How Do I Check My Internet Speed?
Have you ever browsed the Internet at home and thought it was slower than normal? Or maybe your Internet just didn't seem quite as fast as your service provider's plan indicated? Testing your internet connection’s performance is a straightforward exercise. You don’t need any extra software but all you need is a computer with a web browser.
Using a Speed Test Website
The most accurate way to check your Internet speed is to use a site like Speedtest.net or Google Speed Test.These sites will measure download speed, upload speed and something called ping .
Interpreting The Results.
- PING ms :
This number (shown in milliseconds) represents the response time to the test server. Higher ping times such as 100ms or more indicate network trouble between your modem and the server. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not guarantee certain ping results, as such results can be affected by outside networks.
2. DOWNLOAD Mbps:
It shows how fast you are able to pull data from other servers. This is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and is a calculation of the speed at which your Internet is performing when surfing the Web and downloading files. Download speeds affect things like streaming media (such as Spotify or Youtube), downloading documents, and browsing the web.
3. UPLOAD Mbps:
It reflects the speed of data that have been send out, such as when we attach files to an email, upload photos or videos to the web, use video conferencing, or share files using a service.
What's Considered as a Good Speed?
2-4 Mbps: Enough for casual Web surfing, including checking email. Can be enough to stream a standard-definition video, but airports with speeds this slow usually do not recommend passengers stream video or download content.
4-6 Mbps: Will provide a good Web surfing experience. Often fast enough to stream a 720p high-definition video, and it's possible to download some videos within about 20 minutes at this speed. But 4 mbps can still be slow.
6-10 Mbps: Usually an excellent Web surfing experience. Generally quick enough to stream a 1080p high-definition video.
10-20 Mbps: More appropriate for a “super user” who wants a reliable experience to stream content and/or make fast downloads.
20+ Mbps: Appropriate for people who want to run a lot of applications at once, usually for business reasons.
Generally, a speed of around 10 Mbps should be sufficient for most basic Internet functions such as general web browsing or streaming music and video. However, a larger household or a business where several people will be using the Internet at the same time, we may want to choose a plan with a higher download speed.
What Can I Do to Improve My Speed?
1. Restart your modem and router. Over time, they may become clogged by errors or end up using too much processing power; a simple reset may help speed things up.
2. Try using an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi. Sometimes there can be wireless interference or an unreliable signal. By connecting via Ethernet, you may have a more stable connection with a higher speed.
3. Close any programs or apps you're not using. A lot of programs use the Internet. The less you have running the background, the faster you'll be able to browse.
4. Contact your Internet service provider (ISP). There may be a shortage or issue going on with the Internet in your area. The company will be able to inform you if this is case.
5. If none of the above works and you continue to experience issues, you might want to look into changing your ISP. Other companies might simply have better speeds in your area. But make sure to do your research before switching over.
