Don’t ignore upload speeds but don’t worry too much about them as long as they don’t drop to nearly nothing, to a tiny fraction of the download speeds that might be an indication of a problem with the connection or router. (Larger businesses pay quite a lot for “symmetrical” circuits, where upload and download speeds are the same.) When you’re comparing, it’s easier to focus on download speeds. That’s not a problem, it’s just the way home and small business Internet circuits work.

Download speeds will almost certainly be 4-8 times larger than upload speeds.

But also, measure at different times of day in case something is bogging down the whole system but only occasionally – a backup program or someone streaming video or playing online games, for example.A sudden drop-off after months of consistent performance might help you recognize a new problem. The results might be wildly different at different times of day, but they should be roughly similar if you measure at the same time, day after day, week after week. Measure at the same time of day to check consistency.Your results will be wildly different if you compare a computer connected to the router with a network cable, and a computer with a cheap wireless USB adapter hidden under a desk. Always use the same computer to measure your Internet speed.Your results will be wildly different if you switch among different websites and apps. Always use the same tool to measure your Internet speed.You can’t complain about your speed to the ISP until you know what you are supposed to receive. Sonic sells anything from 1Mbps to 1000Mbps, depending on location. Download speeds on a Comcast plan can range anywhere from 60Mbps to 250Mbps or more. Figure out what speed was promised by your ISP.That’s why the important thing is to use the same test consistently and look for patterns. You’re not a network technician with specialized tools. A network technician with specialized tools could connect directly to the ISP modem or point of entry and come up with an accurate number, which would probably be different from any result you get from a computer running a test from a website. Here are some basic principles to keep in mind.

What do you need to know before you run a speed test? Long pedantic answer: Let’s get a basic understanding of what to expect when you check the speed of your connection, then I’ll tell you about some of the options for speed tests. You might want to check your Internet speed out of curiosity, or because you suspect that your ISP is not delivering the connection that you were promised, or because some problem has developed with your equipment or your network. Everyone needs a fast Internet connection. This is a basic tip but it comes up all the time.

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