Internet Speed Test
Looking for speeds in your area? Explore our Offers. Want to test your wifi speed? Follow these instructions.
Let's test the internet speed to your device
This test will measure the speed from secured third party test servers to this computer. Results are often lower than plan speeds due to Wifi conditions and device specific capabilities.
1. Use one device. Before you start the test, make sure that any other devices in your home that are connected to the Internet, like an iPad, Xbox, or a Smart TV are turned off. Testing your speed while using other devices simultaneously may impact the accuracy of the results.
2. Connect directly to your modem. For the best test result, make sure your computer is connected directly to your modem, rather than your router. Accessing the Internet on a wireless device via a router may impact the speed of your connection.
3. Stay up-to-date. If you have a computer running an older version of a Windows or Mac operating system, this may impact your test results. You may want to consider updating.
Can I check my Internet speed?
Yes, you can check your Internet speed using various available sites online, including ours by simply clicking the button!
It is typically best to conduct an Internet speed test at the modem, since WiFi and the computer’s router might not be speedy enough to deliver the maximum Internet speed possible. For the most accurate result, we recommend using a network cable to directly connect your device to the Internet source (a modem, gateway, or Fiber ONT). We suggest this because it deters the modem and router from negatively impacting the test if they’re on the slower side.
Are Internet speed tests accurate, safe and reliable?
Internet speed tests are typically accurate so long as you remove any variables that can affect the reliability of the test. To mitigate this issue, there are several things you can do to improve the test’s accuracy such as restarting your modem and router, restarting your device prior to testing, clearing your browser’s cache, and not using the Internet for anything else while conducting this test.
As mentioned above, connecting your device directly the modem always aids in making the speed test more reliable. Experts claim that HTML-5 based speed tests are more accurate than tests that use Java and Adobe Flash.
Internet speed tests are 100% safe. They use secure servers and do not capture any personal information such as passwords, bank information, etc.
Are Internet speed and bandwidth the same thing?
While related they are actually two very different things. The network speed measures the transfer rate of data from a source to a destination whereas the network bandwidth measures the amount of data that can be transferred per second.
To put it simply, comparing speed and bandwidth is like comparing traffic on a four-lane highway to that of a two-lane one. The speed limits might be the same on both highways, but more cars should be able to get to their destination in a given time frame on the four-lane highway due to there being more space to drive, not because the speed limit is higher or the cars are speed racing. In this example, the speed of the cars are symbolic of the Internet speed whereas the highways are comparable to the Internet bandwidth.
Will increasing Internet speed stop buffering and increasing range?
Having slow internet will force you to have to deal with lower quality settings and buffering. However, you will be able to avoid buffering and watch high-resolution videos once you opt for quicker Internet speeds. Keep in mind that what speed you need to comfortably perform activities will vary based on how many people are on the network, as well as what each individual person is doing. For example, you might have a high enough Internet speed to watch Netflix in HD, but not necessarily if your daughter is hardcore gaming in the next room.
Increasing your Internet speed will not further your range. The caveat to this is that doing any type of Internet-related activity far away from the router will often result in slower speeds. The closer you are to the router, the more likely it is that you will be utilizing the maximum speed that your service plan allows for.
Can Internet speed be affected by the weather?
Small amounts of rain, wind, and snow should not impact your Internet connection. Large storms and high winds, however, are known to cause issues. High winds can knock down power and cable lines, freezing weather can destroy the existing copper lines underground, as well as cause issues for breakers, switches and other electromechanical components. Extreme heat can result in copper lines becoming frayed.
Inclement weather can also indirectly affect Internet speed because if the weather is either uncomfortably hot or cold, people are more likely to stay inside and watch Netflix, play games, download music, etc. resulting in a server overload due to drastically increased usage in the area.
Why is Internet speed slow on VPN?
VPNs use a secure tunnel to direct all your network traffic, unless you’re using split tunneling, a VPN extension, or a built-in VPN through your browser.
VPN typically slows down Internet due to most likely being far away from the VPN server. This results in slower upload and download speeds. In addition, using a VPN adds several steps to the Internet connection process, such as encryption and the ability to connect to a remote server.
If you’re not far from the VPN or if you’re using a premium VPN that’s designed to not slow down your Internet connection, you may want to consider changing your server, changing the protocol, upgrading your Internet speed, or perhaps even changing your device.
Can Internet speed affect FPS?
Yes, Internet speed can cause a low FPS, otherwise known as frame rate or frame frequency. FPS is how frequently consecutive images (frames) appear on a display. Regardless of what game you’re playing, you will experience low FPS if your Internet is slow. This is because Internet connection results in a higher ping rate, which can cause lagging.
Ping is a computer network administration software utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. A ping rate of over 150 milliseconds (ms) will produce a noticeable lag, resulting in lower quality game play, graphics, and can affect things like streaming content to Twitch. For reference, Twitch is the world's most popular live streaming platform for gamers. Ping rates under 150 ms are decent and anything under 50 ms is ideal for professional gamers.
When it comes to gaming the most important factors are the speed and stability of your connection to the game server as opposed to how fast it can download data. Surprisingly, you can have relatively slow Internet with a low ping rate, which would mean your gaming won’t be affected at all.
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