast and Verizon DSL. I happen to have both. Consider this test "quick and dirty" -- but basically you shouldn't do this while you're backing up the hard drive, sharing your private Microsoft Money files over any P2P networks, or streaming video across the network.

1. Install Extended Statusbar in Firefox
2. Load a www.dslreports.com (or whatever one site that you want), reload it with Shift-Ctrl-R
3. Reload with Shift-Ctrl-R and record result
4. Repeat step 3 a few more times


--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
permalink · 2008-12-03 15:15:22 · Print · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

2 edits

Re: The only chart that matters -- your own

What if I don't use Firefox?

--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 16:53:36 · Reply to this

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype

Re: The only chart that matters -- your own

said by dadkins See Profile :

What if I don't use Firefox?

Well that speaks for itself, doesn't it!? (snark, snark)

Use it for this test. It's cross platform. Or find something similar for the browser of your choice.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
permalink · 2008-12-03 19:16:48 · Print · Reply to this

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast

Re: The only chart that matters -- your own

said by funchords See Profile :

said by dadkins See Profile :

What if I don't use Firefox?

Well that speaks for itself, doesn't it!? (snark, snark)

Use it for this test. It's cross platform. Or find something similar for the browser of your choice.
Naw, not important enought to justify an unwanted software install.

YMMV
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
permalink · 2008-12-03 20:43:23 · Print · Reply to this

blackzero
Premium
join:2007-08-16
Trois-Rivieres, QC

Comcast with 33%

just not surprising
permalink · 2008-12-03 20:09:41 · Reply to this
SuperWISP

join:2007-04-17
Laramie, WY

No category for terrestrial wireless ISPs (WISPs)

The article and software completely ignore the presence of WISPs -- not even offering them as a category of provider. Given that WISPs are the up-and-coming alternative to the cable and telco monopolies, this doesn't just skew the results -- it misleads consumers into believing that no alternative exists to cable, the telcos, and satellite. This throws the credibility of the entire survey into question.
permalink · 2008-12-04 15:28:50 · Reply to this
Forums » PC Mag Ranks ISPs By Browsing Speed

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