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Want to help track broadband performance?
Monday 28 May 2012 13:24:45 by Sebastien Lahtinen

We are working with ICM Research to put together a broadband panel to measure broadband speeds customers experience through their broadband lines on fast broadband connections. At this point, we're looking for users on Virgin Media cable broadband services on 'up to' 50 meg and faster, Sky Fibre, TalkTalk Fibre, BT Infinity fibre and some O2/Orange customers.

Those selected to take part will receive a testing device to connect to their broadband connection as well as a payment for £25 from ICM once the system is set up. You may also be invited to take part in further surveys on your broadband service.

Sign up for the broadband panel

[ Topic: Broadband | 33 comments | link to this item ]

Comments

Posted by simondup 12 months ago
This sounds similar to the tests being run by SamKnows.

If this a completely different study ?
Posted by Scotty141 12 months ago
I completely agree with you simondup.

And why does this test not support ADSL, ADSL2+, VDSL, etc?

IF you are trying to measure broadband speeds, then you will get many more results from people with ADSL and ADSL2+.

I understand it says "on fast broadband connections" but perhaps you should open it up to or create another test for people with other broadband services like ADSL and ADSL2+?

Should you want to do this then I would be more than happy to be your first trialist.

Please email me if you are thinking of doing this (email for my profile)
Posted by omnius 12 months ago
what does this device do and how much bandwith will it need? Im going onto a unlimited sky connection when fttc gos online here but i know theres a few on capped services
Posted by greenglide 12 months ago
So how can "some O2/Orange customers" be included in a survey of "fast internet connections"???
Posted by casperweb 12 months ago
Can't sign up as they haven't listed Sky's 80mb service which is odd as they did for BT.
Posted by Callumpy 12 months ago
Does being on BE count as being on o2, they are the same :P
Posted by XRaySpeX 12 months ago
@greenglide: Some O2/Orange customers can be considered to have fast Internet connections if, say like me, they get 18 Meg or more.

@Scotty141: The test does cover ADSL/ADSL2 by including some O2/Orange customers who by definition cannot be on fibre or cable.
Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
ICM's panel is unrelated to Samknows. They are only looking at faster services. I'll have to check about BE but I would assume not for the time being.

@omnius - That's a good question; I will find out a bit more details. We did have extensive discussions about how the data would be used to ensure it wasn't a way to get a list of people to market services to, but this is a valid question.

This study is being conducted by ICM and not us--we're just helping them recruit people for the panel.
Posted by camieabz 12 months ago
tbh it sounds rather like a fit up, the avoiding of the non-fast lines. Who wants to get the fast data? The politicians of course. They, more than most are not interested in the slow lines.
Posted by Fellwalker 12 months ago
@camieabz - Why is it a fit up if they are actually going to check the THROUGHPUT of lines that nominally can get high speeds? My biggest grumble since getting Infinity is that whilst the connection speed might be 27 meg, the browsing is no faster than on my old BE 7 meg. SOME downloads are quicker, but far from all.
I would really like the spotlight turned on to the usable speed, rather than the nominal speed.
Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
@camieabz: Firstly, the research is focussed on certain types of lines, and secondly they already have subscribers on certain services. We're helping them complete the pool. The broadband story isn't all about the slowest lines.
Posted by Joppy 12 months ago
Its a shame ICM are not looking at jitter and packetloss instead of just speed. Looks like another test that will give results that are not based on actual performance, just download/upload speeds.
Posted by BatBoy 12 months ago
@Fellwalker - there are several ways to improve browsing speeds given the extra bandwidth Infinity provides. You just have to know how to do it. You should ask in the forums.
Posted by camieabz 12 months ago
@Seb

I was just wondering who commissioned all of this?
Posted by MrMot 12 months ago
How long do you have to equipment plugged in for?
Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
Changed the form so O2 includes BE as well.
Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
On the speed issue - ICM are looking at various speeds but they are putting together a panel and were looking for our help to target some of those groups they need more people from.

On the technical details - Latency/jitter/packetloss are being measured too. Anyone who signs up can discuss any specific queries with ICM if they are chosen naturally.

Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
Re amount of data - this depends on the speed of the connection. We understand this hasn't caused any issues with current panellists but you can raise it with ICM directly if you take part in the panel. There's no single answer to this one which would be accurate so hence best handled on an individual basis.
Posted by nredwood 12 months ago
No BT Infinity 100Mb?
Posted by seb (Favicon staff member) 12 months ago
@nredwood - We added Virgin 30meg to it today.. We'll update as requirements change.. but we're just helping fill gaps in the panel..
Posted by Scotty141 12 months ago
Since you are in touch with ICM, could you ask them if they are looking for any ADSL/ADSL2+ broadband customers? (or 'slow broadband customers')

I have looked on their website and the navigation is shovkingly terrible and I cannot find anything to do with being a broadband panelist - I cannot even find any information about about this one!

Thank you.
Posted by nredwood 12 months ago
@seb - Appreciate the update and that you cannot cover all

There are very few of us as well
Posted by michaels_perry 12 months ago
I'm on VM ADSL (National), so why are we again being left out of a survey? VM constantly claim to be fast by totally ignoring the ADSL service and all its problems.
Posted by Brumski 12 months ago
Received my acceptance email today.
Posted by block860 11 months ago
how long will they want us to have the router connected for the testing and can we keep the router after?
Posted by block860 11 months ago
they can keep the £25 and give me the tp-link router as its gotta be better than the superdud lol
Posted by martsmall2 11 months ago
got my acceptance ( 100 mb virgin) , roll on tp link router
Posted by Dave_m29 11 months ago
Just got mine today and installed it. Does anyone know if it's possible to see the results of the tests?
Posted by block860 11 months ago
192.168.1.1 should get me into settings but it times out everytime for me.. help! pleas
Posted by block860 11 months ago
im trying to use the tp-link easy setup assistant, it passes stage 1 of 2 (network adapter enabled) but fails stage 2 (network status check failed) im using win 7 x64 and need to get in wireless settings to use my xbox 360
Posted by Dave_m29 11 months ago
It's not a router that you can use, it needs to be connected to your existing router, you still use the wifi from your original router. The antennas are on it so that it knows when you are using the Internet to avoid running it's tests at these times. It's got it's own special firmware and can't be used as a router in its own right, it's sole function is to test the speed of your connection at various intervals and report back to ICM. I would like to know if it is possible to see the results of the tests like on the SamKnows tester (similar to this).
Posted by block860 11 months ago
thanks for info but if superhub is in modem mode then how can i use its wireless functions?
Posted by block860 11 months ago
it ok i get it now lol.. just connect it to a port on the superhub but use the blue port on the router :)
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