How does an internet speed test work?

Speed tests work by measuring your computer's connection to the network server. They report your download and upload speeds, ping and jitter to give you an idea of how well your connection performs.

Why do my internet speed test results change so much each time I check it?

Your internet speed varies across the day depending on how many devices you might be using, what activities you're performing on those devices and how many other people are using your network. You can get a more accurate internet speed test by: Conducting several tests across the day and calculating an average Test the connection from multiple devices (to rule out speed being a device issue) Conduct the test via an ethernet cable instead of over Wi-Fi

Ping is the term for how long it takes your computer to get a response from the network. The faster the response, the lower the ping number you'll get. One way to think about it is like waiting for someone to answer the phone. Low ping is equivalent to someone picking up the phone on the first ring. Keep in mind: While download and upload speeds will be fairly consistent, ping will fluctuate often. Most people don't need to worry about ping too much. When does ping matter? Ping won't matter in most instances except for: Online gaming Voice and video calls

Jitter is a measurement of how your ping changes over time . If you get a high jitter, it means your connection is unstable. This might mean you have bad wiring or might be using a mobile network. Like ping, jitter is measured in ms. Example: If your speed test returns a jitter of 3ms and a ping of 10ms it means your ping is jumping between 7ms and 13ms.

What can I do about slow internet?

If your internet connection is slow or not performing as well as you want, you can take several actions. Reposition your modem . Modem/router signals are strongest the closer you are without any interference. Being further across the room from your modem or having walls between you can result in a weaker signal and slow speeds. Putting your modem up high rather than on the floor should help too. If moving closer to your modem or moving it closer to you doesn't help then consider investing in a better router, a Wi-Fi extender or wire in with an ethernet cable. Reduce network congestion . Having too many people online at one time can cause a "traffic jam". This is more prominent at lower speed tiers. If you have an important work meeting asking another household member to pause their Netflix for an hour could help. If your household isn't the problem it might be a provider problem. Compare and switch to an internet service with better typical evening speeds . You can also hop off your broadband connection and swap over to your mobile's personal hotspot if your plan allows it. Replace or upgrade your equipment . When nothing else works, it might be your equipment itself. Compare to find a new router – just make sure it's supported by your provider. You can also try running a virus scan, updating your network drivers or closing background applications.