how do i find my internet speed

Testing the speed of your cyberspace connection is easy. Just click on the button beneath to take our speed test.

This test will measure your download and upload speeds (equally well as other information like latency, which you can see if you click on the details), which you can compare to your provider's advertised speeds.

But there's more than to internet speed than only the numbers. We'll walk yous through all the ins and outs of measuring your internet speed and what your speed means for you.

What an internet speed test measures

What does Mbps mean?

Permit's start with the basics. Internet speed is measured in $.25 (a single binary ane or 0) per 2nd. Internet connections tin handle a lot of this data, and so we usually talk about speeds in megabits per second (Mbps), which is a one thousand thousand $.25 per second. When speeds go actually fast (i,000 Mbps or faster), we talk about them in gigabits per second (Gbps), which is a billion bits per 2nd. (i,000 Mbps = 1 Gbps)

Download speed

Download speed, also referred to as bandwidth, measures how fast data from the cyberspace gets to your device (for instance, how fast your Netflix show loads). It'due south usually measured in megabits per 2d (Mbps), although really fast connections are measured in gigabits per second (Gbps). Download speed is peculiarly important for uses like watching high-quality video or downloading software.

Upload speed

Just equally download speed refers to how fast data gets to your device, upload speed refers to how fast information on your device can be sent to some other destination on the internet (like how fast your holiday pictures post to Instagram). For most connections, upload and download speed are usually dissimilar, but when you lot see internet plans advertised by speed, they're commonly focusing on merely the download speed.

What is latency?

One other of import measurement for internet speed is latency, or lag. Latency is very different from bandwidth, even though both deal with the speed of your connectedness. Latency refers to the time it takes for a signal to be sent from your computer to your service provider and come dorsum. High latency can pb to more buffering on streaming video, but it's much more disruptive in activities like video chat or online gaming.

Run a search beneath to see what other kinds of net are bachelor in your area. You may exist able to find much faster packages than what yous have at present.

What determines your internet speed?

If there'south i matter that anybody knows about internet speed, it's that not all connections are created equal. About ISPs offering multiple plans with unlike speeds, just often these plans also use different technologies to connect you to the cyberspace. Though some are significantly faster than others, there are also other pros and cons besides just speed.

Punch-upward cyberspace is the slowest kind of internet connection and is as well slow for uses similar streaming video. It can't hit broadband speeds, usually topping out around 50 kbps (just 0.05 Mbps), though depending on the service, it can exist much slower. It's ordinarily pretty cheap, just there are much better depression-price options these days.

Satellite internet uses a satellite indicate to wirelessly connect to your home. Satellite tin can requite yous the broadband speeds necessary to do things similar stream video, but it's still a relatively slow and expensive option. Satellite cyberspace speeds range from 5 Mbps to 25 Mbps. Also, since your signal has to reach a satellite in orbit, it has incredibly loftier latency. The upside is that you tin can go it almost anywhere in the United states of america, even in remote areas.

DSL, or digital subscriber line, uses existing phone networks, but it achieves much higher speeds than dial-up, anywhere from 0.5 Mbps to 75 Mbps. It's not much faster than satellite and its speed is affected by the distance to your ISP's central part.

Cable internet uses copper wires, just similar cable TV. Cable offers incredibly fast speeds, between 25 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps), but it also has a few drawbacks. Connections are mostly shared between neighbors, which means cable networks go congested during peak hours. Cable also offers much higher download speeds than upload speeds. This isn't an issue with cable TV, since broadcasts go only one direction, only information technology tin be a trouble for some online activities on cable internet.

Fiber internet connects you to the web via fiber-optic cables. Fiber is the fastest and nigh reliable kind of internet service, with speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps (ii Gbps). Information technology also has the benefit of symmetrical upload speeds. In other words, your uploads are just as fast every bit your downloads.

By understanding what kind of internet connection you lot accept, y'all should have a good idea of how fast your connection should exist. The question, though, is how much speed you're really getting from your connection.

Tips to get the almost authentic speed

Testing your speed is piece of cake, simply how exercise you get the most accurate measurement of your internet connection? Here are a few things you can do to become the well-nigh accurate results:

Pause automatic downloads.

First, make sure yous're not downloading whatsoever large files in the background. You can check the Task Manager on Windows or the Activity Monitor on macOS to encounter if whatsoever programs are trying to download updates or other big files. Close or quit all apps on your computer. You might still have some background processes using the net simply cipher that would make a large impact.

Go rid of freeloaders.

Next, make sure that no one else on your home network is using a chunk of your bandwidth. You're non going to get very accurate results if you have people streaming Netflix in three different rooms of your house while you test. If y'all doubtable y'all might accept someone stealing your Wi-Fi or another freeloaders on your network, y'all tin also alter your network countersign.

Check for wireless router issues.

Many people fence that you should always plug your reckoner directly into your router with an Ethernet cable earlier yous test your internet speed. While this does give y'all a more accurate measure of what your Isp is giving you, it doesn't help much if you're nonetheless getting tiresome speeds where yous normally utilise your devices.

We suggest that you check your cyberspace speed where y'all most oft utilise your reckoner. If the speed is less than what yous expect, try plugging it into your router. If you go a dramatic increase in speed, it might be fourth dimension to get a better router.

Connection still likewise wearisome? Run a search with your zip code to observe providers with speeds and performance that meet your needs.

So, what do my results mean?

Once you lot know exactly how many Mbps you lot're getting over your internet connexion, what exercise you do next? Get-go off, you need to make sure y'all tin translate your results. There's no demand to brand an angry call to your ISP because y'all're paying for gigabit net merely only getting upload speeds of 30 Mbps. If you have a cablevision connection, that'southward perfectly normal, and it probably all the same has plenty of upload speed for your needs.

Interpreting download speeds

The most important number from your speed examination is your download speed. That's what's going to make up one's mind how fast files download, how many devices your network can support, and how high the quality of your video tin can be.

If you have DSL, you lot should expect your speed to exist a bit lower than advertised due to your distance from the central hub, but there's likewise no way to amend it unless you move your whole house closer (or switch to a different blazon of connectedness).

If y'all have cable internet and your result is low, y'all're probably experiencing congestion from the other homes in your expanse. Endeavor testing your speed at another time when your neighbors are less probable to be online. If yous're hitting the proper download speeds outside of peak-employ times, there'due south aught wrong with your connection. That's simply how cable works.

Checking your latency

If you lot play online games or spotter alive video, y'all also want to pay attention to your latency. If your latency is down below twenty milliseconds (ms), your experience should be perfectly smooth. If your latency is in a higher place 150 ms, you lot're going to have some significant issues with lag. Some lag problems can't be fixed because that would mean changing the laws of physics. Even going at near the speed of lite, it takes fourth dimension for a signal to attain a server in South korea.

Other sources of lag tin be dealt with. Replacing an old router tin can reduce latency. Connecting straight to your router via Ethernet cable instead of over Wi-Fi will make a huge difference in preventing lag. Finally, you tin upgrade to a type of connectedness with naturally lower latency, like fiber.

Diagnosing problems

If you've done everything you can to get the most accurate speed test and your download speeds are still manner below what your Internet access provider promised, it could mean a few unlike things.

Malware—Y'all might have malware on your device. Network worms and other malicious software hijack part of your bandwidth, but this is oft the least of your worries. Run antivirus software to bank check for and remove malware.

Outdated hardware—You might have outdated hardware that's incompatible with your provider's requirements. For case, Xfinity'due south gigabit services crave a DOCSIS 3.one modem. Although DOCSIS iii.0 equipment tin can technically get upward to gigabit speeds, Xfinity doesn't back up it.

Isp issues—There might be a problem with your provider'south infrastructure. Sometimes these are just network interruptions caused by your Internet access provider upgrading part of their network or simply doing maintenance. It could also be a more serious problem that can exist stock-still only by your provider. If you lot've explored the other options and are still having issues, call your ISP's customer service.

Malfunctioning equipment—If your speed is lower than expected, merely there are no issues with your ISP, at that place might be a problem with your equipment. Reset your modem and router by turning them off, waiting for a minute or 2, then turning them back on. Attempt connecting to your router using an Ethernet cable instead of over Wi-Fi. If you're already using a wired connexion, try swapping out your Ethernet cable for a dissimilar one. You can also try running the speed exam from a different device to run across if y'all get the same results.

Go a better cyberspace programme

If, after all this, your internet speed is all the same not enough to meet your needs, it might be time to upgrade to a faster programme, or simply detect a better Internet access provider.

To come across what other options are available in your surface area, blazon your zip code below.

Author - Peter Christiansen

Peter Christiansen writes about satellite net, rural connectivity, livestreaming, and parental controls for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years every bit a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and author. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for vii years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for 5 years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands similar Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a expert internet connection significantly extends your life span.

Source: https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/how-to-check-your-internet-speed

Posted by: stewartonves1995.blogspot.com