[Gigabit]

Is there a speed test that doesn't use data on Three phones?

[nafanny29]

Connect to wifi

[tdenson]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

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]

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]

Quote:

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]

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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]

Exactly so you still need to use data.

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

[Gigabit]

Quote:

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]

Quote:

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