GPRS Tweak: does it really increase the speed of your connection?
By Stefan Constantinescu on Sunday, December 10th, 2006 at 4:34 PM PST In Ideas and rants
When I saw this claim over at E61Life, that changing your DNS server address increases your bandwidth, I wanted to call bullshit because anyone who knows even a little bit about networking will know that changing the DNS address doesn’t affect network speed. The resolve time may be decreased yes, but the connection speed should remain constant. I decided to try it out myself. Ran a mobile speed test 6 times, 3 time under my automatic DNS settings, 3 times under this custom address. The phone was kept on my desk and wasn’t moved. I want this to be as scientifically accurate as possible.
Test 1: 114 kbit/sec
Test 2: 103 kbit/sec
Test 3: 144 kbit/sec
Average: 120.33 kbit/sec
Now let me change to the "supercharged" DNS server
Test 1: 164 kbit/sec
Test 2: 176 kbit/sec
Test 3: 179 kbit/sec
Average: 173 kbit/sec
OK now something must be happening here, this doesn’t make sense networking wise. At this point I go back into my phone and put my DNS records back to automatic. I run 3 more tests.
Test 1: 187 kbit/sec
Test 2: 163 kbit/sec
Test 3: 144 kbit/sec
Average: 164.66 kbit/sec
So it’s slower than the "supercharged" DNS server, but faster than the first results … ?
Let me continue the tests on automatic DNS mode
Test 4: 207 kbit/sec
Test 5: 189 kbit/sec
Test 6: 171 kbit/sec
Average: 189 kbit/sec
Now these are the fastest numbers I’ve gotten yet. My hypothesis has been proven wrong, the network speed hasn’t remained constant at all, it has increased. More so it has increased independently to the DNS address used.
I can only come to one conclusion: At the carrier level, bandwidth is allocated to everyone equally. When their systems start seeing that you need more bandwidth they give it to you. They do this in order to maintain QoS (Quality of Service). That or GPRS is too unpredictable to gage network performance.
Do I recommend changing your DNS address? No
Just for shits and giggles I want to see what connecting via WiFi will do to these numbers:
Test 1: 2001 kbit/sec
Test 2: 1677 kbit/sec
Test 3: 1710 kbit/sec
Average: 1796 kbit/sec = <3 WiFi
Happy to see you read my blog, but I don’t “claim” anything you know. I read it at S60 blogg S60 Blog and I tell that “perhaps” it will work.
ok, i just wanted to present how it shouldn’t matter what your dns address is.
What you guys need to make sure you realize is that they use DNS caching on the openDNS servers. The DNS cache on these servers is larger than the common ISP cache due to most ISP’s pointing to another DNS server that updates their local DNS, introducing one more hop in the network. With a mobile device any amount of decreased latency helps. I am not claiming that this tweak will make your connection speed up, just laying the facts on the table.
hey,first of all tell me Whats DNS (I am not an advanced user).
Can i increase my Gprs Speed by doing so?(my connection is Airtel MOBILE OFFICE)
is this thing work on w850i…??how can i increase gprs speed on w850i..
sir, i am using sirtel mobile office in nokia 3230, how to increase my gprs speed?
i read the review and did the thst and average 115 kbps but my download speed are at 10 to 15 kbps how can i fix this?? my cell phone provider is CincinnatBell wireless
i meant to tell you i’m connecting using a nokia 6300 with usb cable