• TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
  • Follow
    • Follow
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • google+
    • instagram
    • youtube
Hearst Corporation
  • TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
Forums
  • Register
  • Login
  • Forums
  • Gadgets
  • Mobile Phones
Speed test on Three without using data?
Gigabit
18-10-2015
Is there a speed test that doesn't use data on Three phones?
nafanny29
18-10-2015
Connect to wifi
tdenson
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by Gigabit:
“Is there a speed test that doesn't use data on Three phones?”

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms ? How do you test the speed of transferring data without transferring data ? Perhaps what you really mean is whether there are speed tests that use less data than the well known ones.
Daveoc64
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by tdenson:
“Isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms ? How do you test the speed of transferring data without transferring data ? Perhaps what you really mean is whether there are speed tests that use less data than the well known ones.”

EE doesn't generally charge people for speed tests carried out using the Root Metrics app. Yes, data is consumed, but EE recognises where it's coming from and doesn't charge for it (or deduct it from allowances).

Other networks around the world have similar things in place.

I'm not aware of anything in the UK other than that one exception for EE.
Resonance
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by tdenson:
“Isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms ? How do you test the speed of transferring data without transferring data ? Perhaps what you really mean is whether there are speed tests that use less data than the well known ones.”

EE for example don't count data used on the Root Metrics speed test.
DevonBloke
18-10-2015
Unfortunately all networks except EE are playing catch up and don't much care about speed rather whether they have any coverage at all.
EE on the other hand have built their network for speed and capacity and therefore want as many people as possible to do Rootmetrics tests so don't include this data in allowances.
Unfortunately I forgot this tonight as I did a test on a rural South Devon EE mast (Harbertonford) and managed to use about 130 MB of data doing a 10 second Ookla test at 104Mbps per second!!!
mupet0000
18-10-2015
EE clearly has a network that can handle such useless data usage (otherwise they wouldn't give out sims with 200GB of data every few months). This would be a terrible idea on Three as it's already congested without handing out free speedtests.

On the other hand, Three does AYCE data, so any customer on an AYCE plan can already run speedtests as many times as they like.
jchamier
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by Daveoc64:
“I'm not aware of anything in the UK other than that one exception for EE.”

Vodafone has their "Vodafone Net Perform" which on Vodafone UK plans doesn't seem to use any data from the allowance.

Not sure its a very good app though :-/
DevonBloke
18-10-2015
This is a good point. All you can eat means essentially free.
However I take issue with your assumption that it's useless.
It may be a bit pointless having 200Mbps on a mobile, I agree but what this does is enable vast capacity both for now and the near future where data usage is simply going to explode.
If someone's EE phone can upload that 500MB video in a minute or two rather than dragging it out over 30 minutes then the network is freed up for others to do the same.
mupet0000
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by DevonBloke:
“This is a good point. All you can eat means essentially free.
However I take issue with your assumption that it's useless.
It may be a bit pointless having 200Mbps on a mobile, I agree but what this does is enable vast capacity both for now and the near future where data usage is simply going to explode.
If someone's EE phone can upload that 500MB video in a minute or two rather than dragging it out over 30 minutes then the network is freed up for others to do the same.”

Oh that's not what I meant, sorry I wasn't clear.

I just meant that the actual speed test data carried is useless/garbage data that is going to further congest Three's network and they could do without people running speed tests for free.

I'm all for speedy network upgrades.
DevonBloke
18-10-2015
Originally Posted by mupet0000:
“Oh that's not what I meant, sorry I wasn't clear.

I just meant that the actual speed test data carried is useless/garbage data that is going to further congest Three's network and they could do without people running speed tests for free.

I'm all for speedy network upgrades.”

Hahahaha, sorry, I've got it now!
Don't you just hate text communication?
World wars could be started on a simple misunderstanding.
To be fair to you, I have been working all day, staring at a bloody PC screen (yes, on a Sunday, I'm mental and self employed.... don't ask!), I'm knackered and to be honest didn't read your post properly.
I can see what you mean now.
tdenson
19-10-2015
Originally Posted by Daveoc64:
“EE doesn't generally charge people for speed tests carried out using the Root Metrics app. Yes, data is consumed, but EE recognises where it's coming from and doesn't charge for it (or deduct it from allowances).

Other networks around the world have similar things in place.

I'm not aware of anything in the UK other than that one exception for EE.”

You live and learn, I didn't realise that and stand corrected.
jonmorris
20-10-2015
Vodafone and EE have apps that use no data, but I'm not aware of anything for Three. I know internally Three gets all the data from Ookla on speed tests done via the Speedtest app, but 'we' still pay for tests assuming we haven't got AYCE data.

I am not aware of anything for O2 either, but how much data could you use in a month on O2 doing speed tests? 20 or 30KB?
Mark C
20-10-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“Vodafone and EE have apps that use no data, but I'm not aware of anything for Three. I know internally Three gets all the data from Ookla on speed tests done via the Speedtest app, but 'we' still pay for tests assuming we haven't got AYCE data.”

I can tell you Three charged for 7 MB worth of roaming data, while I faffed around on their website trying to activate the Euro Pass for the day.
natbike
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by Mark C:
“I can tell you Three charged for 7 MB worth of roaming data, while I faffed around on their website trying to activate the Euro Pass for the day.”

At least it won't happen again. Once on the pass, you will be given a splash page and must choose to buy (or not) before being allowed to use data. That first time was a pain for me too.
prking
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by Resonance:
“EE for example don't count data used on the Root Metrics speed test.”

That wasn't what Gigabit asked though. The question was whether thffete is a speed test that doesn't use data. Not if there was one that isn't charged.
clewsy
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by prking:
“That wasn't what Gigabit asked though. The question was whether thffete is a speed test that doesn't use data. Not if there was one that isn't charged.”

Well how would it test the speed if it didn't use data?

It's the data its using that it's measuring the speed results from.
Gigabit
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by clewsy:
“Well how would it test the speed if it didn't use data?

It's the data its using that it's measuring the speed results from.”

As others have said, EE and Vodafone don't charge for certain speed tests.

Of course the data still transfers, you just aren't charged for it.
clewsy
24-10-2015
Exactly so you still need to use data.

There is no speed test that I know of that doesn't use data.
Gigabit
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by clewsy:
“Exactly so you still need to use data.

There is no speed test that I know of that doesn't use data.”

I give up.
Resonance
24-10-2015
Originally Posted by prking:
“That wasn't what Gigabit asked though. The question was whether thffete is a speed test that doesn't use data. Not if there was one that isn't charged.”

I think we all knew what was meant. Well most of us anyway
VIEW DESKTOP SITE TOP

JOIN US HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Hearst Corporation

Hearst Corporation

DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK

© 2015 Hearst Magazines UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Complaints
  • Site Map