HOW TO TEST INTERNET SPEED PROPERLY

STEP 1: PREPARING THE ENVIRONMENT

Before you even load a speed test website, you must ensure your testing environment is "clean". If your connection is busy doing other things, the test results will be artificially low.

Follow this checklist before starting:

• Stop all downloads: Check Steam, PlayStation updates, or large file transfers on other devices.
• Close unnecessary apps: Background applications like Spotify, Dropbox, or torrent clients eat up bandwidth.
• Disconnect other devices: If someone else is streaming Netflix in the other room, your test will be inaccurate.
• Restart your device: A quick reboot clears temporary cache issues that might slow down processing.

STEP 2: WIRED VS WIRELESS TESTING

The biggest mistake people make is testing their speed via Wi-Fi at the far end of their house. Wi-Fi signals degrade through walls and are subject to interference from neighbours, microwaves, and baby monitors.

To test the actual speed entering your home from the ISP:

1. Use an Ethernet cable (Cat 5e or higher).
2. Plug a laptop or PC directly into the back of your router.
3. Turn off the Wi-Fi on that device to ensure data is travelling through the cable.

If you must test via Wi-Fi, stand within two metres of the router with a clear line of sight. Be aware that a Wi-Fi test measures your wireless signal strength more than the broadband line capabilities.

UNDERSTANDING THE METRICS

A speed test returns several data points. Understanding what each means is crucial for diagnosing specific problems. Click a metric below to learn how it impacts your experience.

STEP 3: RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC

There are several reliable tools available for checking your speed. The most popular is Speedtest by Ookla, but Fast.com (owned by Netflix) is excellent for checking streaming capabilities, and Google's Fibre Speed Test is highly accurate.

Go to your chosen site and click "Go". The meter will first test your ping, then download speed, and finally upload speed. For the best accuracy, we recommend running the test at least three times:

• Once in the morning (off-peak).
• Once in the evening (peak time, usually 7pm-9pm).
• Once on a different device to rule out hardware issues.

STEP 4: ACCOUNTING FOR VPNS AND FIREWALLS

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your web traffic and routes it through a remote server. While excellent for privacy, running a speed test with an active VPN will almost always result in significantly lower speeds and higher latency. This masks the true capability of your broadband.

To ensure a genuine reading of your connection:

• Disable your VPN: Temporarily switch off any commercial VPNs or workplace remote-access software before running the test.
• Check antivirus firewalls: Some aggressive security suites actively scan incoming traffic, creating an artificial bottleneck. Pause web shields briefly during the diagnostic.
• Browser extensions: Ad-blockers and proxy extensions can occasionally interfere with browser-based speed tests. Testing in an 'Incognito' or 'Private' window helps eliminate this variable.

INTERPRETING YOUR RESULTS

Once you have your numbers, compare them against the plan you pay for. Note that ISPs often advertise "speeds up to" a certain amount.

• If you get 80-100% of advertised speed: Your connection is healthy. Small fluctuations are normal due to network overheads.
• If you get 50-75% of advertised speed via Wi-Fi: This is common. Your router placement or wall thickness is likely the bottleneck, not the ISP.
• If you get below 50% via Ethernet: This indicates a fault on the line or a router configuration issue. You should contact your provider.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

If your results are consistently poor, try these steps before calling tech support: