Project BGrade - NZ Int/National Broadband Speed Test Comparison and Database

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Project BGrade is an attempt to create a database of speedtest results of NZ ISPs. The Project BGrade client runs several speedtests, then submits the result to a MySql database (in a rather plaintext, insecure way via HTTP - be nice! don't submit false results!). The client also stores results locally in a results.txt file, and also in a tab-seperated export.txt file which you can import into an Excel spreadsheet. It's all done in PHP, but there's also an .exe available, compiled using Bambalam PHP EXE Compiler/Embedder, so you don't need PHP installed. Extract to a folder somewhere and run either the .exe or the .php.

I know a Flash based speedtest would probabaly be better, but that would take a lot more time to create (I've never made stuff in Flash before). I'd rather keep it in a language I'm semi-comfortable with, even if it isn't the most optimal - honestly, who codes client-side stuff in PHP!

If you want to be really helpful, then add the client to Windows' Task Scheduler or Linux's CRON - 11 or 13 hour intervals would be awesome. The more results there are in the database, over a larger variety of times during the day, the more accurate the analysis of the results can be. Adding the client to the quick-launch bar and using it instead of other speedtests will help too. There can never be too many results.

If you've got any suggestions on how to make things better (eg. suggest a new test destination) then get in touch. Also, if you find this site interesting and useful, you might want to suggest it to your friends. The more people running tests on a regular basis, the better.


Remember that this site is a work in progress. Some things will work, some won't. I know the site looks awful and basic, but I'd rather concentrate on collecting useful data than spending hours designing a pretty website.