Upload speed really low on Max Unlimited plan

[mattyp987]

Hi there,

I'm on the Max Unlimited plan, and when I run a speed test on the phone (Ookla), it says that I am getting say 100 mbps download speed and 30 mbps upload speed, however, at that precise moment, I am actually only getting about 0.8meg upload speed. (because I am uploading a file at that time), so it's taking me about an hour to upload a 2.3gb video file.

At no time since I've been on the plan have I acheived over 4 mbps upload speed.

I know that EE don't ever guarantee upload speeds, but it does whiff a bit that the speed test software reads one thing when the actual real-world speed is way, way slower. (I've tried this on 2 devices, an Iphone 13 Pro Max and a Oneplus Nord, both 5g capable phones and both perform similar upload speeds, attempting uploads in multiple locatioons using different Phone mast signals). This isn't just an EE issue though, I get similar results on Three network as well.

Can anyone shine a light on this issue please. 

[Northerner]

Hi @mattyp987 

Your speeds are only as good as the service you're connecting to and downloading from. With Ookla you are connecting to a fast server.

What service are you uploading that 2.3GB file? 

Thanks 

[XRaySpeX]

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@mattyp987 wrote:

I am actually only getting about 0.8meg upload speed. (because I am uploading a file at that time)

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While transmissions rates are measured in bits/sec (bps), file loads are measured in Bytes/sec (Bps). You sure that upload speed isn't really 0.8 MBps = ~ 6.4 Mbps?

[mattyp987]

Hi there, no idea. It takes just over 1 hour to upload a 2.3gb file, so what does that translate to regarding an Ookla speed test? Sorry.

[XRaySpeX]

Where you read that '0.8meg' is it followed by a capital 'B' or a small 'b'?

[Chris_B]

@XRaySpeX  Okala reads it as Mbps.  

@mattyp987  if you have apps running in the background this will effect any speed test you do as they are also requiring data at the same time your doing the test.  

[XRaySpeX]

Yes, @Chris_B , I know Ookla does but I'm asking about the file upload. Win certainly uses MBps.

[mattyp987]

Hi there,

Finally!

And behold there was light!!

God I am a bit dim. Finally I understand. Now it all makes sense! Who'd a thunk it, B is 8 times bigger than b. Of course B is 8 times bigger than b. We always measure file sizes in b odn't we?

Anyway, many thanks, you certainly have cleared it up for me. Finally the veil has been lifted from my eyes. Still it doesn't help me when my average file upload size if 16GB lol.

[XRaySpeX]

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.

[Opsuk]

There are 8 bits in a byte. Bandwidth speed is measured in bits per second Mbps file size is done in bytes. So you can express download speed in MBps but that is unusual. 

Many ISPs advertise very fast broadband. EE has a 1.6Gbps service (on full fibre).  Full fibre is where you have an actual fibre optic cable run to your house. I have this at home because I am too far from the exchange to get anything more than 0.5Mbps. I can get 1Gbps download with upload of 100Mbos, if I want. As I said, EE do offer this. Yes you can download huge files, like the ones you state you regularly upload. However, that is assuming the server you upload to can handle this speed and it is not restricted. Very few people need that.

Many people seem to buy the adverts from the ISPs that somehow your games will play better, your movies will look better, your music will sound better etc. Absolute bo** *cks. 4K movies use 25Mbps. Games use a maximum of 5 Mbps. Music around 2Mbps and web browsing around 2Mbps. Other than huge file uploads or downloads, a gigabit connection will be great, if you have 30-40 people in your household. 40 people could all stream 4K movies at once or 500 people could surf the web. You could also have 100 people gaming at the same time (gaming requires upload). Not really needed for most people.

As for the claim that you can even game during busy periods, full fibre does not slow down. If you have an actual speed of 1.4Gbps, you will always get this. Unlike ADSL and VDSL (fibre to the cabinet, not the home), full fibre does not share a modem in the cabinet with other users in your street.

So yes, if you need to regularly download 16Gb files, then a fast full fibre connection will be a huge boost. Otherwise it really is not needed (unless you live in a commune with over 30 people).