Misleading Speed Test Results

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Network1

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When testing connectivity with Speedtest.net I, for example, obtain results like 2.1 Mbps etc. However, I run Netmeter, which shows that for +- 80% of the time, the download speed ranges between +- 400 - 800 Kbps. The other 20% of the time I get peaks going up to +1Mbps or less than 400 Kbps. Now, my contention is that the Speedtest provides a false picture, since one should be able to say with a certain degree of confidence what the expected speed would be, for example, if the 90% confidence interval is (400;800)Kbps, it implies that 90 times out of a 100, the speed would be between 400 and 800 Kbps. Netmeter graphically provides info that allows me to roughly estimate a confidence interval, and that interval is FAR REMOVED from the Speedtest.net results. Thus boasting speeds of 2, 5 or more Mbps is actually false representation of the connectivity capability. Any comments?
 
Network1 said:
When testing connectivity with Speedtest.net I, for example, obtain results like 2.1 Mbps etc. However, I run Netmeter, which shows that for +- 80% of the time, the download speed ranges between +- 400 - 800 Kbps. The other 20% of the time I get peaks going up to +1Mbps or less than 400 Kbps. Now, my contention is that the Speedtest provides a false picture, since one should be able to say with a certain degree of confidence what the expected speed would be, for example, if the 90% confidence interval is (400;800)Kbps, it implies that 90 times out of a 100, the speed would be between 400 and 800 Kbps. Netmeter graphically provides info that allows me to roughly estimate a confidence interval, and that interval is FAR REMOVED from the Speedtest.net results. Thus boasting speeds of 2, 5 or more Mbps is actually false representation of the connectivity capability. Any comments?
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+10 I've seen this a couple of times where close to the end of the test, it moves up to 1.5 just for a sec or 2 then back to .eg 600. But the download speed result then show 1.5 which is BS. This was Speedtest.net
 
I just checked from a verifying point of view - My Cell C graphical statistics window data is comparable to the Netmeter data, so no inconsistencies there. I have also seen the phenomena that CelBel has described.
 
Another thing than irks me about Speedtest.net, is that after the test is completed, it also indicates in a little table in the left top corner, how long it will take for to download, for example a MP3 file of 5 MB will take 16 seconds, based on the tested download speed. That is absolute rubbish, since the download speed used is not valid. My download speed tests varies between 2.2 and 2.8 Mbps. Downloading of large files normally happens at +- 500 Kbps which is quite far removed from 2.2 Mbps.
 
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