Common Questions about Internet Speeds & Testing
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A minimum of 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads is considered the benchmark for good internet speed. This internet speed fulfills the minimum criteria set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a broadband connection. However, it is the bare minimum for activities such as streaming video content and downloading large files.
For household usage, an internet connection that delivers 100 Mbps for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads is considered good. However, it all depends on how many users/devices routinely connect to your home network, and what kind of online activities is the internet used for―based on that a lower or higher speed tier may be more adequate.
The majority of internet users spend many more hours at online activities that involve downloading of data relative to uploading. For instance viewing web pages, scrolling pictures or streaming video content. This is why high-speed internet providers design their systems to prioritize downloading. And you get lower upload speeds in comparison to what they offer for downloads.
25/3 Mbps is the bare minimum for a good download and upload speed. It is the benchmark for a broadband connection set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However for all practical purposes today’s lifestyle demands at least 100 Mbps for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads. At this speed you can connect multiple devices for streaming Netflix, and you have enough upload bandwidth to support Zoom meetings.
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Many factors affect your internet speed, but some are more common in user experience. For instance network traffic that slows your connection at peak hours. However more often the problem is at the user’s end―outdated devices or internet equipment, a virus in connected devices or the home network―all these variables can affect your internet speed. The type of connection you are using plays the most basic role in determining the internet speed and your overall experience.
To improve your internet speed you must first identify where the problem is. Increased usage can make you feel the internet has slowed down, and for that you can only consider a speed upgrade. But if your speed test indicates there is a problem, you could try out a few quick solutions―reboot your wireless gateway or router, reposition it at a more central location in the house, get a range-extender, or do something as simple as clearing your browser cache.
A good internet speed test result should give you a number within a close range of the advertised speed for your plan. Most of the time the actual delivered speeds do fall around what users expect. But at other times factors such as provider-network issues, peak time or modem/router problems may cause the speed to be slower than your plan. Keep in mind the speed test only gives you the current speed you’re experiencing―run it a few times before you reach a fair average.
Your internet could be running slow for a variety of reasons so it is necessary to identify the cause of the sluggish speeds. If your home internet usage has increased, check out faster internet options. And if it is your connection that needs troubleshooting, read up on how to fix slow internet.
Fiber internet is the fastest service type currently available for residential users but its availability is limited. Where available Fiber connections now deliver up to 5/5 Gbps equal download and upload speeds. 1 Gig fiber internet speed is more readily accessible. In the absence of 100% Fiber, cable internet powered by Fiber also delivers up to 1200 Mbps for downloads. Such a hybrid connection however does not get you equal upload speed, and maxes out at around 50 Mbps.
Many internet providers in the U.S. now deliver gigabit speeds over a fiber-to-the-home connection or via a hybrid Fiber-Coaxial service. AT&T, CenturyLink, MetroNet, and Ziply Fiber, all deliver Fiber-to-the-home connections up to 1 Gig or higher. On the other hand, internet providers like Spectrum, Xfinity, Cox and Optimum use a hybrid network to deliver fiber powered cable internet up to 1200 Mbps for downloads.
If you are looking for faster internet speeds, you can upgrade your plan to a higher speed tier with your current provider. But if that is not an option, you can think about switching to another internet provider that delivers better speeds and more value for your money.
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As soon as you start the speed test, your device sends a signal to a nearby test server which then gives a response. This entire data packet trip (ping time) is calculated in milliseconds.
There’s also a download test. The client opens connections to the server and downloads packets of data. It checks two things: how much time it took for the packets to download and how many network resources were used.
And then, the upload speed is calculated. The client opens up connections to the server and uploads data.
Testing your Wi-Fi speed with our tool is not difficult. You can easily run a Wi-Fi speed test and also compare the wired and wireless speeds your connection is able to deliver.
Use a device (laptop, smartphone or tablet) connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Try to be as close to the wireless gateway or router as can be while you run the speed test. The result you see gives you the Wi-Fi speed of your home network. Next, run the speed test over a wired connection to your device, and record the result.
When you compare, remember Wi-Fi speeds are generally slower. But if the difference is too significant, you may have to look for ways to improve your Wi-Fi speeds.
An internet speed test gives you a live measurement of how fast your connection is and most speed tests will not only tell you about the download and upload speeds, but ping and jitter too.
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The download speed value tells you how fast you’re able to receive data from the internet to your connected device as you engage in activities like streaming video or surfing web pages.
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The upload speed is a measurement of how fast you’re able to send data from your connected device to the internet as you upload photos or backup a file on the cloud.
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The latency or ping time tells you about how long does it take for a data packet to travel to the server for testing and come back. It is directly affected by the physical distance between you and the server.
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Data packets from your connected device are usually sent to the internet at regular intervals and take a specific amount of time. When there is a delay in sending of these data packets, you experience a deviation from the average. Jitter represents this variation in ping over time.
A speed test result is a live measurement of your internet speed at any given point in time, and it is likely to vary due to different factors. For instance the location of the test server, the number of devices connected at the time, applications running as background processes, the device used to perform the test, the time of the day you run the test, and whether you are using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The more you’re able to minimize the variables, the more accurate the speed test result.
To get more accurate results from a speed test it is recommended you restart your wireless gateway/modem & router, disable VPN, turn off internet security, disconnect all other devices from the home network, stop all online activities and background processes on the device you are using to run the test, and clear the browser cache. Also, it is advisable to run the test at different times over the course of a couple of days so you can shape a more accurate picture of what speed are you getting on average and how it compares to your plan.
