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0.2 Speed Tests

Bell's speed test is located here: »www.bell.ca/speedtest

Results from speed tests can vary widely due to all sorts of issues. Therefore, it is wise to select and perform a variety of speed tests available here that are close to your physical location to ensure that you are getting consistent results.



Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • please update the link to go to https://www.bell.ca/speedtest

    2019-10-05 16:10:36 (CoolCanuck See Profile)

by MacGyver See Profile
last modified: 2019-10-05 23:19:33

Sympatico now advertises the maximum speeds of its services using the sync rate instead of the actual usable line rate. Sympatico used to advertise its services using the usable line rate, however they have changed this policy to align with how other ISP's (especially Rogers) advertise their services.

A good rule of thumb is that approximately 80-85% of the DSL sync rate equals the usable line rate.

HSE (ADSL platform) (A 4megs service advertised as a 5Megs service) customers with a sync rate of 5056/800 can expect speed test results of about 4200/680.

DSL Performance (ADSL Platform) (a 5Megs service advertised as 7Megs service due to Equipment limitation(non ADSL2) customers with a sync rate of 6016/800 can expect speed test results of about 5000/680.

DSL Performance (ADSL2 Platform) (a 6Megs service advertised as a 7Megs service) with a sync rate of 7296/1088 can expect a speed test results of 5800/700-800.

DSL Max (ADSL2 Platform) (A 15Megs service advertised as a 16Megs service) with a sync rate 16320/1088 can expect a speed test results of 14000/700-800.


Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • HSE (ADSL platform) (A 4megs service advertised as a 5Megs service) customers with a sync rate of 5056/800 can expect speed test results of about 4200/680. DSL Performance (ADSL Platform) (a 5Megs service advertised as 7Megs service due to Equipment limitation(non ADSL2) customers with a sync rate of 6016/800 can expect speed test results of about 5000/680. DSL Performance (ADSL2 Platform) (a 6Megs service advertised as a 7Megs service) with a sync rate of 7296/1088 can expect a speed test results of 5800/700-800. DSL Max (ADSL2 Platform) (A 15Megs service advertised as a 16Megs service) with a sync rate 16320/1088 can expect a speed test results of 14000/700-800. I've included a theoretical results graph for name of service, speed in KB/sec & kilobits/megabits per second. Speed Test Results Chart Service Synch Rate Transfer Rate (in KB/s) X 8 (in kilobits) Basic/ Total Internet Essential 160/96 10 to 16 80 to 128 Basic/ Total Internet Essential 288/288 20 to 28 160 to 224 HS/ Total Internet Essential Plus 672/160 30 to 65 240 to 520 HS/ Total Internet Essential Plus 1184/160 70 to 125 560 to 1000 HS/ Total Internet Performance 1728/384 130 to 180 1040 to 1440 HS/ Total Internet Performance 2496/640 200 to 250 1600 to 2000 HS/ Total Internet Performance 3008/800 250 to 300 2000 to 2400 Ultra/ Total Internet Performance 3488/800 350+ 2800 Ultra/ Total Internet Performance 4032/800 400+ 3200+ Ultra/ Total Internet Performance 5056/800 500+ 4000+ Total Internet Performance 7Mbps 7296/1088 700+ 5600+ Total Internet Max 10Mbps 10304/1088 1000+ 8000+ Total Internet Max 12Mbps 12288/1088 1200+ 9600+ Total Internet Max 16Mbps 16320/1088 1600+ 12800+

    2008-07-11 15:33:01 (Bell Martin See Profile)

by MacGyver See Profile
last modified: 2008-07-13 20:16:17


Not confirmed as a complete list:

512/512 - DSL Basic
160/96 - Basic Lite
1.0meg (Sync 1184/160) - Advertised 1.0meg service
1.0meg (Sync 1184/384) - NOT Advertised
1.0meg (Sync 1184/800) - NOT Advertised
1.5meg (Sync 1728/384) - Advertised 1.5meg service
1.5meg (Sync 1784/800 & 1784/640) - NOT Advertised, some people have been put on this profile as an upgrade, if their line cannot support higher download speeds.
2.0meg (Sync 2496/800 & 2496/640) - NOT Advertised
2.5meg (sync 3008/640) - NOT Advertised
2.5meg (sync 3008/800) - Advertised 3meg service
3.0meg (sync 3488/800 & 3488/640) - NOT Advertised
3.5meg (sync 4032/640) - NOT Advertised
3.5meg (sync 4032/800) - Advertised 4meg service
4.5meg (sync 5056/800) - Advertised 5meg service
5.5meg (sync 6016/800) - Advertised 6meg service
14.5meg (sync 16357/1087) - Advertised 16meg service

The speeds you can expect for some of the above profiles is as follows:

535/80KB/sec = 5056/800kbit sync profile Current "5meg package"
425/80KB/sec = 4032/800kbit sync profile Current "4meg package"
375/80KB/sec = 3488/800kbit sync profile
310/80KB/sec = 3008/800kbit sync profile Current "3meg package"
250/70KB/sec = 2496/640kbit sync profile
175/80KB/sec = 1728/800kbit sync profile
175/70KB/sec = 1728/640kbit sync profile
175/40KB/sec = 1728/384kbit sync profile
125/70KB/sec = 1184/640kbit sync profile
125/40KB/sec = 1184/384kbit sync profile
125/16KB/sec = 1184/160kbit sync profile
credit HiVolt See Profile


Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • My down load speed my be fast according to bell but its not much faster then my old dial up speed ??? what a rip off.

    2012-01-02 11:50:55

  • This information is ancient. Bell now offers MAX services. I am PAYING for MAX 16 - they also have MAX 12. My highest speed to date has been 10 and that was like once in two months of testing. So I am getting SERIOUSLY ripped-off considering my AVERAGE speed is 3 Mbps - while, again - paying for 16 Mbps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2009-12-20 21:00:34

  • 310-SURF send you to http://service.sympatico.ca/index.cfm?method=categories.view&category_id=654 - they subsequently ask to download the Alcatel USB Modem driver executable and measure your "transfer rate" based on the time to download, I find this unreliable.

    2009-03-16 09:35:03 (siljaline See Profile)

by MacGyver See Profile edited by BliZZardX See Profile
last modified: 2009-12-20 21:43:24