FAQ
Overall
What is BLIMP?
BLIMP stands for Broadband Line Information Monitoring Project. This is basically a tool which will make periodic measurements of your line speed and return this data automatically to the BLIMP database. In return, you will have access to a historical log that shows how the speed of your broadband connection is changing over time and you will also be contributing information on broadband infrastructure which is vital if we are to achieve our goal of creating a broadband network that is in the top tier internationally.
How does BLIMP work?
The BLIMP project relies on the end users downloading and installing a small piece of software called a Test Bot on their machines. The Test Bot runs in the background as a service and consumes a tiny amount of resource. The Test Bot periodically contacts the Test Server and arranges to perform three tests, which are download, upload and latency. The Test Servers control the scheduling of test, and additional Test Servers are created automatically as the demand for tests increase.
Test Results are stored on the Test Servers and presented to the BLIMP website for access.
What is the information gathered by BLIMP used for?
We measure the speed of the broadband service to your PC in order to gives us geographical data on broadband speeds. This will be used to help us improve the broadband infrastructure in the UK. We don't see any information on your browsing habits or collect any personal data on you beyond what you can see on the website.
Installation
How do I Register?
To register, please select and click on the REGISTER link on the left of the screen.
Please complete the form presented which includes User Name, Password, Email and User Type.
The User Name must be a unique name on the system. The system will inform you if the name entered is in use.
The email information will allow the system to generate password resets at your request. (no other emails will be sent to this address from the BLIMP system)
Please select a suitable End User Type to allow a more useful production of statistics.
Once this information has been entered the system will email you a special ACCOUNT ACTIVATION CODE. This is important as this is required when installing the software at a later stage.
When you receive the activation email, it will contain the ACCOUNT ACTIVATION CODE and a URL link to take you to the next stage of the login. Please click on the URL link, which will direct your browser to an Account Confirmation screen. From here you can chose to download the desktop installation software, or retain the Activation Key and use the Download option at a later date.
What is the Software's Downloading and Installing process?
You can download the software (known as the Test Bot) at any time. However to install the software you require an Activation Key, which is obtained via the Registration process. That Activation Key is emailed to you via the Registration process and is displayed within the browser during the Registration process.
Following the link to Download the software, either via the Download navigation option on the left of the web site or the link at the end of the Registration process. You can chose to RUN or SAVE the file. We would suggest saving the file to your Desktop (or any other temporary location) where you can then run the executable file from.
Install the software by double-clicking on the file, which will begin the installation process. The process gives you the option to change the default installation path, enter your User Name (case sensitive) and the Activation Code which you received via email. You will see files uncompressing and the process should complete within a few seconds.
From this point the desktop client will run in the background. Under your Programs locations within Windows you will see a new program group called BLIMP with 5 menu items, entitled:
- Readme
- Start Test Bot
- Stop Test Bot
- Uninstall
- Website
The Test Bot will begin a test at a random time after installation.
How can I install the system on Windows 2000 from a non administrator account?
Select the installer program then simultaneously hold down the "shift key" and the "Right Mouse Button". A menu will appear with "Run As..." option available, select this menu option. Enter the administrators user name, and password then press the "OK" button.
Why does the system need to be installed using an administrator account?
The installer needs to install and configure a Windows Service, this requires administrator privileges.
Running
How can I check if the software is correctly installed and working?
Login to this web-site and see if results are appearing in "My Results".
How do I Login?
To Login to the web site, please click on the Login navigation link on the left side of the screen. You will be prompted for you User Name and Password.
How do I get a User Name Reminder?
To obtain a reminder for your User Name select the Login option from the left side of the web site. Under the Login boxes you will be provided with options for a forgotten User Name. Select this option and enter your email address. If this email address is the correct one registered to your profile, you will receive and email containing your User Name.
How do I get a Password Reminder?
To obtain a reminder for your Password select the Login option from the left side of the web site. Under the Login boxes you will be provided with options for a forgotten password. Select this option and enter your User Name. If this User Name is the correct one registered to your profile, you will receive and email containing a URL link to follow which will allow you to create a new Password.
How do I get a Activation Key Reminder?
To obtain a reminder for your Activation Key select the Login option from the left side of the web site. Under the Login boxes you will be provided with options for a forgotten activation key. Select this option and enter your User Name. If this User Name is the correct one registered to your profile, you will receive and email containing a your activation key.
Website
What is the purpose of "My Results" page?
To view your test results select My Results once logged in. You will be presented with a graphical representation showing the maximum, average and minimum test measurements taken since testing with your Test Bot began. There are three tests, Download, Upload and Latency which can be displayed. Also the Location of the tests can be viewed. The Location of test will change if the Test Bot exists on a mobile device which is connected to the Internet via different ISPs or at different locations. Each change in ISP or location results in a different source IP address being used on the machine. The various source IP addresses used will be displayed in this Location box. You can define a name for the location based on the IP address. See the My Location FAQ.
These test results can be displayed over three different time periods.
"Last 7 Days", "Days of the Week" and "Hours of Day"
The "Last 7 Days" view displays min/max/ave test results for each day. If there is only one test per day these three values may be the same and the dots will appear on top of each other. If there was more than one test carried out each day then there should be different test results, and you should see different values for the min/max/ave figures.
The "Days of the Week" view groups test results by the day of the week they where taken. This chart takes into account all test results gathered by your account. This chart is useful for finding out which day of the week has the best performance. For example, you may notice that your broadband connection is faster during week days.
The "Hour of Day" view groups test results by the hour of the day they where taken. This chart takes into account all test results gathered by your account. This chart is useful for finding out which hour of the day has the best performance. For example, you may notice that your connection is faster after 10pm and before 5pm.
What is the purpose of "My Locations" page?
As the Test Bot may be installed on a laptop which could perform tests at different locations which use different Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the test results will show that a different source IP address was used. To allow the project to map broadband perform on a geographical basis, we need to know the post code at which these tests were performed from. This is a difficult task to automate, therefore the project relies upon the support and cooperation of end user. We appreciate this is quite a task, but we request that you define your test location in this section of the web site.
Within the My Locations screen you will see various fields, which we would appreciate your time to complete. The only mandatory field is that of Location and Post Code. The Nickname field will be useful to you when you are viewing your results on the My Results screen. The Internet Service Provide, and Download/Upload Speeds and Firewall fields allow us to provide better statistical information.
Therefore please endeavor to select an IP address from the Location box and enter a Nickname and the Post Code of the location the test were performed from. To assist in the confirmation of the IP address and Postcode (we don't expect you to recognize them) it may be beneficial to visit the My Results screen where you can display all the tests perform from that IP address. By viewing the results in a combination of past week and the time of day, may provide enough information to remember where you were and input a post code. Also, on the My Locations page the date and time of the last test from each location is displayed. You can use this to work out where you where when the test was ran.
What is the purpose of "My Profile" page?
The My Profile screen holds information you have entered such as User Name, Activation Key, Email Address and User Type.
What is the purpose of "UK Results" page?
The UK Results page allows the user to input a Postcode sector and view the combined results for that Postcode sector. A Postcode sector is a postcode with the last 2 digits removed. You can use this page to see the differing speeds experienced by our users for different ISPs in that area.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling
How do I remove the Software?
To remove the software from your PC, simply click on the Uninstall icon which lives under the BLIMP program group within the Windows Programs.
How do I re-install the Software?
To re-install the Test Bot software we assume you have already registered with the web site and have a valid User Name and Activation Key. To obtain your User Name follow the FAQ for "User Name Reminder". To obtain your original Activation Key, please login to the web site and select My Profile. The Activation key is displayed here.
Follow the Download and Install FAQ, and with the details above, you will be able to re-install the Test Bot.
Troubleshooting
Why don't I see any results in the "My Results" page?
This can be caused by a number of problems:
- The results are only loaded when you login, this is to reduce the strain on the BLIMP servers. Try logging out and then logging in again.
- You may not have activated your account. You should have received an email from BLIMP when you registered. This contains a link to follow which automatically activates your account.
- You may have entered the wrong details when installing the software on your computer. You can check this by doing the following: Click "Start" -> "All Programs" -> "BLIMP" then right click on "Activation" and select "Run as Administrator". It is very important to run this as administrator, if you don't, no change will be made. You can now check the "user name" and "Activation Key" fields. These are case sensitive. The 'User name' is the username you signed up with and what you use to sign into the BLIMP website. The 'Activation Key' was sent to you in an email when you registered. If you have forgotten either of these, you can request them to be sent to you in an email by following the link on the 'Login' page.
- If none of these actions work, then please email support at the address below. We'll do our best to resolve the problem for you.
Support
How can I get support?
If you require any additional information or you are having problems with the installation, use or interpretation, please email us at the support@blimpchecker.co.uk email address