Comparative test results between iBurst, MTN & Vodacom

R

rudirautenbach

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Ok herewith the results summary for the throughput rates that I conducted tonight between 23h00 and 00h00.

Weightings internetfrog.com 35%
gam.co.za 30%
speedtest.net 35%

Downloads (average) internetfrog gam speedtest
iBurst 712 1125 994
MTN 420 486 431
Vodacom 352 383 372

Download scoring (kbps) iBurst 935
MTN 443
Vodacom 369

The tests were conducted using the three sites mentioned, www.speedtest.net, www.gam.co.za and www.internetfrog.com. Each was weighted according to the weightings mentioned. For each site and each SP three tests were conducted, making it a total of 27 tests. Averages were used.

The excel spreadsheet with references is available, I cannot post attachments here but if you PM me with an email address I will gladly send it on. It also contains more detail on test conditions etc.

So iburst is still tops by a long way. Looks like 3G was merely a promise, as bith Vodacom & MTN are off by miles. I am certainly putting my money on iburst here.


R
 
Interesting results. I rather suspected that the cellphone networks would not be able to deliver the throughput. It would also be interesting to see the results at peak hours when all the networks are busy. A further test would be to see how they compare when iburst goes through one of it's dips.
 
Kindly do the speed comparisons between 8pm and 9pm as well.

To me speed comparisons is like driving a car. Yes sure a BMW can zip down the highway at 240KM per hour at 3am in the morning on the Ben Schoeman.
But, Id rather be interested in the speed at rush hour, cos that is when I drive...

Thanks for the doing the leg work on the speed test!
 
Thanks for the tests.

This is really informative. And also shows some area of concern that needs to be addressed.
 
What are the weightings based on?

Could you PM me the spreadsheet.
 
Hsdpa - 3g

Hi,

Do you not have a HSDPA card, which is the new version of 3G supposed to go up to 1.6Mbps is you're the only guy in town?
 
Must have been an excellent iBurst connection, but possible..

The cellular providers have never had very good speeds, but people still call them twice the speed of iBurst because thats what the ad says :p

This is on their HSDPA networks right?
 
HSDPA is just as slow as 3G in my experiences. I installed close to 30 of the cards at my old job and not once did I see speeds matching my iBurst when uncapped.

UP to 1.6/1.8mbs is a far cry from actually reaching it on the network.
 
Jongi,
Cannot send attachments for some strange reason. PM me your email I will send it on. Weightings are based on an assumption that most people spend 70% of their time on international websites and 30% on local websites. You can manipulate the weightings as you like in the spreadsheet.

prc66,
Are you from South Africa? Boksburg is part of the Greater Gauteng, look on the map mate. I am connecting at HSDPA connectivity on 3G. Agree, HSDPA is suppose to connect at 1.6 Gbps. My E220 USB modem even connects at 3.6 Gbps, but that makes no difference to your international download speed if the link between your ISP and the rest of the world is only at say 40 kbps. Hope this explains. I emailed you the spreadsheet.

EkHaatVensters,
Yes I do have an excellent iBurst connection. External antennae still mounted on second floor of the house, with a clear line-of-sight to Jhb International (forgot...OR Tambo) Airport. Problem with iBurst in the past is random disconnects, hence my regretted move to MTN. Both networks connect at full signal strength on 3G with HSDPA connectivity.
 
I will be repeating the tests again tonight, this time I have an external Yagi antennae mounted on the same mast as the iBurst antennae. The 3G router does not have an external antennae port so we will have to rely on the ordinary flat panel interface (mounting the little flat panel connected to the pigtail from the Yagi to the side of the 3G router, perhaps someone could give me some advice as to which side the router´s internal antennae sits).

I would welcome ideas on proposed test sites. The spreadsheet is also available if more people would like to assist in gathering data. PM me.

Rudi
 
Hello moderators!

I'm very interested as to why this got moved off the iburst forum?? It is of general interest, but more pointed to wireless and especially to folks looking to swop from iburst.
 
Hi big-al,

Perhaps it's because i was naughty and posted it on the MTN, Vodacom and iBurst forums for a larger audience.

I suppose the moderators had reason to move it to a more centralised location...

My apologies if I contravened board regulations.

Rudi
 
Looks like 3G was merely a promise, as bith Vodacom & MTN are off by miles.
Click to expand...
We suspected that already, as did the ASA.

At least the MTN GPRS is spinning tonight.:D
(*VM can go suc*)
 
New Comparative Results For Tonight

Ok here we go, scores for tonight:

Summary

Weightings internetfrog.com 35%
gam.co.za 30%
speedtest.net 35%

Downloads (average) internetfrog gam speedtest
iBurst 735 881 896
MTN 588 913 417
Vodacom 330 378 367

Download scoring iBurst 835
in kbps MTN 626
Vodacom 357

Not too bad for a 20h00 on a Friday night, when everyone is making free minute calls...

iBurst still tops with MTN significantly better than VC.

PM me for detailed spreadsheet (with your email address)

Rudi
 
By the way guys, we do not have 1.6, 1.8 nor 3.6Gbps anywhere in the world at this point in time and I'd bet my fanny perpendicular they don't have it in a neighbouring galaxy either. What we do have here in SA is 1.8Mbps. We are still awaiting 3.6Mbps. ;)
 
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