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The speed they are referring to is download speed. So most likely, you will see stuff like 25GB or unlimited data per month, with 25 to 30 Mbps speed. Internet service providers advertise their internet plans using the data allotment and speed.
#How to read an internet speed test how to#
Now that you know how to test your internet speed, it’s time to further analyze if you have a great broadband connection or not. Online Activities and Equivalent Mbps Required A low number signifies that you have a stable and reliable connection. This number points out the speed difference between the packets being sent to and fro within the network. If it doesn’t, you might want to put up one to improve your network’s security. This tests if your local area network or LAN has firewall protection. If you see results showing a high packet loss volume, that means your online gaming and media streaming won’t go smoothly as expected. The same thing applies to virtual packets. As with physical mail, some have a tendency to get lost in transit. To explain packet loss as simply as possible, imagine a packet delivered online instead of in your physical mailbox. What you want to see here is a lower number because that would mean less negative impact on your HD video streaming and online gaming. The ping or latency, meanwhile, measures how speedily data travels from one computer to another in a network, and how fast your machine receives a response from the internet when it sends out a request. This number is often lower than the download speed. And this number determines how quickly you can send emails, send images on Facebook and other social media, or make voice calls. Upload SpeedĪs opposed to download speed, the upload speed determines how fast your home network transmits data to the tester’s servers. The higher the number, the better your broadband speed is. This number determines how quickly you can load web pages, stream videos, and download online files. This is measured in Mbps or megabits-per-second and refers to how quickly the test data is transmitted to your computer from the tester’s servers, using your connection. What exactly do these numbers mean? Let’s start by identifying some key terms: Download Speed When you do a test, you will be seeing a lot of numbers in the results. To provide you the results, these online testers will communicate briefly with your computer, and measure how long your machine can download and upload a small amount of test data. Popular testers will even show your IP address as well as the name of your ISP. Simple testers will only show the download speed, while others will show more information, including the ping and upload speed. Simply click on the button, and after a few seconds, the results will be displayed. How this works is that you visit any of these sites, and find the button to begin the test. Good choices include Ookla SpeedTest, Bandwidth Place, and the HelloTech Speed Test.
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Then, you need to make use of a reliable online tester. How to Evaluate or Test Your Internet Speedįirst, it is advisable that you turn off any unnecessary programs accessing the web before you start the testing process. You can find out the cause of the slowdown yourself and solve the issue on your own. This is why you need to understand the testing process and what the results are saying. The internet speed is bound to figure into the conversation. Now, say you need to contact your internet service provider (ISP) to report a problem. Streaming and downloading movies, music, and other files won’t happen smoothly anymore.Īnd what if your WiFi is slow but you need to send an email with a bulky attachment, or make a Skype call? The inconveniences will have you investigating the root of the problem in no time. If it slows down, for example, you will be very annoyed. Once you have a connection, that doesn’t mean you can just forget about it. Why Do You Need to Test Your Internet Speed?
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Everything from what to check, where to check, and how to interpret the results will be explained here. Do you know how to test your internet speed? If you are asking this question, then you are in the right place.
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