Modem Speed Test

What Is A Modem?

A modem is a device that modulates a carrier signal, encoding and decoding digital data so you can read and use the data on your computer or in your data network. Data are the basic 1s and 0s code all computers use to manipulate and present data in a format that you can use and see on your screen. Modems can be connected to your computer directly depending upon the type of connection used, or through a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) phone line.

Dial-up Modems

Dial-up modems are the old 56Kbps standard rapidly being replaced by broadband because the throuhput or data that 56K modems can handle is fast becoming inadequate to the data-hungry software applications now available. Dial-ups requires a modem connected to a computer and to a telephone line with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Dial-up is mostly the least expensive of all Internet access tools, but this is not always the case. Several companies offer package deals for DSL account conversions for as little as $15 a month or so for a specified time period on an extended six or 12-month contract/agreement. This beats the basic dial-up costs of $20-$24 a month. Dial-up may be your only choice depending upon the type of computer you have. Older PCs and Macintoshes simply don’t have the horsepower required to be able to use DSL or other high-speed bandwidth services. To confirm if yours can, check your owner’s manual.

Dial-up modems max out at 53 kilobits per second (Kbps), but most have average speeds at about 32 Kbps and efficiency is affected by line noise and other factors. They have high latency rates or high time delays between the time you start a specific function, like dialing in to your ISP, and the time you actually connect and are good to go. Because of these factors, efficient use in business applications is very limiting because with dial-up access your limited to either surfing or talking on your phone line. Multi-tasking of viewing several Web sites and having a phone conversation is impossible. This limitation may be OK for some SOHO business owners, but not for the majority of business applications.

Broadband Access

Dial-up access has been replaced for the most part by DSL or cable modem connections which serves the needs of business owners because they allow opening of several Web site pages at the same time while performing phone conversations. This is due to the higher bandwidths available allowing multi-tasking, provided by DSL or cable modems.

While Business DSL has been touted as an efficient business solution, these are some severe limitations in service and speeds delivered depending upon your provider’s central office location in relation to yours. DSL uses existing phone lines with promised speeds offered at 3Mbps speed, but most actually average 1.5Mbps or less with far lesser speeds for uploading data.

Cable modems provide greater speeds because they don’t use phone lines but a range of frequencies in the RF television band. These modems are mush more efficient and are able to modulating/demodulate hundreds of channels simultaneously. The resulting promised speeds are much closer to 3Mbps and are more than adequate for most small business applications, making a modem speed test relevant. Cable modem companies have but one goal: to eliminate land-line based DSL providers. Plans for expansion include 100Mbps services. Some companies already offer VoIP phone systems services.

Modem Speed Tests

You can use the following tools to run a modem speed test. These tools are also handy to see if your existing system can handle data-hungry tasks you’re planning to implement.

56K

56K modem test

Broadband

Vonage Upload Speed Test

Verizon Online Speed test

Bandwidth Speed Test

TestMySpeed.com tests U.S. and International

Vonage Upload Speed Test tests all systems from 56K up to T4.

Cable

Cable Modem Test

Cnet tests Satellite,Cable Modem, Dialup, DSL, LAN, Wireless