Internet speed test measures how fast data moves from and to your device. This is useful when checking if you are getting the service promised by your provider. if you want to know more about internet speed test this guide will teach you. Here, you’ll know what speed test results mean, how to run them correctly, what can affect the results, and how to improve your internet speed.
What is an Internet Speed Test?
An internet speed test checks how quickly your internet connection can download and upload data. It also shows latency (ping) and jitter, which measure responsiveness and stability. These numbers give you a full picture of your connection quality.
When you run a speed test on your device, here are the key metrics that you will see on the dashboard:
- Download Speed: This shows how fast data is received from the internet. When the Mbps is high, this means that your internet has enough speed to cover all your browsing and internet activities.
- Upload Speed: This measures how fast data is sent out from your device. This also measures via Mbps. The higher the Mbps, the better for activities such as video calls, uploading files, or sharing videos online.
- Ping (Latency): Ping is the reaction time of your connection, measured in milliseconds. A low ping means less delay, which is important for online gaming and real-time video calls.
- Jitter: Jitter is the variation in ping over time. A low jitter value means your connection is more stable, while a high value can cause choppy video or audio during calls.
How to Run a Speed Test
Running a speed test is straightforward. You can use any device you have such as laptop, PC or mobile phone. To perform the speed test, here are the steps you can follow:
1. Open your browser and search for any speed test in the search bar. Some of the popular tools are Speedtest.net or Fast.com.
2. Visit the website and run the test by clicking Go.
3. The tool will start testing the Download and Upload speed.
4. When the testing stopped, you’ll see the results on the dashboard.
Note: Run the test at different times of the day and average the results. Internet speeds can change depending on network congestion.
What Speed is Considered Good?
Here is a quick guide to help you understand if your speed test results are enough for your activities:
| Activity | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Ping | Quality Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic browsing & email | 1–5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | < 100 ms | Good |
| HD streaming | 5–10 Mbps | 2 Mbps | < 60 ms | Good |
| 4K streaming | 25 Mbps+ | 3 Mbps | < 50 ms | Good |
| Online gaming | 10–25 Mbps | 3–5 Mbps | < 30 ms | Excellent |
| Video conferencing | 10 Mbps | 3 Mbps | < 50 ms | Good |
| Large file uploads | 20 Mbps+ | 10 Mbps+ | < 100 ms | Good |
How to Test Internet Speed via Web
Aside from using an internet speed test tool, you may also run a test via router’s web user interface. The steps may vary depending on your router’s brand. If you own an Asus router, you may follow the steps below:
- First, connect your computer to the router either via wired or Wi-Fi connection .
- Open a browser and type 192.168.1.1 or http://www.asusrouter.com then press Enter.
- Enter your username and password in the field, on the login page then click Login. If you forgot your password, you may reset your router to factory default settings.
- On the dashboard, select Adaptive QoS > Internet Speed.
- Click Go, to automatically select a server and wait for 1 minute to finish the test.
To log in and test the internet speed to other router brands you may use the default IP addresses below:
| Router | IP Addresses |
|---|---|
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 192.168.1.1 192.168.10.1 192.168.0.50 192.168.0.10 192.168.1.254 192.168.15.1 |
| TP-Link | 192.168.1.1 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.254 192.168.1.253 |
| Netgear | 192.168.1.1 192.168.0.1 192.168.61.1 192.168.0.100 192.168.1.254 10.0.0.138 |
| Asus | 192.168.1.1 192.168.50.1 192.168.72.1 192.168.29.1 192.168.2.1 |
| Linksys | 192.168.1.1 192.168.0.1 192.168.15.1 192.168.16.1 192.168.101.1 192.168.1.245 |
| Belkin | 192.168.2.1 10.1.1.1 |
| ZyXel | 192.168.1.1 192.168.10.1 192.168.100.1 192.168.3.1 192.168.0.1 192.168.200.1 192.168.212.1 |
Factors That Can Affect Speed Test Results
You might wondering why your internet speed is slower that your internet service provider promised to you. Here are some factors that can affect the speed results:
- The devices you use to test: You may notice that when you run a speed test with different device, the result is different too although you have the same service provider. The reason is old devices cannot measure the full speed of your internet service. Also sometimes a Wi-Fi router that is outdated doesn’t support the full speed of your service.
- The location of the Speedtest servers: When the speedtest servers are near to your location, you will get faster speeds. That is why you shouldnt rely on one speedtest server.
- Speed testing tool and services: Some speed test tools are not accurate, so choose ones that are widely used like Ookla and Fast
- The browser you use to test the internet speed: Browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge may also have different capabilities when testing internet speed.
How to Improve Your Internet Speed
If you perform a speed test and not happy with the result, you may do things to improve your internet speed.
- Place your router in the center of your house without thick walls to interfere the signal.
- Use 2.4 GHz for wider coverage and 5 GHz for faster speeds in shorter range.
- Make sure to update the router’s firmware whenever there is new update available.
- Use WiFi extenders or mesh systems if you have a larger spaces.
- Pause downloads or streaming on other devices when you need faster speeds.
- Update your old router and opt for the best WiFi routers in the market. If you are into gaming, some of the best gaming routers can give you full internet speed.