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If the numbers are fairly consistent, match them to the numbers your provider says you should be getting. The chart depicts how your speed is changing over time. You’re looking for any time-based slowdowns.Īt the top of the Speedtest page, click the “Results History” link to see your past speed tests. Run tests for a few days in the morning, noon or afternoon and evening. For the best speed comparison, it’s best to use the same server. To use a different server, just hover over a green dot on the map screen and click on a server name or location. Once the test is complete, you can try it again or run another test with a different server. Helpful reference: “Mbps” stands for Megabits per second and “kbps” stands for kilobits per second. Don’t worry if your upload number is much lower than your download speed. It will automatically select the best server near you and then run tests to figure out your download and upload speed. Go to and click the green “Begin Test” button. By the way, if you want to know who is the bandwidth hog in your home, click here for the steps to uncover that mystery.
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You will get lower figures if something is hogging your connection while you are performing the speed test. Stop any video streaming, file downloads or online gaming. You should also make sure that none of your other household gadgets is using the Internet. Don’t use a gadget on Wi-Fi since Wi-Fi has its potential speed problems that can skew results. If you’re running Speedtest on a desktop or laptop, plug it directly into your router or cable modem. It’s simple to use but gives plenty of detailed information.īefore you begin a Speedtest, make sure everything is properly set up. To get started, you need a way to measure your Internet speed that’s a little more precise than, “Well, it seems slow.” One free testing service is. Click here to learn more about making that decision and other ways to save on your Internet bill right now. You might be able to scale back on your Internet plan and save some months.
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You might just not be using your connection heavily enough to notice. The speed limit is still the same, but you can have more cars traveling at top speed at once.Įven if you haven’t noticed a slowdown in your Internet connection, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting all the bandwidth called for in your plan. In other words, having more bandwidth is like adding another lane to the highway.
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