A quick guide to modem internet speed
You might have heard that certain internet connections and plans are great when it comes to speed, such as Suddenlink internet plans or some other provider. But what exactly is internet speed and how do you test it? Well, we will find that and a lot more in this article.
How to Test Internet Speed? What Exactly is that?
You can do different types of activities on the internet, as well as connect a large number of devices at once, based on your internet speed. In order to determine what internet speed you need from your provider, you must understand how you and your family use the internet at home.
Slow internet speeds can make it difficult to stream video, play video games, or upload files on the web. You might be paying too much for internet if it’s too fast.
Upload and download speeds are often advertised by internet service providers. It is important to note, however, that these numbers are not always accurate. Researching their real internet speed is always a good idea.
Download speed test: How to do it?
In order to measure the download speed, multiple connections are opened to the server and a large data file is simultaneously downloaded on each connection. Thus, the determined data quantity can be measured by maxing out the bandwidth on the internet connection. The internet speed available for downloading data is calculated by recording the data throughput against measurement time.
Upload speed testing: how to do it?
By reversing the download analysis sequence, upload speed is measured. The test server is connected to multiple times again. An overwhelming amount of random data is downloaded instead of a file, and is then pushed through all connections to the server. Multiple streams ensure that the maximum throughput is measured by pushing data to the server over the network. Once again, calculating the internet speed based on data throughput against time is the best method.
Variations in internet speed
There may have been times when your internet has been slower or faster than normal. This can happen for several reasons.
Connection type
In addition to choosing an internet plan, you also must consider your internet connection type. The most common options include fiber optic, DSL, cable, 5G, fixed wireless and satellite. However, these options are not all made equally. If fiber optic is not available in your area, then cable is a good alternative. Fiber optic is the fastest and most reliable type of connection. Rural residents are more likely to have access to DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite service since fiber optic providers typically only deploy their services to densely populated areas.
Location of the router
This plays a significant role in signal strength. You should keep it away from potential signal-blocking devices like microwaves, radios, and thick/dense walls. Additionally, you should get it off the floor to prevent any interference with internet signals.
Your router should be placed in the middle of your home, on a clear, elevated surface.
Setting up your router
Although this is a bit more technical, you can troubleshoot the following issues to see if you can speed up your internet:
- The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi channel may be overcrowded. If other people are using the same channel, your connection will slow down because bandwidth is eaten up. Use channel 1, 6 or 11 to avoid channel overlap.
- The RTS threshold settings on your router might be too low. They should be 2346. By adjusting the threshold, you could improve the stability of your network because it tells your router to send data more frequently. First, test small changes with 2304 bytes.
- There may be a limit on the amount of data your router can send or receive at once due to its data packet size settings. MTU (Maximum Transition Unit) settings on routers are typically 1500 by default; make sure it isn’t set lower than that. (Note: If you use a VPN to work from home, you should keep the setting as low as possible.)
Malware
Infection Malware affects the hardware, software, or applications of your computer. Malware such as internet malware can infect web browsers and other computer applications. Multiple browsers can be opened in the background when this kind of malware is installed, which can slow down internet speeds.
Throttling
When you surpass your plan’s data limit, internet service providers often throttle your internet speed, and some even throttle your speed on certain websites or activities.
A plan change and faster speeds might be needed if the latter is the case. You can do the former by testing your connection outside the busy period, then test it again with a VPN. Throttling is unlikely to be the cause if the speeds are similar. Throttling could be evident if they’re different.
What causes my internet to be slow at night?
During “rush hour” between 7 and 11 p.m., most people use their home internet. If you use cable internet, this can slow your internet speed. Unless your plan is faster or you reduce the number of devices using the internet at this time, there isn’t much of a solution to this problem.
What you do on the internet
The speeds of your internet can be affected by your neighbors, just as they can be affected by you. You may encounter speed issues when connecting multiple devices or uploading high-bandwidth files, such as 4K video to YouTube or a 500 GB PDF to a server, when you’re doing high-bandwidth activities.
For these high-bandwidth activities, you might consider connecting via hardwire (such as an Ethernet cord), as well as limiting the number of devices you connect.
In a nutshell
Depending on how the internet will be used, different speeds will be required. If you want to test your internet speed, remember that what you intend to do with the connection will determine how fast it is. We hope this article helps you understand what internet speed is and how to test it.