How Do You Figure Out Your Upload Speed

Testing the speed of your internet connection is piece of cake. Just click on the button beneath to accept our speed examination.

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

Just there's more to internet speed than just the numbers. Nosotros'll walk you through all the ins and outs of measuring your net speed and what your speed means for you.

What an cyberspace speed test measures

What does Mbps mean?

Let's commencement with the nuts. Internet speed is measured in bits (a single binary one or 0) per second. Internet connections can handle a lot of this data, so we ordinarily talk nigh speeds in megabits per second (Mbps), which is a million bits per second. When speeds get actually fast (1,000 Mbps or faster), nosotros talk about them in gigabits per second (Gbps), which is a billion bits per second. (ane,000 Mbps = one Gbps)

Download speed

Download speed, as well referred to every bit bandwidth, measures how fast data from the internet gets to your device (for example, how fast your Netflix show loads). It'due south unremarkably measured in megabits per 2d (Mbps), although actually fast connections are measured in gigabits per 2d (Gbps). Download speed is especially important for uses like watching high-quality video or downloading software.

Upload speed

Merely every bit download speed refers to how fast data gets to your device, upload speed refers to how fast data on your device can exist sent to some other destination on the internet (like how fast your vacation pictures post to Instagram). For most connections, upload and download speed are unremarkably different, but when you see internet plans advertised by speed, they're usually focusing on merely the download speed.

What is latency?

Ane other important measurement for internet speed is latency, or lag. Latency is very unlike from bandwidth, even though both deal with the speed of your connection. Latency refers to the time it takes for a signal to be sent from your estimator to your service provider and come up back. High latency can lead to more buffering on streaming video, merely it'southward much more than disruptive in activities similar video chat or online gaming.

Run a search below to see what other kinds of internet are available in your area. You may be able to find much faster packages than what you take at present.

What determines your internet speed?

If there's ane thing that everyone knows most internet speed, it's that non all connections are created equal. Nearly ISPs offer multiple plans with unlike speeds, but often these plans also apply different technologies to connect y'all to the cyberspace. Though some are significantly faster than others, at that place are also other pros and cons also just speed.

Dial-upwardly internet is the slowest kind of internet connectedness and is too slow for uses like streaming video. It tin't striking broadband speeds, usually topping out around fifty kbps (only 0.05 Mbps), though depending on the service, it can be much slower. It'south usually pretty cheap, but there are much better low-price options these days.

Satellite internet uses a satellite signal to wirelessly connect to your home. Satellite can give you lot the broadband speeds necessary to do things like stream video, just information technology's notwithstanding a relatively slow and expensive pick. Satellite cyberspace speeds range from v Mbps to 25 Mbps. Too, since your signal has to reach a satellite in orbit, it has incredibly high latency. The upside is that you tin get it about anywhere in the US, fifty-fifty in remote areas.

DSL, or digital subscriber line, uses existing telephone networks, but information technology achieves much higher speeds than dial-up, anywhere from 0.v Mbps to 75 Mbps. Information technology's non much faster than satellite and its speed is affected by the distance to your ISP'southward primal part.

Cable internet uses copper wires, just like cable Television receiver. Cable offers incredibly fast speeds, between 25 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps (one Gbps), but information technology also has a few drawbacks. Connections are generally shared betwixt neighbors, which ways cable networks get congested during peak hours. Cablevision too offers much higher download speeds than upload speeds. This isn't an effect with cable TV, since broadcasts get but i direction, but it can exist a problem for some online activities on cable cyberspace.

Fiber internet connects you to the web via cobweb-optic cables. Fiber is the fastest and near reliable kind of net service, with speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps (ii Gbps). It also has the do good of symmetrical upload speeds. In other words, your uploads are only as fast as your downloads.

By understanding what kind of internet connection you have, you lot should take a adept idea of how fast your connectedness should be. The question, though, is how much speed you're actually getting from your connectedness.

Tips to go the most accurate speed

Testing your speed is piece of cake, but how do y'all get the near accurate measurement of your net connection? Here are a few things you can practice to become the most accurate results:

Pause automatic downloads.

Outset, make sure you're non downloading any large files in the background. You lot can check the Chore Manager on Windows or the Activity Monitor on macOS to see if whatsoever programs are trying to download updates or other large files. Close or quit all apps on your estimator. You lot might all the same have some groundwork processes using the internet just goose egg that would make a big impact.

Get rid of freeloaders.

Next, make certain that no one else on your abode network is using a chunk of your bandwidth. Yous're non going to get very authentic results if you accept people streaming Netflix in three different rooms of your house while you test. If you doubtable y'all might have someone stealing your Wi-Fi or some other freeloaders on your network, yous can too change your network countersign.

Check for wireless router issues.

Many people fence that you should e'er plug your computer directly into your router with an Ethernet cablevision before yous examination your internet speed. While this does give y'all a more accurate mensurate of what your ISP is giving you, it doesn't assistance much if you're still getting ho-hum speeds where you unremarkably use your devices.

We suggest that you check your net speed where you most often apply your calculator. If the speed is less than what you expect, try plugging it into your router. If you lot become a dramatic increase in speed, it might be time to go a improve router.

Connection withal too slow? Run a search with your zip lawmaking to find providers with speeds and performance that run into your needs.

And then, what do my results mean?

Once you know exactly how many Mbps you're getting over your internet connection, what do you do adjacent? First off, y'all need to make sure y'all tin can interpret your results. There's no need to make an angry call to your ISP because yous're paying for gigabit internet but simply getting upload speeds of 30 Mbps. If you take a cable connection, that'southward perfectly normal, and information technology probably nonetheless has plenty of upload speed for your needs.

Interpreting download speeds

The nigh important number from your speed test is your download speed. That'southward what's going to determine how fast files download, how many devices your network can support, and how high the quality of your video can be.

If yous have DSL, you should wait your speed to be a flake lower than advertised due to your distance from the fundamental hub, but there'southward also no way to ameliorate information technology unless you move your whole business firm closer (or switch to a different blazon of connectedness).

If you have cable net and your result is low, you're probably experiencing congestion from the other homes in your area. Endeavor testing your speed at some other time when your neighbors are less likely to exist online. If you're striking the proper download speeds outside of peak-utilise times, there's cypher incorrect with your connectedness. That's only how cable works.

Checking your latency

If y'all play online games or sentinel alive video, you also want to pay attention to your latency. If your latency is down below 20 milliseconds (ms), your experience should be perfectly smooth. If your latency is above 150 ms, you're going to have some meaning issues with lag. Some lag issues can't be stock-still because that would mean changing the laws of physics. Even going at near the speed of light, it takes time for a signal to achieve a server in Republic of korea.

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

Diagnosing problems

If you've done everything you lot can to go the almost accurate speed exam and your download speeds are still way below what your ISP promised, it could hateful a few dissimilar things.

Malware—You might have malware on your device. Network worms and other malicious software hijack part of your bandwidth, but this is oft the to the lowest degree of your worries. Run antivirus software to cheque for and remove malware.

Outdated hardware—You might accept outdated hardware that'due south incompatible with your provider's requirements. For case, Xfinity'due south gigabit services require a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Although DOCSIS 3.0 equipment tin technically get up to gigabit speeds, Xfinity doesn't support information technology.

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

Malfunctioning equipment—If your speed is lower than expected, merely in that location are no bug with your ISP, there might be a problem with your equipment. Reset your modem and router by turning them off, waiting for a infinitesimal or two, and then turning them back on. Endeavour connecting to your router using an Ethernet cable instead of over Wi-Fi. If yous're already using a wired connection, try swapping out your Ethernet cable for a different one. You can too try running the speed exam from a different device to run across if you go the same results.

Get a better internet program

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 plan, or simply notice a better Internet service provider.

To see what other options are available in your area, type your aught lawmaking below.

Author - Peter Christiansen

Peter Christiansen writes about satellite internet, 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 as a estimator programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised past 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 seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a small in editing from Brigham Immature Academy. When she's non editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in net state and that a good internet connexion significantly extends your life span.

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

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