The Internets

Speed testing:

• Miranda arl speed test
• same as web100 NDT at Stanford which lists several other speed test sites
• A huge list is here.
• Simple, but effective: Toast.net
  
• Speakeasy is just rebranded Speedtest
• Note that it might be affected by window size - maybe try tuning window scaling (RFC 1323).
  

Cable modem info... worth knowing before calling the cable company about poor bandwidth:

• DocsDiag - cable modem diagnostics - can grab current config (like speed ratings)
  

Domain hosting, in somewhat of a priority order:

• Dotster
• namecheap (reseller for ENOM, not a registrar?) Find discount code. Excellent reviews.
  
• GoDaddy supposedly has excellent customer service, at least compared to:
• 1and1 (fast cheap and reliable, but lots of reports of poor customer service)
• yahoo

Unknown:

• 777
• dynadot.com
• MyDomain.com / domain.com - use discount/coupon code "bargaincat.com"

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=508849&page=3
Also, .info domains are dirt cheap.

My current (RCA /Thomson DCM310) cable modem responds like all good modems should, to http://192.168.100.1/ Example while connected:

Forward Path:	Return Path:
Signal Acquired at 615.000 MHz	Connection: Acquired
SNR: 34.0 dB	Frequency: 36.0 MHz
Received Signal Strength: -13.4 dBmV	Power Level: 50.5 dBmV
Micro-Reflections: 37 dBc	Channel ID: 3
Modulation: 256 QAM	Modulation: 16 QAM

Update: What if I need to get around a firewall that my cable company puts up? Wired has an article that is worth reading on that topic.