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Test triggers

We have developed several different types of test. Scheduled tests that are designed to run from thousands of routers without overwhelming your network. Instant tests from a router, smart device, or both.

Scheduled tests

A typical test schedule would involve executing some tests once per hour, and other heavier tests (such as the speed tests) once every few hours. Alternatively, customers may wish to focus their measurements during the peak-hour periods, in order to gain the most representative view of user performance.

Whiteboxes and the Router Agent support the scheduled execution of tests. The schedule is dictated by a customisable configuration profile, all tests are conducted when there is no cross traffic detected.

Test when the connection is idle

If cross-traffic was detected when a scheduled test is due to be executed, then the agent will pause, and wait for for a 5-second window without any cross-traffic. If 30 seconds pass with no opportunity to test, the queued tests are skipped. The levels of cross-traffic, along with the currently configured threshold and other details of the interface it was detected on, are recorded and submitted to our data pipeline.
If any 5-second period shows no cross-traffic, then a 30-second window is opened in which scheduled tests are executed. After this period elapses, the agent will begin the cross-traffic checking process again.

Don't overwhelm your network

Whilst the same test schedule can be assigned to thousands or even millions of devices, that does not mean that they all run measurements at the same instant. The test schedule includes a window within which tests should take place. Each agent receives a customised test schedule that ensures that its measurement traffic does not coincide with too many others.

This chart illustrates cross traffic on a home network and under which circumstances a scheduled test would or wouldn't run.

RealSpeed test

The RealSpeed test is actually two separate tests - the device-based speed test (either via a web browser or a smartphone), and an Instant router-based speed test. This provides a measurement of:

  • Performance from the user’s device to the Internet
  • Performance from the user’s SamKnows-enabled router to the Internet.

This combination of these two results can be used to infer whether a performance issue exists inside the customer’s home or on the Internet connection.

Understand home Wi-Fi performance

This can be used to better inform the customer about their in-home network performance, potentially allowing them to resolve an issue without placing a customer support request.

Support staff can identify bottlenecks in-home

The results from a customer’s two-step speed tests are also visible to their ISP’s staff via SamKnows One. This allows ISP support staff to better support customers if they do contact them.

RealSpeed run two concurrent tests. First from the router to the internet. Second from a device over the home network to the router and then out to the internet.

Instant tests

A Router with the SamKnows SDK embedded inside it supports ‘instant tests’. This allows tests to be triggered at the router remotely, with the results reported back to the initiator in realtime. Instant tests are built into SamKnows One as standard Our instant test API also allows a smartphone or web application to trigger an instant test and view realtime measurement results.

Test remotely

Instant tests can triggered a test at the router from within SamKnows One or a smartphone or web application. There is no need to be on the same network or in the same location. The client is presented with realtime feedback, including both the instantaneous measurement result and the progress through the test as a percentage. 

Instant tests can be run remotely inside SamKnows One SingleView.