You can run a test on your modem (or router) to see if you are getting the speed you are paying for. To know what that speed is, get out your internet bill and see what the number is next to Mbps. To run the test, go to:
http://www.speedtest.net
Make sure that you are hard wired (plugged in) to your modem and that you are the only one using the internet at the time that you run your test.
This is what the test screen looks like:
You want to see a low Ping number (under 50) because that tells you how fast your device is finding a server to connect to the internet. A low number is a fast connection; a high number is a slow connection.
The download speed should be equal or close to what you are paying for the Mbps number that is located on your bill. This is the speed that your games rely on to perform properly and quickly.
If you are spinning slot machines and the reels act sluggish, this speed is the reason why. The lower the number, the slower the speed and more likelihood that your games will not give you a good gaming experience.
The upload speed should be 19.00 or higher and tells how fast you put things up on the internet, like photos or videos, for example.
If your results are not close to what you are paying for, the reasons vary. Some of the obvious reasons could be:
-- your computer is too old to keep up with the speed you are paying for; (paying for the fastest internet connection will never make an old computer perform faster).
-- your modem may need a firmware update which can be done by remote when you call their office.
-- you never got an updated modem when you notified the internet provider you wanted to upgrade your speed plan
-- you truly aren't receiving the speed from your provider that you are paying for; (your provider may be fudging on speed)
-- your browser might not be giving you good results. In this case, open a different browser and run another test to see if you get better results.
-- your modem device needs to be changed out for a more updated model; (if you upgrade your speed but use the old router/modem, you might not be getting the speed you contracted for)
-- you are testing using wifi and not your modem (Never use wifi to test modem speed. Always plug in to your modem/router).
To see if you get better results, you can change servers to pick a location closer to your home base as shown here. Do this first before you get on the phone to chew out your internet provider for not giving you the right speed. You will find that your speed changes with different server locations.
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If you want to use a test that is specific to your provider, here are some suggestions:
AT & T
http://speedtest.att.com/speedtest/
Verizon
https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/
Spectrum
https://www.spectrum.com/internet/speed-test
Cox
https://www.cox.com/residential/support/internet/speedtest.html
Xfinity
http://speedtest.xfinity.com
For Any device, Any Provider, Anywhere
https://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/
BROWSER SPEED
Browser speed is different than your modem speed. Modem is inside your house. Browser is inside your computer.
If you want to know how fast your browser is, type the words speed test into your Google browser bar.
The one you want should be the first result on the list and it will look like this example. Click the blue box on your own screen that says RUN SPEED TEST.
When you get your browser result, it will look like this but your numbers will be different. Read the text on this picture; it explains what your result means.
The test takes about 30 seconds. It figures out your internet speed by measuring how much data can move through your connection at the time you are doing the test.
If you run the test several hours from now, you may get different results. It depends on how fast your connection is, where you do the test, which server you are using and whether your browser is updated to the latest version.
Always do the test three times, using at least 3 different browsers to get a baseline result. Close previous browsers you had open when you run each new test.
A typical test in the USA uses 9.4 MB of data, but a test outside the U.S. uses about 4.4 MB. Mobile data charges could apply.
Sample device speed expectations:
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| LAPTOP EXAMPLES |
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| MOBILE EXAMPLES |
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| TABLET EXAMPLES |
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| OTHER DEVICES |
MODEM PLACEMENT
Make sure you place your modem/router in a centralized spot in your home, sitting upright and out in the open.
Avoid putting it sideways, on a slant, inside or under cabinets, in closets, and in places that may accidentally get covered up by a pillow, backpack, jacket, etc.
Wireless speeds are typically slower than wired connections due to wireless hardware limitations.
As stated above, some Internet speeds are faster than many devices can handle. If your computer is old (or you have a slow processor) and if you are trying to speed it up by buying a faster internet connection, the computer won't be able to handle the speed.
TIP!
The way you tell if your device can handle the speed you are paying for, look at the USB port where your modem wire is connected to your computer.
If the light around your wire part of the USB port is GREEN, then your computer can handle the speed you are paying for.
If the light is RED, your computer is too old to keep up with the fast speed. Save your money and don't buy the fastest speed. Call your internet provider and tell them you want to downgrade to the next lowest speed since your device can't handle the fastest one. When you buy a new computer, then you can upgrade to the highest speed again.
The wire you use to plug into your modem and your device should be a gray wire and that wire should say it is a CAT 5 or higher. You will find the CAT number imprinted directly on the gray wire closest to the plug.
Do speed tests at least once a week and try not to do them at the busiest time of the day - like when people are getting home from work or when the wee ones go to bed and all parents have time to go on the computer.
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