Albufeira's Forum : phone operators

phone operators : The higher the latency number...

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 16:53:54 +0000

Author: cubsur
Subject: 9604
Posted: 03/November/2016 at 16:53

The higher the latency number the longer it takes for stuff to arrive. Speed isn't everything.

99.25 is very poor but does depend on where and what you are pinging to.

Read http://www.speedtest.net/articles/what-is-ping-what-is-latency/

The analogy between a data flow and water flowing through a pipe is a good one. If you cannot watch TV properly, block the kids devices and keep the bandwidth for yourself.

Jitter is also a factor but not easy to measure in short term. Especially for video and also for voice eg Skype, a constant rate of 'flow' is important, even if it is quite slow. If the speed goes up and down you can get stops and starts, always when someone's about to score!

I have just re-tested my MEO fixed line broadband which is currently connected to a UK proxy

Download : 8.82Mbps Upload a rather sad 0.75, ping 54ms

The BT site mentioned above tested on the same connection gave me 6.05 download, 0.71 upload ping 46ms

I was getting 12 - 15 download a few months ago so work needed out there. I have seen fibre optic cable being laid in town, so there is hope yet.

phone operators : DICEYUK wrote:This is the most...

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 16:21:17 +0000

Author: tonisdad
Subject: 9604
Posted: 02/November/2016 at 16:21

DICEYUK wrote:

This is the most reliable and accurate speed test
http://speedtest.btwholesale.com/
The fact that it's BT doesn't matter it works for any ISP in any Country

I use it without jumping through all the hoops listed but if you need a really accurate reading then you relly need to comply with them.

Dicey just doing a quick test without hoop jumping..I will need to find ethernet cable for that I get:
Download 7.02 upload 0.80 ping latency 99.25
As I say it doesn`t mean a lot to me!!

phone operators : This is the most reliable and...

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 16:12:36 +0000

Author: DICEYUK
Subject: 9604
Posted: 02/November/2016 at 16:12

This is the most reliable and accurate speed test
http://speedtest.btwholesale.com/
The fact that it's BT doesn't matter it works for any ISP in any Country

I use it without jumping through all the hoops listed but if you need a really accurate reading then you relly need to comply with them.

phone operators : I don`t really understand this...

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:34:11 +0000

Author: tonisdad
Subject: 9604
Posted: 02/November/2016 at 15:34

I don`t really understand this upload download malarky either my computer works OK or it doesn`t.
I used to have vodafone dongle/hotspot that was OK 99% of the time .We now have MEO fixed line and most of the time it is crap just tested and got this:
Ping 14ms download speed 7.03mbps upload speed 0.90 mbps
second test:
13ms 7.02mbps 0.88mbps

phone operators : SOME MORE 3G SPEED TESTS All...

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 11:37:49 +0000

Author: cubsur
Subject: 9604
Posted: 02/November/2016 at 11:37

SOME MORE 3G SPEEDTESTS

All on the afternoon ofMonday afternoon 31^st October at the times and places listed.

I am beginning towonder how accurate these tests may be! They may show how wide thevariations can be even when sitting for 15 minutes in exactly thesame place.

Two very poor areas arearound the CÃ¢mara and the top end of the strip.

Location	Time	Download	Upload	Ping (msecs)
These first ones I was inside a bus
Boavista hotel Rua Samora Barros	14.42	3.07	1.30	54
Outside Old Cemetery	14.43	1.81	1.41	45
St Vicente statue	14.46	4.46	1.38	52
Avenida Liberade bus stops	14.48	3.21	1.59	55
Health Centre	14.50	4.41	1.90	55
Opposite bus station	14.53	3.25	1.30	68
Fire Station	14.56	1.74	1.36	53
CÃ¢mara	14.57	1.14	1.35	54
Modelo bus stop	15.00	2.12	1.23	65
Now off the bus
Jinky's Bar at strip	15.05	1.85	1.59	61
Opposite Senhor Frogs	15.21	2.37	2.18	64
The little park near Hotel Montechoro	15.28	1.16	1.64	73
ditto	15.29	2.17	0.98	72
ditto	15.30	0.61	0.49	81
Outside Ancora Bar, strip	15.37	3.86	1.45	61
Strip, opposite the Cottage	15.41	1.79	1.38	57
Sitting at the bus stop by Wild & Co	15.48	2.45	1.06	55
ditto	15.51	7.26	2.16	45
ditto	15.53	8.69	1.96	44
ditto	15.56	10.13	1.22	58
ditto	15.59	9.82	3.00	51
ditto	16.02	9.43	1.62	43
Back on a bus
Tres Palmeiras	16.17	2.37	0.66	59
Inatel	16.21	0.24	0.556	58
Inatel while some stupid woman...	16.22	2.53	2.38	45
Pau da Bandeira escalators top	16.25	3.83	1.37	59
CÃ¢mara bus stop	16.27	1.42	1.07	55
Rua Alves Coorreia old town	16.27	4.07	1.27	54
Cerro Mar	16.32	3.66	1.39	76
Secondary School	16.34	1.43	1.26	82

phone operators : Forum locked me out!My NOS phone...

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 10:02:56 +0000

Author: cubsur
Subject: 9604
Posted: 31/October/2016 at 10:02

Forum locked me out!

My NOS phone is a cheapo one with a 3G SIM. I have been using it more and more recently while out and about for other than just being a phone. My portable hot spot, which I often take with me, was loaned out. I have become more and more aware of dead spots, slow speeds and general connectivity issues. I don't stream video or play games. I have used Skype for video calls without problems.

You will see that I did two tests within a minute at exactly the same place the top end of Avenida da Liberdade. Much better speed the second time, even though both results were pretty poor.

The distance between the two tests at Continente was about 100 metres.

The one that surprised me the most was at Silves station. It's only a about mile (1.7km) from town and for those who don't know it is quite high up. For the 30 minutes or so I was waiting there I had, in effect, no data service at all.

I will complain a little about my home broadband, which although I get HDTV without a problem currently delivers only around 8Mbps download, 2Mbps upload. I shouldn't complain too much perhaps as I am paying only â‚¬9.98 per month plus VAT.

My phone has just tested indoors here in PÃ¡teo at 7.66 download, 2.65 upload. My MEO hotspot was 7.47 and 1.65. The NOS website says I will receive 'up to' 21.6 in this area, nowhere near that of course!

The coverage maps on commercial websites are rather unreliable as they rely on data submited by users, which seems to consists mainly of people in cars. According to several of the maps there is no mobile coverage in most of Albufeira old town!

I will do some more later this week. Other users results from specific locations would be of interest.

A glance at some maps showing transmitter locations does seem to indicate that Vodafone has the most around this area. That would help them maintain decent speeds among the users.

phone operators : Those speed tests do appear to...

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 22:20:49 +0000

Author: stuart123
Subject: 9604
Posted: 30/October/2016 at 22:20

Those speed tests do appear to be very low - the NOS 4G card I'm using varies between 10 and 20mbit up & download speeds.

Although around town there are some dead spots.

phone operators : You've changed your tune...

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:43:39 +0000

Author: Biggunspaul
Subject: 9604
Posted: 30/October/2016 at 17:43

You've changed your tune cubsur,as when I posted up on another thread saying how i got consistant good speed results at different locations,one of which was 74mb download and upload of 39mb you said speed isn't everything,now your posting up speed test results yourself,what's that about ?

As according to your previous post a speed test result could be good one minute and rubbish the next,so posting up what they are in different locations is a waste of time as one minute they could be good and the next it could be nothing at all

phone operators : Those speeds are pants. either...

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 14:52:00 +0000

Author: peteknopp
Subject: 9604
Posted: 30/October/2016 at 14:52

Those speeds are pants. either your phone is coal fired or Optimus are very slow. With an iphone on Meo I rarely see less than 20mbps (lowest probably 10-12) download all along from Albufeira to Vilamoura.

phone operators : Over the past few days i have...

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 11:37:17 +0000

Author: cubsur
Subject: 9604
Posted: 30/October/2016 at 11:37

Over the past few days i have run Speedtest on my Optimus phone at various locations around Albufeira and elsewhere. Unscientific but the results show how widely service varies even between places that are scarcely a few hundred yards apart. The best speed I had was inside Continente supermarket in the town, at the back by the fish counter! The slowest, effectively no service at at all, was at Silves railway station. Make of this what you will. If you want to do the same, go to speedtest.net

Latency is the time it takes for the distant end to respond. HSPAP is High Speed Packet Access an enhanced 3G service. UMTS is the more common or garden variety. Edge is between 2G and 3G, no good for most internet.

if you want to know what all those little network symbols next to the bars on your phone mean, here's a guide

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/edge-3g-h-etc-mobile-networks/

Date and time	ConnType	Download	Upload	Latency	ServerName	My physical
		Mbps	Mbps		where tested to	location
					not local transmitter

2016-10-29 17:31	Hspap	3.53	0.72	64	Lisbon	On a bus near Bullring Albufeira
2016-10-29 14:35	Hspap	6.15	1.71	55	Lisbon	Quarteira Stadium
2016-10-29 13:45	Hspap	6.04	1.64	59	Evora	Outside Alfagar 2 near Balaia

2016-10-28 12:55	Hspap	1.81	1.54	58	Lisbon	Albufeira Bus Station
2016-10-28 12:47	Hspap	0.2	0.06	59	Lisbon	On a bus at Brejos
2016-10-28 12:07	Umts	7.16	1.5	58	Lisbon	Inside Continente
2016-10-28 11:55	Umts	2.49	0.8	59	Lisbon	Outside Continente Modelo
2016-10-28 11:41	Hspap	3.74	1.49	69	Lisbon	Avenida Liberdade top end
2016-10-28 11:40	Hspap	3.08	3	55	Palmela	Avenida Liberdade top end
2016-10-27 16:07	Umts	0.49	0.43	48	Palmela	PÃ¡teo
2016-10-27 15:41	Umts	0.53	0.43	66	Palmela	Albufeira Health Centre
2016-10-27 15:33	Umts	0.52	0.4	44	Palmela	Ferreiras on a bus
2016-10-27 15:29	Hspap	0.52	0.43	43	Palmela	Albufeira railway station
2016-10-27 15:29	Hspap	0.48	0.4	49	Palmela	Albufeira railway station
2016-10-27 14:38	Hspap	0.22	0.31	49	Lisbon	Silves railway station
2016-10-27 14:38	Edge	0.07	0.28	121	Lisbon	Silves railway station
2016-10-27 13:43	Hspap	6.64	1.02	48	Evora	Silves town centre
2016-10-27 11:58	Hspa	3.25	0.74	64	Lisbon	Vale Paraiso near Albufeira
2016-10-21 13:26	Hspap	5.18	2.5	39	Lisbon	Balaia Golf Club



	Effectively no connection at all. This is 1.8km from the previous reading

phone operators : I've had meo and optimus...

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 22:10:54 +0000

Author: A9NDY
Subject: 9604
Posted: 24/October/2016 at 22:10

I've had meo and optimus and never had any issues with both always a good coverage .... if I need wifi I've gone into one of my locals to save data , tbf I try to keep my use age to a minimum ,in my down time ðŸ˜Š

phone operators : If you go to the Worten mobile...

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:58:12 +0000

Author: cubsur
Subject: 9604
Posted: 24/October/2016 at 10:58

If you go to the Worten mobile shop at one of the big shopping centres (eg Continente Modelo in Albufeira or Algarve Shopping near Guia) they sell all three networks so you can esaily compare prices.

I have an Optimus mobile which works ok almost everywhere down here. Ther are some black spots as you go up into the hills. 3G data service can be slow during schoolday afternoons here in town when the little brats are hogging the airwaves.

MEO and Vodafone are the other two operators.

phone operators : MEO or Vodafone appear to have...

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:47:34 +0000

Author: stuart123
Subject: 9604
Posted: 23/October/2016 at 20:47

MEO or Vodafone appear to have the most coverage and best details across the algarve region.

phone operators : whats the best mobile operators...

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 18:25:59 +0000

Author: EBSA
Subject: 9604
Posted: 23/October/2016 at 18:25

whats the best mobile operators in regards coverage and plans for prepay customers? iv looked on their sites but dont really understand the lingo